The surname MacCainish originally appeared in Gaelic as "O Cathain" or "Mac Cathain."
Early Origins of the MacCainish family
The surname MacCainish was first found in County
Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of
Ulster. At one time, the areas was named O'Cahan Country.
Early History of the MacCainish family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCainish research.
Another 259 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1196, 1617, 1641, 1644 and 1819 are included under the topic Early MacCainish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacCainish Spelling Variations
The recording of names in
Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name MacCainish revealed
spelling variations, including Keane, Kane, Kayne, Keaney, Keny, Keyne, O'Kane, O'Keane, O'Cahan, Cahan, Kean, O'Cain, McCloskey, McCluskey, McClaskey and many more.
Early Notables of the MacCainish family (pre 1700)
Prominent amongst the family at this time was Ruaidri Dall Ó Catháin (
fl. late 16th/early 17th century), an Irish harper and composer; and Echlin O'Kane, one of the most famous of all Irish Harpists. Manus O'Cahan's Regiment of Foot was a body of soldiers, many of who had fought in Europe...
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacCainish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the MacCainish family to the New World and Oceana
In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the
Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and
Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the MacCainish family came to North America quite early: Charles Kane settled in New London Conn. in 1811 with his family; Charles, David, Francis, Henry, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and William Kane all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870.
The MacCainish 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: Felis demulcta mitis
Motto Translation: A stroked cat is gentle.