Show ContentsMcBee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of McBee

What does the name McBee mean?

The western coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the McBee family. Their name is derived from the names of Macbeth and Bethune, or Beaton. The Macbeth and Bethune families, who were hereditary physicians to the Chiefs of Macdonald, practiced medicine on the Isles during the Middle Ages and their names merged in English into the one surname of Beaton. The Macbeths were concentrated in Islay and Mull, whereas the Beatons were concentrated in Skye.

Early Origins of the McBee family

The surname McBee was first found in the Isle of Islay, where legend has it that the progenitor of this Clan is none other than Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) (1005-1057), the High Steward of Moray. As his mother was a daughter of King Kenneth III, and he married Grudoch, a daughter of the son of King Kenneth III, he had as much of a claim to the Scottish throne as King Duncan I. MacBeth, therefore, challenged Duncan and defeated him in battle in 1040, assuming the throne.

Known in English simply as Macbeth, he was last Celtic king of Scotland, ruling from 1040 to 1057, when he died in battle against future king Malcolm of the Canmore dynasty.

He is best known through the Shakespearean drama bearing his name. Thespians rarely mention the play by the name and typically call it "the Scottish play" as they believe that by uttering the name brings one bad luck.

Early History of the McBee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McBee research. Another 184 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1600, 1609 and 1763 are included under the topic Early McBee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McBee 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 McBee has appeared as McBeth, Beaton, Beeton, MacBeth, MacBeaton, McBee and many more.

Early Notables of the McBee family

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

McBee Ranking

In the United States, the name McBee is the 3,740th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


McBee migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McBee were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

McBee Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Vardry McBee, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 2

Contemporary Notables of the name McBee (post 1700) +

  • Vardy A. McBee (1775-1864), American saddlemaker, merchant, farmer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Lincoln County, 1860-61, often referred to as the father of Greenville, South Carolina 3
  • Charles Forest McBee (1860-1923), American entrepreneur and innovator, founder of the McBee Binder Co. in Athens, Ohio in 1906 which later featured the McBee One-Write Accounting System
  • Louise McBee (1924-2021), American politician, Member of the Georgia House of Representatives (2003-2005)
  • Richard D. McBee (b. 1964), American President, Chief Executive Officer, Director of Mitel Networks Corp
  • Lee McBee (b. 1951), American blues musician, singer and harmonica player
  • Rives McBee (b. 1938), American professional golfer
  • Deron Michael McBee (b. 1961), American actor and sportsman
  • Cecil McBee (b. 1935), American post bop jazz bassist
  • William K. McBee, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives 60th District; Elected unopposed 1973; Elected 1975 3
  • R. C. McBee, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1916 3
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The McBee 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: Conjuncta virtuti fortuna
Motto Translation: Good fortune is allied to bravery


Suggested Readings for the name McBee +

  • Out of the Wilderness by Janice Mercer.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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