McFaden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The McFaden family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name McFaden is derived from the personal name Paidean. The Gaelic forms of the surname are Mac Phadein or Mac Phaidin, both of which mean son of Paidean or little Pat. 1

Early Origins of the McFaden family

The surname McFaden was first found in Kintyre, where the late Rev. J. G. Campbell says: "MacFadyens were said to have been the first possessors of Lochbuie, and when expelled they became a race of wandering artificers, Sliochd nan or-cheard-the race of goldsmiths in Mull."

"The earliest record of the name is in 1304 when Malcolm Macpadene appears as a charter witness at Achichendone in Kintyre. Conghan MacPaden petitioned for the archdeaconry of Argyll in 1390. John McFadyeane is in record in Edinburgh in 1457, and in 1473 a composition was made with Donald M'Fadzeane in Kirkcudbright." 1

Early History of the McFaden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McFaden research. Another 417 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1499, 1507, 1511, 1532, 1540, 1618, 1620, 1628, 1641, 1643, 1672, 1675, 1681, 1684, 1733, 1737, 1741, 1769, 1794 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McFaden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McFaden Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McFaden has been written as McFadyen, Fadden, Fadyen, Faden, McFadin, Fadin, McFadwyn, Fadwyn, McFadyean, McFadyon, McFayden, Feyden and many more.

Early Notables of the McFaden family

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

Migration of the McFaden family to Ireland

Some of the McFaden 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.

McFaden migration to the United States +

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name McFaden or a variant listed above include:

McFaden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andrew, Edward, James, and Thomas McFaden, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718

McFaden 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:

McFaden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Martha Mcfaden, (b. 1847), aged 19, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 5th January 1867 2
Mr. Thomas Mcfaden, (b. 1847), aged 19, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 5th January 1867 2

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html