The history of the McCristall name began with the ancient
Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from
Christopher, an ancient and popular font name which has been common since the 12th century.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. Another source claims the name was "derived from a geographical locality. 'of Cristall.' I cannot find the spot, but
Yorkshire seems to have been the home of the surname."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)Early Origins of the McCristall family
The surname McCristall was first found in
Yorkshire where one of the first records of the name was Robert de Cristall who was registered in the
Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) Scotland was another homeland for the family and in this case, "it is certainly a diminutive or pet form of Christopher. The first form was an old surname in Foveran and it was not uncommon in Prestwick,
Ayrshire, in the fifteenth century"
[3]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Early History of the McCristall family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCristall research.
Another 329 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1470, 1474, 1491, 1567, 1650, 1672 and 1790 are included under the topic Early McCristall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCristall Spelling Variations
Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore,
spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the McCristall family name include Chrystal, Cristall, Cristoll, Cristole, Cristell, Crystal, Crystall, MacCrystall, MacCristall and many more.
Early Notables of the McCristall family (pre 1700)
Another 23 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCristall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the McCristall family to Ireland
Some of the McCristall family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the McCristall family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
McCristall Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Eliza J. McCristall, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
The McCristall 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: Mens conscia recti
Motto Translation: A mind conscious of rectitude.