MacMaster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name MacMaster or a variant listed above:

MacMaster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Elizabeth MacMaster, who sailed to New York in 1774
• Elizabeth Macmaster, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1774 1

MacMaster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Wm. Macmaster, aged 36, who settled in America, in 1894

MacMaster Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Dora MacMaster, aged 25, who settled in America from Belfast, in 1905
• John MacMaster, aged 41, who immigrated to America from Leslie, Scotland, in 1907
• Archibald Macmaster, aged 45, who landed in America from London, England, in 1910
• Henry Vere Macmaster, aged 32, who landed in America from London, England, in 1913
• Donald Macmaster, aged 56, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1914
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacMaster Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Angus MacMaster migrated from Lochaber, Inverness to Inverness County, Nova Scotia in 1802
• William MacMaster (1811-1887), born in County Tyrone was the founder of the University of Toronto

MacMaster Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

• Charles Adolphus MacMaster, aged 66, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1919

• Erasmus D. MacMaster D.D. (1806-1866), American Presbyterian pastor, academic and theologian, President of Hanover College and Miami University
• John Bach MacMaster (1852-1932), American historian
• Mary Macmaster (b. 1955), Scottish harpist, known for her work with The Poozies and the duo Sileas
• Kenneth "Ken" MacMaster (b. 1934), Canadian politician, member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1977 to 1981
• Daniel Stewart MacMaster (1968-2008), Canadian singer, lead vocalist for the Canadian/British hard rock band Bonham
• Sir Donald Macmaster KC (1846-1922), 1st Baronet, Canadian lawyer and a politician
• Hugh Alan "Buddy" MacMaster CM, ONS (1924-2014), Canadian fiddle player, known as King of the Jigs, uncle of Natalie MacMaster
• Allan MacMaster (b. 1974), Canadian politician in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
• Natalie MacMaster CM (b. 1973), Canadian two-time Juno Award winning fiddler from Inverness County, Nova Scotia