Makay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Makay

What does the name Makay mean?

Makay comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the personal name Aodh, which is often Anglicized as Hugh. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Aoidh, which means son of Aodh.

Early Origins of the Makay family

The surname Makay was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, 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 Scotland.

Early History of the Makay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Makay research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1304 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Makay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Makay 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 Makay has appeared as Mackie, Mackey, MacHugh and others.

Early Notables of the Makay family

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

Migration of the Makay family to Ireland

Some of the Makay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Makay migration to the United States +

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Makay or a variant listed above:

Makay Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Makay, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1812 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Makay (post 1700) +

Donald Makay, Canadian artist
Margit Makay (1891-1989), Hungarian film actress

The Makay 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: Labore
Motto Translation: By labour.

Sources +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)