Show ContentsMcCredie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of McCredie

What does the name McCredie mean?

A family in the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland was the first to use the name McCredie. They lived in Ayrshire.

Early Origins of the McCredie family

The surname McCredie was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the McCredie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCredie research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCredie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCredie Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name McCredie has been spelled MacCreadie, MacCredie, MacCready, MacReady, MacRedie and many more.

Early Notables of the McCredie family

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

Migration of the McCredie family to Ireland

Some of the McCredie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


McCredie migration to the United States +

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of McCredie:

McCredie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas McCredie, who arrived in New York in 1823 1

Contemporary Notables of the name McCredie (post 1700) +

  • William Wallace "W. W." McCredie (1862-1935), American politician, U.S. Representative from Washington
  • Walter Henry McCredie (1876-1934), American Major League Baseball player for the Brooklyn Superbas in 1903 and later manager for 18 years in the minor leagues
  • Colin McCredie (b. 1972), Scottish actor, best known for his role as DC Stuart Fraser in the STV drama Taggart
  • Nancy McCredie (1945-2021), Canadian three-time gold medalist track and field athlete in the 1960s, from Belleville, Ontario
  • Malcolm McCredie (b. 1942), former Australian cyclist who competed in the individual road race at the 1964 Summer Olympics
  • Andrew Dalgarno McCredie (b. 1930), Australian musicologist
  • Robert McCredie May OM, AC, FRS, FAA, FTSE, FRSN, HonFAIB (1936-2020), Baron May of Oxford, Australian scientist who was formerly Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, President of the Royal Society, winner of the 1998 Balzan Prize for biodiversity


The McCredie 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: Semper paratus
Motto Translation: Always prepared.


  1. 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)


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