MacKit History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Anglo-Saxon name MacKit comes from Kit, a diminutive of the name Christopher. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, Old English personal names declined in popularity to be replaced by the new Christian names that they brought with them. One of these was Christopher.

Early Origins of the MacKit family

The surname MacKit was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the MacKit family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKit research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1359, 1485, 1520, 1540, 1835, 1907 and 1911 are included under the topic Early MacKit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKit Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name MacKit has appeared include Kitson, Kidson, Kydson, MacKett, MacCeit and others.

Early Notables of the MacKit family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKit Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacKit family to Ireland

Some of the MacKit family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacKit family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name MacKit arrived in North America very early: Marmaduke Kitson, who settled in Virginia in 1639; along Merma; Mary Kitson, who settled in Virginia in 1768; as well as George, James, Nathan and Thomas Kitson, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..