MacCrimmon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

The ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name MacCrimmon is a nickname for a person noted as a guardian. The name, which is Mac Cruimein in Gaelic, is derived from the Old Norse Hromund, which means famed protector. "The late Dr. Alexander Carmichael, who gives the Gaelic form of the name as Maccriomthain, says that a woman of the name in St. Kilda recited some of the island songs to him. " ^[1]

Interestingly, Crimond is a parish, in the district of Deer, county of Aberdeen. "This place once contained a castle belonging to the celebrated Cumyn, Earl of Buchan, which stood on a small hill called Castlehill, and was suffered to fall into ruins after his fatal defeat at the battle of Inverury by Robert Bruce. " ^[2]

Early Origins of the MacCrimmon family

The surname MacCrimmon was first found in on the Isle of Skye, where they were hereditary Pipers to the MacLeods of Dunvegan and founded the famous College of Piping, the most celebrated of its kind in the world.

"A family of the name were hereditary pipers to Macleod of Macleod, the last of whom, Lieut. MacCrimmon, had a farm in Glenelg in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. The name is found on one of the rune-inscribed crosses at Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, as Rumun. " ^[1]

Early History of the MacCrimmon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCrimmon research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 153 and 1533 are included under the topic Early MacCrimmon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacCrimmon Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. MacCrimmon has appeared as MacCrimmon, MacRimmon, MacCrummen, MacCrummin, Crimmon, Crimmons, Crimmin and many more.

Early Notables of the MacCrimmon family (pre 1700)

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

MacCrimmon migration to the United States +

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name MacCrimmon or a variant listed above include:

MacCrimmon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Donald MacCrimmon, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1847

MacCrimmon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacCrimmon Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Donald MacCrimmon U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 ^[3]

Contemporary Notables of the name MacCrimmon (post 1700) +

Brenna MacCrimmon, Canadian folk singer

The MacCrimmon 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: Permitte caetera divis
Motto Translation: Leave the rest to the Gods.

Citations +

^ Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
^ Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X