Show ContentsMcGillicuty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Gaelic is at the heart of all the Irish surnames that can be found throughout the world today. The original Gaelic form of the name McGillicuty is Mac Giolla Chuda, which perhaps denotes a devotee of St. Mochuda.

Early Origins of the McGillicuty family

The surname McGillicuty was first found in County Kerry (Irish:Ciarraí) part of the former County Desmond (14th-17th centuries), located in Southwestern Ireland, in Munster province, where The McGillycuddy of the Reeks (Irish: Mac Giolla Mochuda) was one of the hereditary chiefs of the name of Ireland.

Early History of the McGillicuty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGillicuty research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGillicuty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGillicuty Spelling Variations

The search for the origins of the name McGillicuty family name revealed numerous spelling variations. These variants can be somewhat accounted for when it is realized that before widespread literacy people only recognized their name by pronunciation; it was up to scribes to decide how it was to be formally recorded. Variations found include Gillycuddy, McGillycuddy, Gillecuddy, Gillacuddy, Gillicuddy, McGillicuddy, McGillecuddy, McGillacuddy, McGullucuddy, MacGillicudy, McGillicudy and many more.

Early Notables of the McGillicuty family

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

Migration of the McGillicuty family

Ireland saw an enormous decrease in its population in the 19th century due to immigration and death. This pattern of immigration began slowly in the late 18th century and gradually grew throughout the early portion of the 19th century. However, a dramatic increase in the country's immigration numbers occurred when the Great Potato Famine struck in the 1840s. The early immigrants to North America were primarily destined to be farmers tending to their own plot of land, those that came later initially settled within pre-established urban centers. These urban immigrants provided the cheap labor that the fast developing United States and soon to be Canada required. Regardless of their new lifestyle in North America, the Irish immigrants to the United States and Canada made invaluable contributions to their newly adopted societies. An investigation of immigrant and passenger lists revealed many McGillicutys: Catherine McGillycuddy who settled in Boston in 1749; Phillip McGillicuddy arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1845; and Timothy Magillacuddy settled in New York State in 1849..



The McGillicuty 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: Sursum Corda
Motto Translation: Hearts upwards.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook