McKune History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The McKune family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name McKune is derived from the given name Ian or John. John is the most common personal name in the Highlands. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Iain.

Early Origins of the McKune family

The surname McKune was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the McKune family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKune research. Another 166 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1292, 1340, 1618, 1667, 1717, 1777, 1808, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McKune History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKune Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of McKune include MacIan, MacAne, MacKane, MacKean, MacKain and others.

Early Notables of the McKune family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Archibald McKain (1717-1777), Scottish Shoemaker and Burgess of Elgin, Morayshire, who became the 15th Chief of MacIain of Ardnamurchan. Also of note was Thomas M'kean of Delaware, one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence.John Canne (d. 1667?)...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McKune Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McKune family to Ireland

Some of the McKune family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKune migration to the United States +

The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name McKune arrived in North America very early:

McKune Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J H C McKune, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 1

McKune migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McKune Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Archibald McKune, (b. 1817), aged 25, British blacksmith travelling from London and Plymouth aboard the ship "Thomas Sparks" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1843, the ship stuck rocks of the coast of Cape of Good Hope delaying her landing by 2 months 2
William McKune, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1873
Elizabeth McKune, aged 40, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1873
William McKune, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1873
George Henry McKune, aged 14, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1873
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html