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McAdam History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

McAdam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The old Irish name McAdam and its variants are tied to the Anglo-Saxon "Adam," a given name which is itself derived from the Latin name "Adamus," meaning "earth."

Early Origins of the McAdam family

The surname McAdam was first found in many counties, and in all different corners of Ireland.

Adamnan or Adomnan (625?-704), "is supposed to have been born, about 625, in the south-west of the part of Ulster now known as Donegal, with the principal septs of which his parents were allied. Few details which can be accepted as authentic have been preserved in relation to Adamnan's career. In 679 he was elected abbot of Iona, being the ninth in succession to his eminent kinsman Columba, by whom the monastic institution on that island had been founded. Through his personal application, in 686, to Aldfrid, king of Northumbria, Adamnan effected the liberation of some of the Irish who had been carried off by pirates and retained in captivity there. About this period he became an advocate for adopting the Roman regulations as to the tonsure, and in relation to the time for the celebration of Easter. The Latin life of St. Columba-'Vita Columbæ'-who died in 597, is supposed to have been compiled by Adamnan in the interval between his visits to Ireland in 692 and 697. He is stated to have taken part in conventions and synods in Ireland, enactments ascribed to which were styled 'Adamnan's Rule' and 'Canones Adomnani.' The latter, consisting of eight sections, were published by Martene. Adamnan died at Iona in 704, on 23 Sept., on which day he was commemorated as a saint in old Irish and Scottish calendars. " 1

Although most of the early records of Irish names have been lost, placenames such as Ballymacadam near Tralee, Castemacadam, Cadamstwon in County Kildare, and Adamstown in six different counties, are a testament to how widespread this name was in early times. The earliest recorded instance of the name seems to be of James, son of Thomas McAdam, who was among those a list that Lord Fermoy submitted to the Earl of Essex on promise of pardon as provision to his entering into rebellion, dated 21 August 1599.

"This well known English name has been used synonymously with Aidy and Eadie in Co. Down." 2

Early History of the McAdam family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAdam research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1641, 1791, 1801, 1808, 1814, 1815, 1818, 1832, 1842, 1861, 1875 and 1895 are included under the topic Early McAdam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAdam Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Adam, Adams, McAdam, MacAdam, MacCaw, MacCoddan and many more.

Early Notables of the McAdam family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McAdam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAdam migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McAdam Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Archibald McAdam, who landed in New England in 1685 3
George McAdam, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 3

McAdam Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joseph McAdam, who landed in Virginia in 1769 3
William McAdam, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1774 3

McAdam Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizth McAdam, who landed in America in 1804 3
Elijah McAdam, who arrived in America in 1805 3
John McAdam, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807 3
James G McAdam, who landed in New York in 1835 3
Peter McAdam, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McAdam migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McAdam Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James McAdam, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Mr. Joseph McAdam who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sobraon" departing 8th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 29th June 1847 but he died on board 4

McAdam migration to Australia +

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

McAdam Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss. Rose Ann Mcadam, (b. 1827), aged 23, Scottish house servant who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Sarah McAdam, aged 30, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 6
David McAdam, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Constantine"
Henry McAdam (aged 31), a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Aurora"

McAdam migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McAdam Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Mcadam, (b. 1835), aged 23, British shepherd travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 7
Mr. James Mcadam, (b. 1837), aged 21, British shepherd travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 7
Mr. James Mcadam, (b. 1838), aged 26, Scottish shepherd from Kirkcudbright travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 8
Mr. William Edward McAdam, (b. 1843), aged 31, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 8
Mr. William McAdam, (b. 1848), aged 26, Scottish farm labourer from Berwickshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McAdam (post 1700) +

Heather McAdam (b. 1968), American Young Artist Award nominated actress and yoga instructor
Doug McAdam, American Professor of Sociology at Stanford University, elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003
Sean McAdam, American baseball writer for FoxSports.com, CSNNE.com, and the Boston Herald
William McAdam, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1880 (alternate), 1884 9
Lon J. McAdam, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Niagara County 1st District, 1934, 1935 9
James McAdam, American politician, Mayor of Cadillac, Michigan, 1887-88 9
James McAdam, American politician, U.S. Consul in Belfast, 1854 9
George H. McAdam, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 15th District, 1887 9
George G. McAdam, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Oneida County 2nd District, 1888-89 9
Clarence McAdam, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 11th District, 1902 9
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McAdam family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. William McAdam, British Greaser from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 10

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Michael Mcadam, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 11

SS Atlantic

Mr. John McAdam, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

The McAdam 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: In cruce salus
Motto Translation: In the cross is salvation.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 85)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
South Australian Register Monday 27th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Edward Parry 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/siredwardparry1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/