McKissock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McKissock is the personal name Isaac. The Gaelic forms of the name are Mac Isaac or Mac Iosaig, both of which mean son of Isaac. 1
Early Origins of the McKissock family
The surname McKissock was first found in Inverness, where one of the first records of the family was in 1476 when "the lands of Ardere in the barony of Clastray were resigned by Mariot, daughter of Molmoria M'Kesek." 1
Spelling variations for the family are quite varied: Mackessack, Mackissack, Mackissock, Mackissek, Makesaig (1592), Makkessake (1591), McKisack (1684) and many more.
In 1496, Donald Makessaig was recorded at Kilmun and he is probably the Donald McEsayg recorded in 1511. "John M'Intheir was convicted in 1623 for letting M'Keissik's 'bairnis the for hunger' in Breadalbane (BRT., p. 379 -there was probably a famine). Marion MacKissock was resident in the parish of Boyne, 1684, Elspet M'Kissick in Relliclone, parish of Madertie, 1658 (Dunkeld)." 1
Early History of the McKissock family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKissock research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1685 and 1871 are included under the topic Early McKissock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McKissock 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 McKissock has appeared as MacIsaac, MacIsaack, Kissock and others.
Early Notables of the McKissock family
More information is included under the topic Early McKissock Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McKissock 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 McKissock were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:
McKissock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- William McKissock, aged 62, who landed in New York in 1812 2
- Thomas McKissock, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1866 2
- Samuel McKissock, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 2
- John McKissock, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 2
- Peter McKissock, who landed in America in 1872 2
McKissock migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
McKissock Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Jane McKissock, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
McKissock migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McKissock Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Agnes McKissock, Scottish convict from Ayr, who was transported aboard the "Amphitrite" on August 21, 1833, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
- James McKissock, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Charlotte Jane" 4
- Elizabeth McKissock, aged 28, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"
- Mr. John McKissock, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 8 years, transported aboard the "Clara" on 28th January 1864, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 5
Contemporary Notables of the name McKissock (post 1700) +
- Thomas McKissock (1790-1866), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York (c. 1850)
- David McKissock, New Zealand "All Whites" former association footballer
- Andrew Nelson McKissock (1873-1919), Australian politician, Senator for Victoria (1914-1917)
- Sir Wylie McKissock OBE (1906-1994), British neurosurgeon, President of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons
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)
- State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Amphitrite voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1833 with 99 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/amphitrite/1833
- South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHARLOTTE JANE 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/charlottejane1852.shtml
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara