The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name MacIlchattyn is
a devotion to St. Catan, a saint of whom little is known but who was revered throughout the west coast of
Scotland between the islands of
Bute and
Skye. The Gaelic form of the name was
Mac Gille Chatain, which means
son of St. Catan's servant.Early Origins of the MacIlchattyn family
The surname MacIlchattyn was first found in the area of
Argyllshire on the Isle of
Bute, and literally translated means the "servant of St. Catan," the patron saint of Bute,
Skye,
Colonsay, Gigha. St. Catan was said to have lived at the Abbey of Inchaffray on the isle of Skye.
Early History of the MacIlchattyn family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacIlchattyn research.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1465, 1672, 1670 and 1685 are included under the topic Early MacIlchattyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
MacIlchattyn Spelling Variations
The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of
spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years MacIlchattyn has appeared as McIlhatton, McElhatton, McElhatten, McGillecattan, McIlchattan, McHilhatton, Makelatyn, Macklehatton, McHatton and many more.
Early Notables of the MacIlchattyn family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early MacIlchattyn Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the MacIlchattyn family to Ireland
Some of the MacIlchattyn family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the MacIlchattyn family to the New World and Oceana
Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American
War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and
Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The MacIlchattyn were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown: James McElhatten settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1866; Arthur, Alexander, Cornelius, and John McIlhattan and McIlhatten settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1860 and 1866.