Show ContentsMacMunn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • Scotland
MacMunn Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of MacMunn

What does the name MacMunn mean?

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the MacMunn family. Their name comes from a devotion to St. Munn. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Gille Mhunna, which means son of the servant of St. Munn.

Early Origins of the MacMunn family

The surname MacMunn was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, 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 MacMunn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacMunn research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1526 and 1646 are included under the topic Early MacMunn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacMunn Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. MacMunn has been recorded as MacMunn, MacIllmunie, MacIllmoon, MacMun and others.

Early Notables of the MacMunn family

  • MacMunn of Argyll

Migration of the MacMunn family

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name MacMunn, or a variant listed above: Alexander, Charles and William McMunn, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1850 to 1870; and Samual McMun settled in New Hampshire in 1718.

Contemporary Notables of the name MacMunn (post 1700)+

  • Jeff MacMunn (b. 1957), paralympic athlete, member of the gold medal volleyball team at the 2003 Para Pan American Games

The MacMunn 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: Omnia vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers all things.


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