Show ContentsMacQuitty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Clan from whom the MacQuitty family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from Veaty. Mac means son of. MacVitti, therefore, means son of Vitti. Over time, the spelling of the name has changed, which is why the MacVitti is descended from Veaty.

Early Origins of the MacQuitty family

The surname MacQuitty was first found in Ayrshire, and Galloway where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacQuitty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacQuitty research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1574, 1627, 1685 and 1686 are included under the topic Early MacQuitty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacQuitty Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name MacQuitty 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 MacVittie, MacVittye, MacVittae, MacWittie, MacWitty and many more.

Early Notables of the MacQuitty family

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

Migration of the MacQuitty 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: Alan MacWittie who settled in New England in 1685; Duncan McVittie arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775.


Contemporary Notables of the name MacQuitty (post 1700) +

  • William MacQuitty (1905-2004), British film producer, best known for his production of A Night to Remember (1958), the story of the sinking of RMS Titanic, based on the book by Walter Lord (1917-2002)
  • Jane MacQuitty, British wine critic for The Times


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