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The ancestors of the first family to use the name McCristay lived among the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The name McCristay is derived from Christopher or perhaps from Christian. "Christie and Christy are all but invariably North English or Border surnames, Christian being a former favourite font-name in those districts. It is still a popular girl's name in the Scottish Lowlands." 1
The surname McCristay was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area where they held a family seat at Carvant. By 1296 they had moved northward to Stirlingshire and there is a section of the Stirling Antiquary called "the Christies and their doings." 2
"The surname is very common in Fife, which indeed seems to have been an early home of the name. In a charter dated 13th July 1457, granted by the abbot of Lindores to the burgh of Newburgh, John Chrysty appears as a burgess. John Chryste was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1530. Sir Robert Criste, presbyter, witness in Fife, 1547." 2
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCristay research. Another 235 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1476, 1541, 1565, 1569, 1582, 1590, 1597, 1602, 1605, 1612, 1634, 1688, 1710, 1730, 1748, 1761, 1766, 1773, 1774, 1784, 1796, 1797, 1800, 1803, 1810, 1816, 1823, 1829, 1831, 1838, 1840, 1865, 1874 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCristay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. McCristay has been spelled Christie, Chrystie, Chrysty, Christy, McChristie, McChristy, Christe, Christi and many more.
Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Hugh Christie (1710-1774), Scottish school-master and grammarian, the third son of Alexander Christie, great-uncle of William Christie, Unitarian writer [q. v.] He was born at Garvock, Kincardineshire, in 1710, and educated at King's College, Aberdeen, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1730. Soon after taking his degree he was a pointed rector of the grammar school of Brechin, an office which-the held until he was elected rector of the grammar school of Montrose, where he remained until his death (1774)
James Christie, the Elder (1730-1803), English auctioneer, resigned a commission in the...
Another 272 words (19 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCristay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name McCristay: Agnes Christie settled in Maryland in 1736; Thomas settled in Georgia in 1732; Richard settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Alexander Christy arrived in New York in 1738.