Origins Available: English,
Irish
The
Anglo-Saxon name McAdow comes from the family having resided in the settlement of Concliff in the county of
Lancashire. The surname McAdow belongs to the large category of
Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The name in Anglo Saxon meant "War love."
Early Origins of the McAdow family
The surname McAdow was first found in
Lancashire where Nicholas le Cumbecliue was first listed in the Assize Rolls of
Lancashire in 1246. The name traces back to Cundcliff, now known as Cunliffe Hill, in the township of Billington, near Blackburn in
Lancashire.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) The
Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 - 1276 list Robert de Cundeclif in
Yorkshire.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) A few years later Adam de Cunliffe was listed in
Yorkshire 1317-1318.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) The Register of Freemen of the City of York in 1411 lists Thomas Cunclyff.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Early History of the McAdow family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAdow research.
Another 567 words (40 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1750, 1790, 1820 and 1871 are included under the topic Early McAdow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McAdow Spelling Variations
McAdow has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few
hundred years,
spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Cunliffe, Cuncliffe, Concliffe, Conliffe, Cunlife, Conlife, Cunliff, Conliff and many more.
Early Notables of the McAdow family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early McAdow Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the McAdow family to the New World and Oceana
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in
England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first McAdows to arrive on North American shores: Henry Cunliffe who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630; John and Esther Cunliffe arrived in Maryland in 1775 and later settled in Virginia; John Cunliffe settled in New York State in 1775.
Contemporary Notables of the name McAdow (post 1700)
- Jim C. McAdow, American Democrat politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Buchanan County 3rd District, 1949-50 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The McAdow 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: Fideliter
Motto Translation: Faithfully.