MacCabees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The Clan from whom the MacCabees family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from the Gaelic form Mac-Aba, which means son of the Abbot.

Early Origins of the MacCabees family

The surname MacCabees was first found in on the Isle of Arran, where they held a family seat from early times. The family name MacCabees first 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 MacCabees family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCabees research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early MacCabees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacCabees Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name MacCabees include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacCabe, McCabe, McAbe, MacAbe and others.

Early Notables of the MacCabees family

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

Migration of the MacCabees family to Ireland

Some of the MacCabees family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 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 MacCabees family

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Andrew, Anne, Bernard, Bridget, Charles, Edward, Francis, Hugh, James, John, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Peter, and Thomas MacCabe, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1820 and 1860..

The MacCabees 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: Aut Vincere Aut Mori
Motto Translation: Either to conquer or die.