McCrackin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Early Origins of the McCrackin family

The surname McCrackin was first found in Wigtown (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Uige), formerly a county in southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway.

However, there is much dispute to the origin of the family. "Various explanations have been given of the origin of this name, the most likely of which is that it is "nothing but a variant owing to the action of two well-known dialectal processes of the name Macnauchton." Settlements from Argyll into Galloway were made about the middle of the eighth century and later, and Watson has pointed out that with regard to dedications in Galloway that there was a close connection between this region and Kintyre." 1

Spellings were very varied as we found: "Michael Makcraken was a follower of the earl of Cassilis respited for murder, 1526. Gilbert M'Crekane was burgess of Wigtown, and Michael M'Crekane notary public there, 1536, and burgess, 1546. John M'Crekane was vicar of Sorbie, 1536, notary public in Wigtown, 1539, and commissary of Fames and Rennys, 1542-1545." 1

Early History of the McCrackin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCrackin research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1526, 1536, 1540, 1628, 1767, 1791, 1796, 1798 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCrackin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCrackin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacCracken, MacCrachen, MacCrackan, MacCrackin and others.

Early Notables of the McCrackin family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Henry Joy McCracken (1767-1798), "United Irishman, was born in Belfast on 31 Aug. 1767, and brought up to the linen business. At the age of twenty-two he was placed at the head of a cotton factory. Adopting nationalist sentiments, he in 1791 joined with Thomas Russell in the formation of the first society of United Irishmen in Belfast, and gave himself enthusiastically to the working of designs. In October 1796 he was along with his brother William, and imprisoned in Kilmainham gaol for thirteen months. Ultimately he was liberated on bail, and returning...
Another 154 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCrackin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McCrackin family to Ireland

Some of the McCrackin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCrackin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCrackin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George McCrackin, who arrived in America in 1803 2
William McCrackin, who landed in New York in 1850 2

Contemporary Notables of the name McCrackin (post 1700) +

Tom McCrackin, American cameraman, known for his work on Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) and Jimmy Buffett: Live at Wrigley Field-The Labor Day Weekend Shows (2006)
Joe McCrackin (1959-2004), American actor, known for his work on Sling Blade (1996), Primary Colors (1998) and Daddy and Them (2001)
Jackson McCrackin, American co-discoverer of The McCrackin Mine, Wikieup, Arizona
Daisy McCrackin (b. 1981), American actress and singer-songwriter, best known for her role in Halloween: Resurrection (2002) and Love and Suicide (2005)
Maurice McCrackin (1905-1997), American civil rights and peace activist, tax resister and Presbyterian minister

The McCrackin 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: I hope in God

Citations +

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)
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)