MacAlpine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Scotland

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The MacAlpine family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name MacAlpine is derived from the son of the blond one, or son of Alpin.

Early Origins of the MacAlpine family

The surname MacAlpine 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 were descended from King Kenneth MacAlpin who was murdered by the Picts near Dundee in the year 834. MacAlpin is generally considered to have been the first king to rule both Scots and Picts, and as such, was the first king of Scotland.

Further to the south, the variant Alby hailed from Alby, a parish, in the union of Aylsham, hundred of South Erpingham, E. division of Norfolk. "This place, which was anciently called Oslby, is intersected by the road from Aylsham to Cromer, and includes the hamlets of Alby Common and Alby Hill." 1

Early History of the MacAlpine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacAlpine research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1395, 1405, 1531, 1557, 1658, 1692 and 1725 are included under the topic Early MacAlpine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacAlpine Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. MacAlpine has appeared in various documents spelled MacAlpine, MacAlpin, MacAilpein (Gaelic) and others.

Early Notables of the MacAlpine family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

John MacAlpine (Latin: Maccabeus) (died 1557), a Scottish Protestant theologian

Migration of the MacAlpine family to Ireland

Some of the MacAlpine family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacAlpine migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name MacAlpine or a variant listed above:

MacAlpine Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William MacAlpine, who settled in New York in 1774

MacAlpine Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John H. Macalpine, who arrived in America, in 1892
Mrs. H. Macalpine, who arrived in America, in 1892

MacAlpine Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Thomas Macalpine, aged 54, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1906
Maryanne Macalpine, aged 58, who arrived in America from Accrington, England, in 1911
Elizabeth MacAlpine, aged 13, who arrived in America, in 1911
Helen Marjorie Macalpine, aged 22, who arrived in America from Accrington, England, in 1911
George W. Macalpine, aged 62, who arrived in America from Aurington, England, in 1912
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacAlpine migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacAlpine Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Daniel MacAlpine U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2
Mr. John MacAlpine U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 2

MacAlpine Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

William Entwistle Macalpine, aged 35, who arrived in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, in 1913
Cyril Douglas Hughes MacAlpine, aged 36, who arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1914

Contemporary Notables of the name MacAlpine (post 1700) +

Tony MacAlpine (b. 1960), American musician and composer
L. Joan MacAlpine -Stiles (d. 1999), Canadian politician in New Brunswick, MLA for Moncton South, MLA for Moncton West (2006-2010)