| ![Show Contents]() McKill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancestors of the bearers of the McKill family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found near a well or spring; keld was a common word in the north of England for these. According to some experts, the surname McKill is also occasionally derived from the Old Norse word ketill, which means cauldron and sometimes refers to such an object used in sacrificial rites. 1 Early Origins of the McKill familyThe surname McKill was first found in Hampshire, but the name could have derived from the place name Keld of which there are two in England: Keld (or Keilde), a hamlet in Cumbria; and Keld, another hamlet in North Yorkshire. Another reference claims the name was "formerly written Cail, and said by the family to be derived from Cailly in Normandy. " 2 Early History of the McKill familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKill research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1311, 1379, 1524, 1739 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McKill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McKill Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name McKill include Kell, Kel, Kelle, Keld and others. Early Notables of the McKill familyMore information is included under the topic Early McKill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the McKill family to Ireland
Some of the McKill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the McKill familySearching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name McKill or a variant listed above: Neil Kell, who sailed to America in 1685. David Kell sailed to Philadelphia in 1742; Hugh Kell to Boston in 1766 and John Kell to New York in 1811.
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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England
Scotland
Ireland
