McCaslin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McCaslin is the Gaelic form of Absolom, which means peace. Historically this name can be found in The Bible, as the name of the third son of King David, who was killed for rebellion against his father.
Early Origins of the McCaslin family
The surname McCaslin 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 and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Early History of the McCaslin family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCaslin research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1421, 1692, 1716, 1766 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCaslin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCaslin Spelling Variations
The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McCaslin has appeared as MacAuslan, MacAslan, MacAsland, MacAusland, MacAuslane, Mac Auslin, MacCauslan, MacCausland, MacCauseland and many more.
Early Notables of the McCaslin family
Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Baron Alexander MacAuslan who reputedly killed the Duke of Clarence, brother of King Henry V of England at the Battle of Beauge in Normandy in 1421.
Further to the south in Wales, William Caslon the Elder (1692-1766), the famous type-founder, was born in 1692 at Cradley, Worcestershire, near Halesowen, Shropshire. He served his apprenticeship to...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCaslin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCaslin Ranking
In the United States, the name McCaslin is the 6,533rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1
Migration of the McCaslin family to Ireland
Some of the McCaslin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCaslin migration to the United States +
Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McCaslin were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:
McCaslin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Samuel McCaslin, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1840 2
- Matthew McCaslin, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1851 2
- Robert McCaslin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1858 2
Contemporary Notables of the name McCaslin (post 1700) +
- Mary McCaslin (1946-2022), American folk singer who wrote, recorded, and performed contemporary folk music, a pioneer of open guitar tunings, and known for her distinctive vocal style, known for With Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade (1979), Rainforest Roadshow (1986) and Girls from Santa Cruz (2003)
- Eugene William McCaslin Jr. (b. 1977), former American college and NFL professional football player
- Donny McCaslin (b. 1966), American jazz saxophonist
- Susan Elizabeth McCaslin (b. 1947), Canadian poet from Fort Langley, British Columbia
- Jason Paul "Cone" McCaslin (b. 1980), Canadian musician, best known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Sum 41
The McCaslin 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: Audaces juvat
Motto Translation: Fortune favours the bold.
Citations +
- "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)