Show ContentsMcCuddy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The original Gaelic form of the Irish name McCuddy was written as Mac Cadain, derived from the ancient Irish forename Cadan.

Early Origins of the McCuddy family

The surname McCuddy was first found in County Armagh (Irish: Ard Mhacha) located in the province of Ulster in present day Northern Ireland, where they held a family seat from early times.

Early History of the McCuddy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCuddy research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCuddy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCuddy Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, a standardized literary language known by the general population of Ireland was a thing of fiction. When a person's name was recorded by one of the few literate scribes, it was up that particular scribe to decide how to spell an individual's name. So a person could have several spelling variations of his name recorded during a single lifetime. Research into the name McCuddy revealed many variations, including Cadden, Caden, Caddin, McCadden, McWadden and others.

Early Notables of the McCuddy family

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


Canada McCuddy migration to Canada +

The 18th century saw the slow yet steady emigration of Irish families to British North America and the United States. Those early Irish settlers that left their homeland were typically moderately well off: they were enticed by the promise of a sizable plot of land. However, by the 1840s, this pattern of immigration was gone: immigrants to North America were seeking refuge from the starvation and disease that the Great Potato Famine of that decade brought. The great numbers of Irish that arrived to the United States and the soon to be Canada were instrumental in their quick development as powerful industrial nations. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists uncovered many early immigrants bearing the name McCuddy:

McCuddy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. C. McCuddy, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 1

Contemporary Notables of the name McCuddy (post 1700) +

  • Bill McCuddy, American entertainment reporter and former writer for Saturday Night Live


  1. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 43)


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