| ![Show Contents]() McElhiney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McElhiney is the Gaelic expression "the son of the servant Storm." Early Origins of the McElhiney familyThe surname McElhiney 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, where they held a family seat from early times. One of the first records of the family was "Celestine Mac Alowne [who] received a grant of Balemakinrain (now Ballikinrain) in the earldom of Lennox from his kinsman Donald, earl of Lennox, c. 1333-1364. John Macalowne [appeared on an] inquest at Nam in 1431. " 1 Early History of the McElhiney familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McElhiney research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1428 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McElhiney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McElhiney Spelling VariationsThe 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 McElhiney has appeared as MacAloney, McAloney, MacAlonie, McAlonie, MacIlhenny, McIlhenny, MacIlhinny, McIlhinny, MacIlhiney, McIlhiney, MacIlhinney, McIlhinney, MacIldowney, McIldowney, MacIldownie, McIldownie, MacGilloney, McGilloney, MacGillonie, McGillonie, MacAlloon, McAlloon, MacAlooni, McAlooni, MacElheaney, McElheaney, MacElhiney, McElhiney, MacElhinney and many more. Early Notables of the McElhiney familyMore information is included under the topic Early McElhiney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the McElhiney family to Ireland
Some of the McElhiney 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.
| McElhiney 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 McElhiney were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:
McElhiney Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Thomas McElhiney, who landed in America in 1795-1798 2
McElhiney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- William McElhiney, who was naturalized in Westmoreland Co. Pennsylvania in 1818
- George McElhiney, a Jacobite sent to Maryland in 1841
- Patrick McElhiney, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860
| Contemporary Notables of the name McElhiney (post 1700) | + |
- Thomas Watkins McElhiney (b. 1919), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, 1968
- Anne R. McElhiney, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1964
- Thomas W. McElhiney (1919-1998), American diplomat, Commissioner-General for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (1977-1979)
- William K. "Bill" McElhiney (1915-2002), American musical arranger and trumpeter, known for his work with Ray Charles, Connie Francis, Johnny Cash, Floyd Cramer, Johnny Tillotson and Patsy Cline
- Ashley Reneé McElhiney Ayers (b. 1981), American gold medalist basketball coach and former college player
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: Aonaibh ri cheile
Motto Translation: Unite.
- 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)
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McElhiney migration to the United States 
