Contents [hide]

McConkey History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McConkey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland spawned the name McConkey. It is derived from the personal name Robert. Known as the Clan Donnachaidh, (MacDhonnchaidh) 'son of Duncan' the family's origins are very distinguished, as the senior branch of the line were the hereditary abbots of Dunkeld, who traced their descent from Iona. In addition, Abbot Duncan of Dunkeld, the Robertson progenitor, was killed in battle in 964, as he led the warriors, bearing, a reliquary of St. Columba. His grandson, Abbot Crinan of Dunkeld, married the Kings daughter and then fathered King Duncan I of Scotland who was killed by MacBeth (of Shakespearean fame). Crinan is buried at the Isle of lona, burial place of Scotland's early Kings. [1]

Early Origins of the McConkey family

The surname McConkey was first found in Atholl. King Duncan's younger son, Maelmore, sired Madadh, Earl of Atholl, and his grandson, Earl Henry, was father to Conan who held vast territories in this area. Conan of Glenerochie was the first Chief of the Robertsons and gave his name to the Clan Connchaidh or Duncan. His successor, Duncan, the 5th Chief, led the Clan in the army of King Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314 against the English. For this service, and his subsequent staunch support of the Scottish Crown, his grandson Robert of Struan was granted the lands and barony in 1451.

Early History of the McConkey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McConkey research. Another 403 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1561, 1587, 1645, 1653, 1668, 1680, 1686, 1689, 1703, 1705, 1715, 1723, 1727, 1745, 1746, 1749, 1783, 1784 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McConkey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConkey Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. McConkey has appeared as Robertson, MacConachie, Maconachie, MacConaghy, MacConchie, MacConckey, MacConkey, MacDonnachie, MacDonachie, MacDunnachie, MacInroy, MacLagan, Mac Raibeirt (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McConkey family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Thomas Robertson (fl. 1520-1561), schoolmaster and dean of Durham, was born at or near Wakefield in Yorkshire early in the sixteenth century. William Robertson (d. 1686?), Scottish lexicographer, was a graduate of Edinburgh, and is probably the William Robertson who was laureated by Duncan Forester in April 1645. From 1653 to 1680...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McConkey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConkey Ranking

In the United States, the name McConkey is the 16,434^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [2]

Migration of the McConkey family to Ireland

Some of the McConkey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConkey migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McConkey were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

McConkey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander McConkey, who landed in New England in 1718 [3]
John McConkey, who landed in New England in 1718 [3]

McConkey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas McConkey, aged 26, who landed in New York in 1812 [3]
George McConkey, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1874 [3]
Patrick McConkey, who arrived in Mississippi in 1899 [3]

McConkey migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McConkey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George McConkey, aged 30, a merchant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland

McConkey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McConkey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Anna Mcconkey, (b. 1834), aged 28, Irish settler from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 [4]
Mr. John Mcconkey, (b. 1838), aged 24, Irish farm labourer from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 [4]
William Henry McConkey, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1874
Matthew McConkey, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
Ann J. McConkey, aged 27, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McConkey (post 1700) +

Tony McConkey (b. 1963), American politician from Maryland
Phil McConkey (b. 1957), American former NFL football player
Edwin H. McConkey (b. 1931), American biologist
Thomas David McConkey (1815-1890), Irish-born Canadian businessman and political figure
Shane McConkey (1969-2009), Canadian professional skier, recipient of the 2001 ESPN Action Sport Awards Skier of the Year
James McConkey Robinson (1924-2016), American scholar and academic, Professor Emeritus of Religion at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California

Historic Events for the McConkey family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Christopher Evans Mcconkey, Irish Second Waiter from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [5]

The McConkey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtutis gloria merces
Motto Translation: Glory is the reward of valour.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/