M'coull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of M'coull

What does the name M'coull mean?

The ancestry of the name M'coull goes back to the Vikings, who settled on the rocky shores of ancient Scotland. M'coull was a name for a the Old Norse word sumarlithi, which means mariner, Viking, summer wanderer, or sailor.

Early Origins of the M'coull family

The surname M'coull was first found in the island of South Uist, 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. Descended from Somerled, King of the Vikings, scion of the MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, who died about 1057.

The first record of the name Somerled being used as a name was at Dunkeld, and the link between this person in 1169 and Somerled who had died 100 years before is not clear.

Another source notes that Sumerled or Somerled, Lord of the Isles (d. 1164), was "according to the Celtic tradition, the son of Gillebrede, son of Gilladoman, sixth in descent from Godfrey MacFergus, called in the Irish chronicle Toshach of the Isles; but some suppose him of Norse origin. " 1

Early History of the M'coull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our M'coull research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1238 and 1400 are included under the topic Early M'coull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

M'coull Spelling Variations

Contemporary spellings of ancient Scottish names often bear little resemblance to the original recorded versions. These spelling variations result from the fact that medieval scribes spelled words and names alike according to their sounds. M'coull has been spelled Somerled, M'Illurdy, M'Corle, M'Coull and many more.

Early Notables of the M'coull family

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

Migration of the M'coull family

The colonies on the fertile east coast of North America soon had many farms run by Scots. These hardy settlers provided a backbone for the great nations of the United States and Canada that would emerge in the next centuries. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name M'coull or a variant listed above, including: John Somerled who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1748.

The M'coull 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: Per Mare Per Terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.

Sources +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print