Show ContentsMcKercher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the name McKercher are found among the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic MacFhionnlaigh which means 'son of Finlay' or which is often Anglicized to fair hero.

Early Origins of the McKercher family

The surname McKercher was first found in Stirlingshire, where traditionally this Clan is descended from Finlay Mor Farquharson, in turn descended from the ancient 11th century Thanes of Fife, through Shaw MacDuff, the first progenitor of the Farquharsons of the Braes of Mar. The descendants of Finlay Mor, a giant of a man, a man of daring and unequalled courage, settled in the lowlands with the name MacIanla, though, strangely, they had previously been called the Clan Eracher. It is claimed that the MacErachers of Perth also are descended from Finlay Mor. In the lowlands they became the Clan MacIanla. This was in turn anglicized to Finlayson, having many spellings, but approximately the same sound. The first Finlay married the heiress of the Garden, 'of that Ilk', and acquired those estates.

Early History of the McKercher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKercher research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1450, 1455, 1478 and 1585 are included under the topic Early McKercher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKercher Spelling Variations

Although Medieval Scotland lacked a basic set of spelling rules, which meant that scribes recorded names according to their sounds it was not uncommon for the names of a father and son to be recorded differently. As a result, there are many spelling variations of Scottish single names. McKercher has been written Finlayson, Finleyson, Finlaison, Finlawson, Fynlawsone, Findlayson, Findleyson, Finlason, Findlaysoun, Finlaisone, Fynloson, McIanley, MacIanlay, MacKinlay, MacEracher, McEracher and many more.

Early Notables of the McKercher family

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


United States McKercher migration to the United States +

Thousands of Scots left their home country to travel to Ireland or Australia, or to cross the Atlantic for the North American colonies. The difficult crossing was an enormous hurdle, but those who survived found freedom and opportunity in ample measure. Some Scots even fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence. This century, their ancestors have become aware of the illustrious history of the Scots in North America and at home through Clan societies and other organizations. Passenger and immigration lists show many early and influential immigrants bearing the name McKercher:

McKercher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Donald McKercher arrived on a ship in New York city in 1789
McKercher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Fercher McKercher, who landed in New York in 1800 [1]
  • John McKercher, aged 29, who arrived in New York in 1812 [1]
  • Daniel McKercher, who landed in New York in 1820 [1]

Canada McKercher migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McKercher Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Alex McKercher was listed as one of the settlers in Glengarry county, Ontario, Canada in 1817
  • Alex McKercher, who arrived in Canada in 1817
  • Donald McKercher, who arrived in Canada in 1817

Contemporary Notables of the name McKercher (post 1700) +

  • F. B. McKercher, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1888 [2]
  • Peggy McKercher CM (b. 1939), Canadian academic, 11th Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan
  • Paul McKercher, Australian five-time ARIA Award winnign music recorder and producer
  • Jeff McKercher (b. 1979), Canadian professional (NHL) hockey player
  • Dave McKercher, Canadian Professor of Linguistics at the University of Toronto (2002)


The McKercher 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: Coelitus datum
Motto Translation: Given by God.


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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