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In ancient Scotland, the ancestors of the MacNachten family were part of a tribe called the Picts. The name MacNachten is derived from the Pictish name Nechtan. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Neachdainn, which means son of Nechtan.
The surname MacNachten 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 lands at Lochow and Loch Fyne, called Glenera, Glenshira, and Glen Fyne.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacNachten research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1247, 1431, 1438, 1565, 1614, 1627 and 1691 are included under the topic Early MacNachten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The appearance of the printing press and the first dictionaries in the last few hundred years did much to standardize spelling. Prior to that time scribes spelled according to sound, a practice that resulted in many spelling variations. MacNachten has been spelled MacNaughton, McNachton, MacNaghten, MacNechten, Notton, Norton and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early MacNachten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The expense of the crossing to the North American colonies seemed small beside the difficulties of remaining in Scotland. It was a long and hard trip, but at its end lay the reward of freedom. Some Scots remained faithful to England and called themselves United Empire Loyalists, while others fought in the American War of Independence. Much of this lost Scottish heritage has been recovered in the last century through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of MacNachten: Francis Norton, who arrived in New Hampshire in 1630; Ann Norton, who settled in Virginia in 1643; Anthony Norton, who arrived in Virginia in 1670; Edward Norton, who settled in New England in 1663.