McElhinney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland, made up the ancient Dalriadan kingdom, the ancestral home of the McElhinney family. Their name comes from the Gaelic expression "the son of the servant Storm."

Early Origins of the McElhinney family

The surname McElhinney 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.

One of the first records of the family was "Celestine Mac Alowne [who] received a grant of Balemakinrain (now Ballikinrain) in the earldom of Lennox from his kinsman Donald, earl of Lennox, c. 1333-1364. John Macalowne [appeared on an] inquest at Nam in 1431. " 1

Early History of the McElhinney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McElhinney research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1428 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McElhinney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McElhinney Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of McElhinney have been recorded over the years, including These are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. MacAloney, McAloney, MacAlonie, McAlonie, MacIlhenny, McIlhenny, MacIlhinny, McIlhinny, MacIlhiney, McIlhiney, MacIlhinney, McIlhinney, MacIldowney, McIldowney, MacIldownie, McIldownie, MacGilloney, McGilloney, MacGillonie, McGillonie, MacAlloon, McAlloon, MacAlooni, McAlooni, MacElheaney, McElheaney, MacElhiney, McElhiney, MacElhinney and many more.

Early Notables of the McElhinney family

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

Migration of the McElhinney family to Ireland

Some of the McElhinney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McElhinney migration to the United States +

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the McElhinney family emigrate to North America:

McElhinney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John McElhinney, who arrived in New York in 1839 2
James McElhinney, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1892
Edward McElhinney, aged 23, who landed in America from Donegal, Ireland, in 1893
Ellen McElhinney, aged 22, who settled in America from Donegal, in 1899

McElhinney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James McElhinney, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Donegal, in 1902
Catherine McElhinney, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Donegal, in 1903
Bridget McElhinney, aged 60, who landed in America from Derry, Ireland, in 1908
Letitia McElhinney, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Carrigart, Ireland, in 1910
Bernard McElhinney, aged 10, who immigrated to America from Carndonagh, Ireland, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McElhinney (post 1700) +

Ryan McElhinney, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008
John W. McElhinney, American Republican politician, Circuit Judge in Missouri 13th Circuit, 1927
Andrew Repasky McElhinney (b. 1979), American film producer
Ian McElhinney (b. 1948), Irish three-time Screen Actors Guild Award nominated actor and director, known for City of Ember (2008), Leap Year (2010) and Game of Thrones (2011)
Mandy McElhinney, Australian Australian Film Institute Award winning and two-time Logie Award nominated actress, known for appearing in the TV sketch comedy series Comedy Inc
John McElhinney, Irish founder of McElhinney's, a department store located in Ballybofey, County Donegal in 1971, the largest department store outside The Pale
Robert McElhinney (1747-1831), Irish-born, Canadian politician who represented Londonderry township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1790 to 1799
Francis Gerard "Gerry" McElhinney (b. 1956), Irish sportsman who played Gaelic football
Curtis McElhinney (b. 1983), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey goaltender

The McElhinney 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: Aonaibh ri cheile
Motto Translation: Unite.

Citations +

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)
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)