Show ContentsMacCormac History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

MacCormac is one of the proud Scottish names to come from the Strathclyde clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is derived from the Gaelic name MacChormaig, which derives from the given name Cormac, meaning charioteer.

Early Origins of the MacCormac family

The surname MacCormac was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the MacCormac family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCormac research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1132, 1733, 1750, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1794, 1799, 1811, 1865 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacCormac History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacCormac Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years MacCormac has been spelled MacCormack, MacCormick, MacCormock, McCormick, McCormack, McCormock, Maccormick, Maccormack, Maccormock, McArmick, McCarmick, McCarmike, McKermick, Makarmik, McCornick, Cornick, Cormack, M'Kernock, MacCornack and many more.

Early Notables of the MacCormac family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Joseph MacCormick (1733-1799), Scottish divine, son of John Maccormick, a minister at St. Andrews, born in that town 22 Jan. 1733. He graduated M.A. at St. Andrews University in 1750 and was granted a bursary in theology from the university exchequer in the same year. After serving for some years...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacCormac Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the MacCormac family to Ireland

Some of the MacCormac family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 200 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States MacCormac migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were:

MacCormac Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Paul MacCormac, who arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "Minnetonka" from London, England [1]
  • Annie F. MacCormac, who arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "Minnetonka" from London, England [1]
  • Samuel Mac Cormac, aged 48, who arrived in New York in 1905 aboard the ship "Morro Castle" from Havana, Cuba [1]
  • John Mac Cormac, aged 41, originally from Blackwater, England, who arrived in New York in 1912 aboard the ship "Celtic" from Liverpool, England [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name MacCormac (post 1700) +

  • Sir Richard Cornelius MacCormac CBE, PPRIBA, FRSA, RA, (1938-2014), British architect, founder of MJP Architects, son of Dr. Henry MacCormac
  • Henry MacCormac M.B, Ch.B, F.R.C.P., CBE, (1879-1950), Britain dermatologist, son of John MacCormac
  • John MacCormac (1791-1865), Irish timber merchant who pioneered the timber trade in the Colony of Sierra Leone, son of John MacCormac
  • John MacCormac (b. 1811), prosperous British linen merchant from County Armagh, Northern Ireland, considered to be the progenitor of the family there
  • Henry MacCormac (1800-1886), British physician and candidate for a chair at Queen's University in Northern Ireland
  • Sir William MacCormac KCB KCVO (b. 1836), 1st Baronet, British surgeon, a strong advocate of the antiseptic surgical methods proposed by Joseph Lister

RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Margarita Christina MacCormac, Indian Stewardess from India, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [2]


  1. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  2. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


Houseofnames.com on Facebook