MacGal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland
• Scotland

Early Origins of the MacGal family

Early History of the MacGal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGal research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacGal Spelling Variations

The spelling of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was rarely consistent. This inconsistency was due to the scribes and church officials' attempts to record orally defined names in writing. The common practice of recording names as they sounded resulted in spelling variations such as MacHale, McHale, MacHail, McHail, McCale, MacCale and others.

Early Notables of the MacGal family

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

Migration of the MacGal family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish migrating out of their homeland in a great measure due to the oppressive imperial policies of the English government and landowners. Many of these Irish families sailed to North America aboard overcrowded passenger ships. By far, the largest influx of Irish immigrants to North America occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These particular immigrants were instrumental in creation of the United States and Canada as major industrial nations because the many essential elements such as the roadways, canals, bridges, and railways required an enormous quantity of cheap labor, which these poor immigrants provided. Later generations of Irish in these countries also went on to make valuable contributions in such fields as the arts, commerce, politics, and education. Extensive research into immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants bearing the name MacGal: Anthony, James, John, Martin, Patrick, Peter and Richard MacHale all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.