MacIndoe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of MacIndoe

What does the name MacIndoe mean?

The people known in ancient Scotland as the Picts were the forefathers of the MacIndoe family. It is a name for a pilgrim from the Gaelic word deoradh. The deoradh kept the relics of saints. The family have been the hereditary custodians of St. Fillan's Crozier. 1

Early Origins of the MacIndoe family

The surname MacIndoe was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland. Dewarton is a village, in the parish of Borthwick, county of Edinburgh. It is here that the Dewar family have held the estate of Vogrie since early times. 2

Early History of the MacIndoe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacIndoe research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1296 is included under the topic Early MacIndoe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacIndoe Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. MacIndoe has been written Dewar, Dure, Dewyer, Dewer, McIndeor, McJarrow and many more.

Early Notables of the MacIndoe family

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

Migration of the MacIndoe family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of MacIndoe: William and his wife Jane Dewar and two children settled in Antigua in 1774; John Dewar arrived in New York in 1823; Steven Dewer arrived in Antigua in 1679.

Contemporary Notables of the name MacIndoe (post 1700) +

Archibald MacIndoe (1900-1960), New Zealand plastic surgeon

The MacIndoe 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: Quid non pro patria
Motto Translation: What would not one do for his country.

Sources +

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.