MacKnight History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the MacKnight family

The surname MacKnight was first found in Kirkcudbright, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacKnight family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKnight research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early MacKnight History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKnight Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacKnight, MacKnyght, MacNaught, MacNaight, MacKnaught, MacKnaight, MacNight and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKnight family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

MacKnight of Barskeaugh

Migration of the MacKnight family to Ireland

Some of the MacKnight family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKnight migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacKnight Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew MacKnight, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 1
Daniel MacKnight, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 1
David MacKnight, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 1
Jane MacKnight, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 1
Mary MacKnight, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacKnight migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

MacKnight Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James MacKnight, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2

Contemporary Notables of the name MacKnight (post 1700) +

Dodge Macknight (1860-1950), American post-Impressionist painter
Thomas Macknight (1829-1899), English-born, Irish newspaper editor, biographer and publisher; he originated the Two Nations Theory in 1896
Dame Ella Macknight DBE, MRCOG, FRCOG, FAMA, FAGO (1904-1997), Australian obstetrician and gynaecologist
Thomas Macknight (1829-1899), Anglo-Irish newspaper editor, biographer and publisher, from Gainford, County Durham, originator of the Two Nations Theory (1896)

The MacKnight 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: Nil durum volenti
Motto Translation: Nothing is difficult for the willing.

Citations +

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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant