Show ContentsMcClintock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

McClintock is one of the names derived from the families of the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Gille Ghionndaig, commonly MacGilliondaig, which means son of the servant of St. Finndag or son of the fair young man. 1 S. Findan was founder of the monastery of Clonard in Belfast Ireland. "Fintan, Fintoc (whence later Fionndoc), are diminutives of Finn, later Florin." 1

Early Origins of the McClintock family

The surname McClintock 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.

One of the first records of the family used an ancient spelling, M'Gillindak who is author of a poem in the Dean of Lismore's Book. "The Maclintocks belong to Luss and thereabouts and in the district of Lorn around Lochaweside from 1500. Duncan Mc gellentak, witness in Balquhidder, 1549. " 1

"MacClinton is a variant of Maclintock, q v., from the form Fintan. William McClintoun was messenger in Kyle in 1569 (RMS.). Finlay Macklintoun appears in the parish of Torphichen in 1676 (Torphichen)." 1

Early History of the McClintock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McClintock research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1611, 1684, 1692, 1693, 1757, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McClintock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McClintock Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents McClintock has been spelled MacClintock, MacLintock, MacLinden, MacAlinden and many more.

Early Notables of the McClintock family

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

McClintock Ranking

In the United States, the name McClintock is the 3,498th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the McClintock family to Ireland

Some of the McClintock family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States McClintock migration to the United States +

The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name McClintock arrived in North America very early:

McClintock Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Timothy McClintock, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 3
  • Joseph McClintock, who arrived in America in 1795-1798 3
  • William McClintock, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1799 3
McClintock Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Matthew McClintock, who arrived in South Carolina in 1803-1806 3
  • James McClintock, who arrived in South Carolina in 1806 3
  • John McClintock, who landed in South Carolina in 1809 3
  • Robert McClintock, who arrived in New York in 1820 3
  • Nathaniel McClintock, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1823 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada McClintock migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McClintock Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Andrew McClintock, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Bartley" in 1833
  • Thomas McClintock, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Bartley" in 1833
  • Miss Margaret McClintock who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Tamarac" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 5th July 1847 4
  • Miss Ruth McClintock who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Tamarac" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 5th July 1847 4

New Zealand McClintock 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:

McClintock Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Alexander Mcclintock, (b. 1850), aged 16, British labourer travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 5
  • Miss Mary Mcclintock, (b. 1847), aged 19, British nurse travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 5
  • Miss Matilda Mcclintock, (b. 1845), aged 21, British dairymaid travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 5
  • Mrs. Martha Mcclintock, (b. 1823), aged 43, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 5
  • Mr. Walter Mcclintock, (b. 1821), aged 45, British labourer travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McClintock (post 1700) +

  • Frank A. McClintock (1921-2011), American mechanical engineer in material science
  • Edward "Eddie" Theodore McClintock (b. 1967), American actor
  • Harry McClintock (1882-1957), nicknamed "Haywire Mac," an American country music composer
  • Barbara McClintock (1902-1992), American geneticist and biologist who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine
  • John McClintock (1814-1870), American Methodist Episcopal theologian and educationalist
  • James H. McClintock, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Phoenix, Arizona, 1902-14, 1928-33; Candidate for U.S. Senator from Arizona, 1922 6
  • J. Y. McClintock, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 1860 6
  • J. M. McClintock, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 1896 (alternate), 1900, 1908 (alternate) 6
  • E. L. McClintock, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Cape Girardeau County Democratic Party, 1939-43 6
  • Charles Blaine McClintock (1886-1965), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Ohio 16th District, 1929-33; Judge, Ohio Court of Appeals, 1946-63 6
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Robert McClintock, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 7
RMS Lusitania
  • Miss Margaret Mcclintock, Irish 2nd Class passenger residing in New York, New York, USA returning to Ireland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 8


The McClintock 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: Virtute et labore
Motto Translation: By valour and exertion.


Suggested Readings for the name McClintock +

  • Compendium of Family History for the McClintock Surname by Maureen L. McClintock Rischard.

  1. 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)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. 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. 43)
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  8. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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