Show ContentsMcCaskill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The McCaskill family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name McCaskill is derived from an ancient Norse warrior name Askell, which means cauldron of the Gods and denoted son of Asgaill.

Early Origins of the McCaskill family

The surname McCaskill was first found in living on the Islands of Skye and of Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas), where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. On Skye, ancestors of the McCaskill Clan occupied the district of "Rubha an Dunain, " where the ruins of the family residence may seen to this day.

Early History of the McCaskill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCaskill research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1795 and 1863 are included under the topic Early McCaskill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCaskill Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of McCaskill include MacAskill, MacAskill, Gaskell, Gaskill, MacGaskill, MacKaskil, MacKaskill and many more.

Early Notables of the McCaskill family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCaskill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCaskill Ranking

In the United States, the name McCaskill is the 4,171st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


United States McCaskill migration to the United States +

The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name McCaskill arrived in North America very early:

McCaskill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander McCaskill, aged 53, who landed in South Carolina in 1812 2
  • Donald McCaskill, aged 22, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 2
  • Peter McCaskill, aged 19, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 2
  • Thomas McCaskill, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1876 2
  • Mifs McCaskill, aged 15, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
McCaskill Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Jessie McCaskill, aged 2, who landed in America from Dundee, Scotland, in 1907
  • Kate McCaskill, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1911
  • Alexander McCaskill, aged 32, who landed in America from Portree, Scotland, in 1911
  • Christina McCaskill, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1921
  • Hugh McCaskill, aged 26, who settled in America, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada McCaskill migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCaskill Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Duncan McCaskill, aged 24, who landed in Canada in 1811
McCaskill Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Helen McCaskill, aged 26, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1922
  • Lillian Abbott McCaskill, aged 52, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1922

Australia McCaskill migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McCaskill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • I McCaskill, who landed in Sydney, Australia in 1839

Contemporary Notables of the name McCaskill (post 1700) +

  • Claire Conner McCaskill (b. 1953), American politician, United States Senator from Missouri (2007-)
  • Deac McCaskill (b. 1977), American stock car driver
  • Nevin McCaskill (b. 1983), American football guard
  • Amal Omari McCaskill (b. 1973), American professional basketball player
  • Ian McCaskill (1938-2016), born John Robertson McCaskill, a Scottish BBC weatherman
  • Kirk Edward McCaskill (b. 1961), retired Canadian Major League Baseball pitcher and a retired professional hockey player
  • Ted McCaskill (b. 1936), Canadian professional ice hockey player
  • Robert 'Bob' McCaskill (1895-1952), Australian rules footballer


The McCaskill Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Spea
Motto Translation: By hope.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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