Show ContentsMcCutcheon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McCutcheon is Hugh or from the Old French word, Huchon.

Early Origins of the McCutcheon family

The surname McCutcheon was first found in Glasgow, where James Huchonsone held a land in 1454. "John Huchonson was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1466, George Huchunson, burgess of Glasgow in 1471 reappears as George Hucheson in following year. Thom Huchonson had a precept of remission for his share in burning Lochfergus, 1488, and Robert Huchonsone, 'sangster and master of the organis' in Aberdeen is referred to again in 1496 as Huchosone and Huchonsoun." [1]

Further to the south in England, the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 proved to have a variety of early spellings like their Scottish ancestors, specifically Isota Huchonson and Willelmus Hugchonson. "The last two are placed together, no doubt brother and sister: Mathew Huchonson and Johannes Huchesson." [2]

"In the 17th century the Hutchinsons held property around the city of Durham; at that time they were the most numerous and respectable of the yeomanry of the village of Bishop Middleham, but in the 18th century many of them migrated to Stockton and Whitton in the same county." [3]

Early History of the McCutcheon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCutcheon research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1497, 1504, 1521, 1580, 1589, 1624, 1639, 1641, 1659, 1662, 1694, 1702, 1713, 1727, 1740, 1746 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCutcheon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCutcheon Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McCutcheon has appeared as Hutcheson, Hutchison, Huchison, MacCutcheon, MacHutcheon, MacCutchin, MacCutchan, MacCutchen, MacCutchon and many more.

Early Notables of the McCutcheon family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was George Hutcheson (1580?-1639), of Lambhill, Lanarkshire, joint-founder with his younger brother Thomas [q.v.], of Hutcheson's Hospital, Glasgow, was the son of John Hutcheson, an old rentaller under the bishops of Glasgow in the lands of Gairdbraid. [4]Thomas Hutcheson (1589-1641), was a joint-founder with his elder brother George [q.v.] of Hutcheson's Hospital, Glasgow, followed, like his brother, the profession of public writer, and was keeper of the register of sasines of the regality of Glasgow and district. [4]The Rev. Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746), was an Irish philosopher from a family of Scottish Presbyterians...
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCutcheon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCutcheon Ranking

In the United States, the name McCutcheon is the 3,739th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the McCutcheon family to Ireland

Some of the McCutcheon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States McCutcheon migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McCutcheon were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

McCutcheon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Phedris McCutcheon, who landed in New England in 1719 [6]
McCutcheon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert McCutcheon, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1834 [6]
  • William McCutcheon, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1834 [6]
  • Samuel McCutcheon, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 [6]
  • Hugh McCutcheon, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 [6]
  • David McCutcheon, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
McCutcheon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • James McCutcheon, aged 38, who immigrated to America from New York, in 1903
  • James McCutcheon, aged 41, who immigrated to the United States from Douglas, Scotland, in 1904
  • Francis McCutcheon, aged 32, who landed in America from Douglas, Scotland, in 1904
  • Chrissie McCutcheon, aged 0, who immigrated to the United States from Larkhall, in 1904
  • H. Louise McCutcheon, who settled in America, in 1906
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada McCutcheon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCutcheon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James McCutcheon, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Salus" in 1833
  • John McCutcheon, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Prudence" in 1838
  • Miss. Eliza McCutcheon, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Araminta" departing 1st May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 20th June 1847 but she died on board [7]
  • Miss. Eliza McCutcheon, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Aberdeen" departing 1st May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 13th June 1847 but she died on board [7]
McCutcheon Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Alex McCutcheon, aged 60, who settled in Coburg, Ont., in 1905
  • Agnes McCutcheon, aged 24, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1911
  • David S. McCutcheon, aged 33, who immigrated to Calgary, Canada, in 1912
  • Ethel McCutcheon, aged 24, who immigrated to Calgary, Canada, in 1912
  • Gordon McCutcheon, aged 6, who settled in Calgary, Canada, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia McCutcheon migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McCutcheon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Charles McCutcheon, aged 24, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"
  • Elizabeth McCutcheon, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"

New Zealand McCutcheon 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:

McCutcheon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Mccutcheon, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 [8]
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Mccutcheon née Griffith, British settler travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 [8]
  • Mr. Hugh Mccutcheon, (b. 1838), aged 24, Irish farm labourer from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 [8]
  • Mr. George Mccutcheon, (b. 1831), aged 32, British shoemaker travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 [9]
  • Mrs. Sarah Mccutcheon, (b. 1835), aged 28, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 [9]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McCutcheon (post 1700) +

  • Lawrence McCutcheon (b. 1950), American NFL football player
  • General Keith B. McCutcheon (1915-1971), U.S. Marine Corps aviator seeing combat in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and ten Air Medals
  • Shaw McCutcheon (b. 1921), American editorial cartoonist
  • John T. McCutcheon (1870-1949), American political cartoonist
  • John McCutcheon (b. 1952), American folk music singer and multi-instrumentalist
  • George Barr McCutcheon (1866-1928), American popular novelist and playwright
  • Daylon McCutcheon (b. 1976), American college football player, son of Lawrence McCutcheon
  • Bill McCutcheon (1924-2002), American Emmy and Tony award winning actor
  • Stuart Norman McCutcheon (1954-1955), New Zealand university administrator, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland (2005-2020), Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington (2000-2004)
  • Lieut. Col. Kimberly Anne McCutcheon O.B.E., British Commanding Officer for First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and Emergency Response in London [10]
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania


The McCutcheon 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: Memor esto
Motto Translation: Be mindful.


  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. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. 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. 86)
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  11. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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