Show ContentsMcCrimmon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name McCrimmon is an age-old Dalriadan-Scottish nickname for a person noted as a guardian. The name, which is Mac Cruimein in Gaelic, is derived from the Old Norse Hromund, which means famed protector. "The late Dr. Alexander Carmichael, who gives the Gaelic form of the name as Maccriomthain, says that a woman of the name in St. Kilda recited some of the island songs to him. " [1]

Interestingly, Crimond is a parish, in the district of Deer, county of Aberdeen. "This place once contained a castle belonging to the celebrated Cumyn, Earl of Buchan, which stood on a small hill called Castlehill, and was suffered to fall into ruins after his fatal defeat at the battle of Inverury by Robert Bruce. " [2]

Early Origins of the McCrimmon family

The surname McCrimmon was first found in on the Isle of Skye, where they were hereditary Pipers to the MacLeods of Dunvegan and founded the famous College of Piping, the most celebrated of its kind in the world.

"A family of the name were hereditary pipers to Macleod of Macleod, the last of whom, Lieut. MacCrimmon, had a farm in Glenelg in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. The name is found on one of the rune-inscribed crosses at Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, as Rumun. " [1]

Interestingly, Crimond is a parish, in the district of Deer, county of Aberdeen. "This place once contained a castle belonging to the celebrated Cumyn, Earl of Buchan, which stood on a small hill called Castlehill, and was suffered to fall into ruins after his fatal defeat at the battle of Inverury by Robert Bruce. " [2]

Early History of the McCrimmon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCrimmon research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1533 is included under the topic Early McCrimmon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCrimmon Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McCrimmon has appeared as MacCrimmon, MacRimmon, MacCrummen, MacCrummin, Crimmon, Crimmons, Crimmin and many more.

Early Notables of the McCrimmon family

More information is included under the topic Early McCrimmon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCrimmon Ranking

In the United States, the name McCrimmon is the 11,667th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3]


Canada McCrimmon migration to Canada +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name McCrimmon or a variant listed above:

McCrimmon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Donald McCrimmon U.E., (Daniel) who settled in Canada c. 1784 [4]
  • Mr. Donald McCrimmon U.E. who settled in Marysburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1786 [4]
McCrimmon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John McCrimmon, aged 56, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
  • Catharine McCrimmon, aged 46, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
  • Catharine McCrimmon, aged 17, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
  • Christian McCrimmon, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
  • Mary McCrimmon, aged 13, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Edinburgh" in 1815
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McCrimmon (post 1700) +

  • Katie Kerwin McCrimmon (b. 1965), American journalist and former reporter/analyst for ESPN
  • Brad McCrimmon (1959-2011), Canadian professional NHL ice-hockey player who played from 1979 to 1997
  • Abraham Lincoln McCrimmon (1865-1935), Canadian academic and Chancellor of McMaster University
  • Donald "Don" James McCrimmon (b. 1918), Canadian provincial level politician from Alberta
  • John James McCrimmon (b. 1953), retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman


The McCrimmon 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: Permitte caetera divis
Motto Translation: Leave the rest to the Gods.


  1. 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)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


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