MacArtnay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The chronicle of the name MacArtnay begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cartaine, which is a variant of Mac Artain. This means son of Artan and is a diminutive of the old personal name Art.

Early Origins of the MacArtnay family

The surname MacArtnay was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, 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 MacArtnay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacArtnay research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1630, 1651, 1660, 1672, 1690, 1692, 1703, 1713, 1714, 1724, 1727, 1730, 1737, 1757, 1760, 1770, 1792, 1793, 1797 and 1806 are included under the topic Early MacArtnay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacArtnay Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. MacArtnay has been written MacArtney, MacCartney and others.

Early Notables of the MacArtnay family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacArtnay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacArtnay family to Ireland

Some of the MacArtnay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 138 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacArtnay family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of MacArtnay: Arthur MacCartney who settled in Virginia in 1736; James McCartney settled in Maryland in 1741; James McCartney settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767.

The MacArtnay 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: Stimulat sed ornat
Motto Translation: It stimulates, but it adorns.