Show ContentsCatnach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • Scotland
Catnach Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Catnach

What does the name Catnach mean?

Catnach is an ancient Pictish-Scottish name. It 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 Catnach family

The surname Catnach 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 Catnach family

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

Catnach Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Catnach has appeared Cattanach, Cattenach, Cattenoch, Catan, Catanoch and others.

Early Notables of the Catnach family

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

Catnach migration to the United States+

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Catnach name:

Catnach Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Agnes Catnach, aged 29, originally from Newcastle, England, arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Catnach (post 1700)+

  • John Catnach (1769-1813), Scottish-born, Geordie printer and publisher, father of James Catnach
  • James Catnach (1792-1841), Northumberland-born, printer and major publisher of chapbooks in the Seven Dials district of London, born at Alnwick in Northumberland, 18 Aug. 1792, son of John Catnach, a printer of that town 2

The Catnach 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
  1. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  2. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 25 Nov. 2019

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