McFadyen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McFadyen is the personal name Paidean. The Gaelic forms of the surname are Mac Phadein or Mac Phaidin, both of which mean son of Paidean or little Pat. 1
Early Origins of the McFadyen family
The surname McFadyen was first found in Kintyre, where the late Rev. J. G. Campbell says: "MacFadyens were said to have been the first possessors of Lochbuie, and when expelled they became a race of wandering artificers, Sliochd nan or-cheard-the race of goldsmiths in Mull."
"The earliest record of the name is in 1304 when Malcolm Macpadene appears as a charter witness at Achichendone in Kintyre. Conghan MacPaden petitioned for the archdeaconry of Argyll in 1390. John McFadyeane is in record in Edinburgh in 1457, and in 1473 a composition was made with Donald M'Fadzeane in Kirkcudbright." 1
Early History of the McFadyen family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McFadyen research. Another 417 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1499, 1507, 1511, 1532, 1540, 1618, 1620, 1628, 1641, 1643, 1672, 1675, 1681, 1684, 1733, 1737, 1741, 1769, 1794 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McFadyen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McFadyen 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 McFadyen has appeared as McFadyen, Fadden, Fadyen, Faden, McFadin, Fadin, McFadwyn, Fadwyn, McFadyean, McFadyon, McFayden, Feyden and many more.
Early Notables of the McFadyen family
More information is included under the topic Early McFadyen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the McFadyen family to Ireland
Some of the McFadyen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McFadyen 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 McFadyen were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:
McFadyen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Duncan, James, and William McFadyen, who settled in Philadelphia in 1780
McFadyen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Allen McFadyen, aged 35, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1874 2
McFadyen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Annie McFadyen, aged 17, who landed in America from Cork, Ireland, in 1906
- Bridget McFadyen, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States from Portumns, Ireland, in 1906
- Edward McFadyen, aged 0, who landed in America from Lanark, Scotland, in 1908
- Daniel C. McFadyen, aged 25, who settled in America from Govan, Scotland, in 1910
- Allan McFadyen, aged 23, who immigrated to America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
McFadyen migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McFadyen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- James McFadyen, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Marion" 3
McFadyen 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:
McFadyen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. John Mcfadyen, (b. 1832), aged 30, Scottish farm labourer, from Argyle travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 20th October 1862 4
- Margaret McFadyen, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannah Landles" in 1880
- Angus McFadyen, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hannah Landles" in 1880
Contemporary Notables of the name McFadyen (post 1700) +
- May Adele McFadyen, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1956
- Liane "Buffie" McFadyen, American politician, County Commission of Pueblo County, Colorado (2013-)
- John Edgar McFadyen (1870-1933), Scottish theologian, Professor of language, literature and Old Testament theology at the University of Glasgow
- Kenneth Charles "Ken" McFadyen (b. 1939), Australian official war artist for the Vietnam War
- Hugh Daniel McFadyen (b. 1967), Canadian lawyer and politician, Leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (2006-2012)
- Luke Charles McFadyen (b. 1982), Australian international rugby player
- Donald "Don" Phillip McFadyen (1907-1990), Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Jock McFadyen (b. 1950), contemporary British painter
- Scot McFadyen, Canadian film director, producer and music supervisor
- Ian McFadyen (b. 1948), Australian writer, actor, and director
Historic Events for the McFadyen family +
- Mr. Walter E McFadyen (b. 1913), English Sergeant serving for the Royal Marine from Guisborough, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 5
Citations +
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- 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)
- South Australian Register Tuesday 12th December 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marion 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marion1854.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm