McDavitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Irish McDavitt surname is derived from the Irish Gaelic Patronymic name "Mac Daibheid," which means son of David.
Early Origins of the McDavitt family
The surname McDavitt was first found in on the Inishowen peninsula, in County Donegal, where a sept of this name claim David O'Doherty (d. 1208,) a chief of Cenel Eoghain, as their ancestor.
Early History of the McDavitt family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McDavitt research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McDavitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McDavitt Spelling Variations
A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name McDavitt include MacDaid, MacDavid, McDavid, Dade, MacDade, Devitt, MacDevitt, MacDavitt and many more.
Early Notables of the McDavitt family
More information is included under the topic Early McDavitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McDavitt migration to the United States +
Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name McDavitt:
McDavitt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Cornelius McDavitt, who arrived in Baltimore in 1846
- Francis McDavitt, who settled in Philadelphia in 1850
- Geo McDavitt, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 1
- William McDavitt, who arrived in California in 1869 1
McDavitt Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- James McDavitt, who landed in St Clair County, III in 1902 1
McDavitt migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
McDavitt Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- John McDavitt, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1820
- John McDavitt, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
McDavitt migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McDavitt Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Thomas McDavitt, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Admiral Boxer"
McDavitt 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:
McDavitt Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Denis McDavitt, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Soukar" in 1874
Contemporary Notables of the name McDavitt (post 1700) +
- Terry Joseph McDavitt JP (b. 1948), New Zealand politician and activist from Dannevirke, 19th Deputy Mayor of Wellington City (1988-1989), Wellington City Councillor (1983-1992)
Citations +
- 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)