McMunn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The ancestors of the McMunn family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. Their surname comes from a devotion to St. Munn. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Gille Mhunna, which means son of the servant of St. Munn.

Early Origins of the McMunn family

The surname McMunn 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 McMunn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMunn research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1526 and 1646 are included under the topic Early McMunn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMunn Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, McMunn has been spelled MacMunn, MacIllmunie, MacIllmoon, MacMun and others.

Early Notables of the McMunn family

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

McMunn Ranking

In the United States, the name McMunn is the 16,079^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

McMunn migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name McMunn were among those contributors:

McMunn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel McMunn, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 2
James McMunn, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1842 2
Alexander, Charles and William McMunn, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1850 to 1870

McMunn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McMunn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John McMunn, aged 13, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
William McMunn, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Mrs. McMunn, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland

Contemporary Notables of the name McMunn (post 1700) +

Harold Edgar McMunn (1902-1964), Canadian Olympic ice hockey player
Ron McMunn (b. 1932), Canadian country musician, singer and songwriter

The McMunn 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: Omnia vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers all things.

Citations +

"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)