MacNaughton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the MacNaughton family

The surname MacNaughton was first found in Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat as an important Dalcassian sept of the Ui Maine related to the Mulallys. The Lallys and the O'Naghtens were in turn chiefs of the Moenmoy from which they were driven in the English invasion of 1172. They settled in Tollendal where they became tenants of Lord Bermingham. Here they became Chiefs of the Fews. Neachtan, the progenitor, about 850 A.D., was the grandson of Aeneas Lally. Irish history was greatly influenced by the Norman invasion of 1172, and thereafter, the surnames of Irish Gaelic clanns and septs and many of the Norman families became almost indistinguishable. Great confusion reigns between the Scottish Clan McNaughten (vide). Some learned scholars of the Irish McNaghtens claim to be descended of the Pictish race, being one of three clans of the old Maormors of Moray, Kings of the Picts who claimed title to the Kingdom of Scotland. Descended from Neachtan by five generations was Connor Catha Brian O'Neachtain who fought beside Brian Boru at Clontarf in 1014.

Early History of the MacNaughton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacNaughton research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacNaughton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacNaughton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Naughten, Nachtain, McNaughten, Naughton, Naghten, McNaughton, Norton, Naughtan, Nochtin, Nochton, Knochton, Connaughten, Connaughton, O'Naughton, O'Naghten, O'Nachten, McNaghten and many more.

Early Notables of the MacNaughton family

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

MacNaughton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacNaughton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary MacNaughton, who settled in Montreal in 1825
Donald MacNaughton, who settled in Montreal in 1825
Peter Macnaughton, who settled in Quebec sometime between 1810 and 1850
James Macnaughton, who settled in Ontario in 1871

MacNaughton Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

W R B MacNaughton, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

MacNaughton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

MacNaughton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Ewen MacNaughton, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Janet MacNaughton, aged 25, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Angus MacNaughton, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840

Contemporary Notables of the name MacNaughton (post 1700) +

Robert MacNaughton (b. 1966), American Young Artist Award winning child actor, best known for his role as Elliott's brother Michael in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Euan Macnaughton, Scottish actor, known for his work on Welcome II the Terrordome (1995), Family Affairs (1997) and L is for Lala (2011)
Ian MacNaughton (1925-2002), Scottish Primetime Emmy Award nominated director, known for his work in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969), And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
John Alan MacNaughton CM (1945-2013), Canadian investment banker, Chairman of the Business Development Bank of Canada and was the founding President and CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (1999-2005)
Alan Aylesworth Macnaughton (1903-1999), Canadian parliamentarian, Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons from 1963 to 1966
Michele MacNaughton (b. 1973), retired female field hockey player from South Africa
Alan MacNaughton (1920-2002), British television actor
Peter MacNaughton Dunn (1929-2021), English paediatrician who was most notable for introducing into the UK the Gregory box in 1971
John MacNaughton Sidey, Chief Executive of the P and O Steamship Line