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![Show Contents]() McKey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland Scotland
The Picts were the ancient Scottish tribe where the ancestors of the McKey family lived. The name McKey comes from the personal name Aodh, a cognate of Hugh. The Gaelic form of the name is usually Mac Aoidh and in Inverness, the Gaelic form of the name McKey is Mac Ai. "Nothing certain is known of the origin of the northern Mackays beyond the fact that they were early connected with Moray, and may have been a part of the ancient Clann Morgunn. The Inverness-shire Mackays are usually called in Gaelic Mac Ai, that is, MacDhai, or Davidson; they formed a branch of Clan Chattan." 1 Early Origins of the McKey familyThe surname McKey was first found in Sutherland (Gaelic: Cataibh), a former county in northern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Highland, where early records show that Gilcrest M'Ay, forefather of the MacKay family of Ugadale, made a payment to the constable of Tarbert in 1326. It is claimed that the Clan is descended from the royal house of MacEth. Early History of the McKey familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKey research. Another 299 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1329, 1408, 1411, 1429, 1506, 1575, 1640, 1689, 1692, 1726, 1873, 1890 and 1940 are included under the topic Early McKey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McKey Spelling VariationsWhen the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. McKey has been written MacKay, MacCay, MacQuey, MacQuoid, MacKaw, MacKy, MacKye, MacCoy, McCoy and many more. Early Notables of the McKey familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was Hugh Mackay (c. 1640-1692), Scottish general, Major-General Commanding in Chief in Scotland in 1689, killed at the Battle of Steinkeerke; and...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McKey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McKey RankingIn the United States, the name McKey is the 14,824th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2  Migration of the McKey family to Ireland
Some of the McKey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 133 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| McKey migration to the United States | + |
The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of McKey:
McKey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Gervass McKey, who landed in Virginia in 1715 3
- Alexander McKey, who arrived in North Carolina in 1740 3
McKey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James McKey, aged 36, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 3
- Patrick McKey, aged 38, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 3
- John McKey, aged 52, who landed in Rhode Island in 1812 3
- Thomas McKey, aged 26, who landed in Maryland in 1813 3
- Ellen McKey, aged 17, who settled in America from Moylough, in 1897
McKey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Annabella McKey, aged 26, who immigrated to America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1904
- E.E. Mckey, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1905
- David McKey, aged 23, who landed in America from Hilltown, Co. Down, in 1906
- Laura M. McKey, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
- Helen McKey, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| McKey migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: McKey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. John Mckey, (McKay), Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
- A. McKey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1839 5
| Contemporary Notables of the name McKey (post 1700) | + |
- Derrick Wayne McKey (b. 1966), retired American NBA basketball player from Meridian, Mississippi
- J. J. McKey, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 10th District, 1864 6
- Willy Mckey (1980-2021), Venezuelan poet and writer
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: Manu forti
Motto Translation: With a strong hand.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Orleana.htm
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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McKey migration to the United States 
McKey migration to Australia 
