Show ContentsMcElmon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Clan from whom the McElmon family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from a devotion to St. Munn. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Gille Mhunna, which means son of the servant of St. Munn.

Early Origins of the McElmon family

The surname McElmon 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 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 McElmon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McElmon research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1526 and 1646 are included under the topic Early McElmon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McElmon Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name McElmon include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include MacMunn, MacIllmunie, MacIllmoon, MacMun and others.

Early Notables of the McElmon family

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

Migration of the McElmon family

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Alexander, Charles and William McMunn, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1850 to 1870; and Samual McMun settled in New Hampshire in 1718.


Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. John N  McElmon (1835-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 1


The McElmon 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: Omnia vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers all things.


  1. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance


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