MacGee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Strathclyde Briton clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first to use the name MacGee. It is derived from the Gaelic name Aodh, meaning Hugh, and the word mac, meaning son of. 1
Early Origins of the MacGee family
The surname MacGee was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area.
The first on record was Gilmighel Mac Ethe of Dumfries who rendered homage to King Edward I in 1296. "In the following year, as Gille Michel MacGethe, he was thanked by Edward I for putting down evildoers and for other services. Neel McEthe, Gillecryst McEthe, Hoen McEthe, Cuthbert his brother, and all of the lineage of Clenafren, made submission to Edward I in 1298. Michael Macgethe was juror on an inquisition in Annandale, 1304." 2
Early History of the MacGee family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGee research. Another 311 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1331, 1339, 1424, 1426, 1444, 1463, 1471, 1473, 1480, 1500, 1506, 1527, 1570, 1574, 1595, 1611, 1673, 1682 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacGee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacGee Spelling Variations
The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. MacGee has been spelled MacGee, MacGhie, MacGhee, Magee and others.
Early Notables of the MacGee family
Notable amongst the family at this time was
- William MacGee, was Dean of Cork and Archbishop of York
Migration of the MacGee family to Ireland
Some of the MacGee family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacGee migration to the United States +
The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them:
MacGee Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Mary Macgee, who was an immigrant in bondage, who arrived in America in 1765
- Catherine MacGee, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772
MacGee Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Henry MacGee, aged 43, who landed in America from Edinburgh, in 1903
- William MacGee, aged 17, who settled in America, in 1904
- Hugh MacGee, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
MacGee migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
MacGee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. James Macgee, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
- Mr. James Macgee, (b. 1789), aged 51, English seaman who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1853 4
Contemporary Notables of the name MacGee (post 1700) +
- Reginald MacGee, American Chief Executive Officer
- Gail MacGee, American Senator
- James MacGee, Australian Physicist
- Thomas D'Arcy MacGee (1825-1868), Canadian (Irish born) journalist, poet and politician, strong proponent of Canadian confederation, assassinated in Ottawa in 1868
Citations +
- Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
- 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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan