Contents [hide]

Mc Tavish History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Mc Tavish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

On the Scottish west coast, the Mc Tavish family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Tammas, which is the Lowland Scottish form of Thomas. The Gaelic forms of the name are Mac Tamhais or Mac Thamhais, both of which mean son of Tammas.

Early Origins of the Mc Tavish family

The surname Mc Tavish 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 the first recorded Chief was MacGilla Tamhais whose name became anglicized as MacIltavish. A later Chief, Collen, called the 'good bald Colin' of Dunardarie, son of Gillespick, was directly descended from the Tavish Corr. Although it is reasonably clear that the Clan was settled in Craignish well before 800 AD, the historical records show little of their activities or family relationships.

Although many historians list this Clan as a sept of the Campbells, and others claim that a relationship to the Frasers existed, there is no good reason to suppose these relationships were the result of anything other than geographical proximity. There has also been some confusion between the MacTavishes and the MacThomas. Here also, the relationship is tenuous - the Thomsons being a separate Border Clan with its own Chief at that time. The Chief of the MacTavishes is considered to be the MacTavish of Dunardrie.

Early History of the Mc Tavish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mc Tavish research. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1355, 1755, 1815, 1858 and 1997 are included under the topic Early Mc Tavish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mc Tavish Spelling Variations

In various documents Mc Tavish has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. MacTavish, McTavish, MacTaffish, McTaffish and many more.

Early Notables of the Mc Tavish family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mc Tavish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mc Tavish family to Ireland

Some of the Mc Tavish family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mc Tavish migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Mc Tavish Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Simon McTavish, who arrived in New York in 1764
Elizabeth McTavish, who landed in New York in 1765 1
Simon McTavish, who landed in New York in 1765 1
Donald McTavish, who arrived in Albany, NY between 1772-1790

Mc Tavish Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James McTavish, who settled in New York in 1822
Isabella McTavish, who arrived in Boston in 1849
Mr. McTavish, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 1

Mc Tavish migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mc Tavish Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Alex McTavish U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he eventually returned to New York, USA 2

Mc Tavish Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Catherine McTavish, who settled in Quebec in 1815
John McIntosh/McTavish, aged 35, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
Mary McIntosh/McTavish, aged 29, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
John McIntosh/McTavish, aged 3, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
Ann McIntosh/McTavish, aged 1, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Baltic Merchant" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mc Tavish migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mc Tavish Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret McTavish, (Milligan), Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years , transported aboard the "Aurora" on 22nd April 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
John McTavish, aged 32, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Mc Tavish (post 1700) +

Megan McTavish (b. 1949), American television actress and soap opera writer
Devon McTavish (b. 1984), American soccer player
Patrick McTavish (b. 1990), American child actor
Robert 'Bob' McTavish (1888-1972), Scottish professional footballer
John Kay McTavish (1885-1926), Scottish footballer
Graham McTavish (b. 1961), Scottish television actor
Robert McTavish, Canadian documentary filmmaker
Gordon McTavish (b. 1954), former Canadian professional ice hockey centre
Dale B. McTavish (b. 1972), Canadian professional ice hockey player
Simon McTavish (1750-1804), Scots-Quebecer entrepreneur and the pre-eminent businessman in Canada
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Mc Tavish 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: Non oblitus
Motto Translation: Do Not Forget Me after Death.

Citations +

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)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
South Australian Register Thursday 20 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SHACKAMAXON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/shackamaxon1853.shtml