Show ContentsMcCaull History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

On the Scottish west coast, the McCaull family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the Gaelic surname of Scottish origin, which means son of the battle chief.

Saint Gall (550?-645?), originally named Cellach or Caillech, was abbot and the apostle of the Suevi and the Alemanni, and appears to have been the son of Cethernach, an Irishman of noble lineage, of the sept of Hy-Cennsealach, his mother being, it is asserted, a queen of Hungary. 1

The MacGall variant was later derived from the Gaelic Mac goill, or Mac an ghoill, 'stranger's son,' 'Lowlander.' 2

The MacCall variant was from the Gaelic MacCathail, 'son of Cathal,' "the M'Calls of Guffokland were an old Nithsdale family. Robert M'Kawele, was Lord of Karsnelohe, c. 1370-1380." 2

Early Origins of the McCaull family

The surname McCaull 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 they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

The Maccalls of Dumfriesshire were settled there as early as 1500, "and are said to be descended from the Macaulays. John M'Call is recorded in Cumbray, 1583 (Hunter, p. 31). Matthew McCall in Maybole, charged with reset of rebels in 1607, appears a few days later as McEall (RPC., XIV p. 507). Quintigern Makcall, bailie of Edinburgh, 1610." 2

Early History of the McCaull family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCaull research. Another 215 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1629, 1684, 1686, 1688 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCaull History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCaull Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. McCaull has appeared as MacAll, MacColl, MacCole, MacCall, MacAul, Mccall and others.

Early Notables of the McCaull family

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

Migration of the McCaull family to Ireland

Some of the McCaull family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


McCaull migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The McCaull were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

McCaull Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick McCaull, who landed in Mississippi in 1838 3
McCaull Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Janet McCaull, aged 61, originally from Bradford, England, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Saxonia" from Liverpool, England 4
  • Hilda McD. McCaull, aged 22, originally from Belfast, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Aquitania" from Southampton, England 4
  • Charles Natheniel McCaull, aged 62, who arrived in New York in 1921 aboard the ship "Cedric" from Liverpool, England 4

Contemporary Notables of the name McCaull (post 1700) +

  • Colonel John A. McCaull (1846-1894), Scottish-born, founder of the McCaull Comic Opera Company, in New York City in 1880


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. 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)
  4. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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