Catenach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Catenach

What does the name Catenach mean?

The chronicle of the name Catenach begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic Cattanaich which means belonging to the Chattan or the Clan of the Cat. In Gaelic, the surname is known as Catan, but through Anglicization, the name becomes Cattanach and others.

Early Origins of the Catenach family

The surname Catenach was first found in Inverness, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Catenach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catenach research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1600 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Catenach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Catenach Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Catenach has been written Cattanach, Cattenach, Cattenoch, Catan, Catanoch and others.

Early Notables of the Catenach family

More information is included under the topic Early Catenach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Catenach family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Catenach: John Catanoch who settled in Wilmington N.C. in 1774 with his wife and four children. Archibald and William arrived in Philadelphia in 1855; but most of the Cattenachs settled in Glengarry county Ontario Canada with the MacDonalds, and in the census of 1852 there were 50 of the name recorded there..

The Catenach 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: Touch not the cat