McAlpine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
On the Scottish west coast, the McAlpine family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the son of the blond one, or son of Alpin.
Early Origins of the McAlpine family
The surname McAlpine 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 McAlpine family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAlpine 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 McAlpine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McAlpine Spelling Variations
In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. McAlpine has appeared as MacAlpine, MacAlpin, MacAilpein (Gaelic) and others.
Early Notables of the McAlpine family
Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir John MacAlpin; John MacAlpine (Latin: Maccabeus) (died 1557), a Scottish Protestant theologian; and Joseph Capen (1658-1725), a Massachusetts clergyman who during...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McAlpine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McAlpine Ranking
In the United States, the name McAlpine is the 6,855th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2
Migration of the McAlpine family to Ireland
Some of the McAlpine 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.
McAlpine migration to the United States +
These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The McAlpine were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
McAlpine Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Dugald McAlpine, who landed in New York in 1738 3
- Walter McAlpine, who arrived in New England in 1743 3
- William McAlpine, who landed in New England in 1753 3
- Daniel McAlpine, who arrived in New York in 1763 3
McAlpine Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Robert McAlpine, who arrived in Norfolk, Va in 1825 3
- Thomas McAlpine, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
- Charles B McAlpine, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1893 3
McAlpine migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
McAlpine Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. John McAlpine U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 became a Freeman in 1785 4
- Mr. Peter McAlpine U.E., (MacApline) (b. 1726) born in Inverness, Scotland from County of Tryon, New York, USA who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784, then resettled at Otnabog Lake, Upper Hampstead, Queens County, New Brunswick married to Elizabeth Watters having 6 children, he became a Freeman in 1785 and was listed as a Yeoman 4
- Mr. Walter McAlpine U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 4
McAlpine migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McAlpine Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- John McAlpine, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 5
- Catherine McAlpine, aged 45, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 6
- William McAlpine, aged 27, a groom, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 6
- Andrew McAlpine, aged 38, a weaver, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Switzerland"
McAlpine migration to New Zealand +
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:
McAlpine Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- G McALPINE, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
- Mr. Mcalpine, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Stuart" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1855 7
- Mrs. Mcalpine, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Stuart" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1855 7
- Mr. H. McAlpine, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 30th July 1861 7
- Mrs. McAlpine, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 30th July 1861 7
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name McAlpine (post 1700) +
- Christopher Walter "Chris" McAlpine (b. 1971), American retired NHL professional hockey player who played from 1994 to 2005
- William H. McAlpine, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Louisbourg, 1884 8
- W. W. McAlpine, American politician, Independent Candidate for village President of Highland Park, Michigan, 1903 8
- Stephen A. McAlpine (b. 1949), American Democratic Party politician, Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, 1982-90 8
- Peter E. McAlpine, American politician, Candidate for Wayne State University Board of Governors, 1972 8
- Peter B. McAlpine, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Wayne State University Board of Governors, 1976 8
- John R. McAlpine, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1956 8
- Frank D. McAlpine, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 8th District, 1992, 2002 8
- Christopher G. McAlpine, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Warner, 1869-70 8
- Blanton McAlpine, American politician, Mayor of Mobile, Alabama, 1845-48 8
- ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the McAlpine family +
- Mr. Al McAlpine (d. 1914), Canadian Second Class Passenger from Montreal, Quebec, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 9
Citations +
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- "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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA PARK 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/seapark1852.shtml
- South Australian Register Thursday 23rd November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Dirigo 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html