Show ContentsMcKiddie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Pictish-Scottish name McKiddie comes from the Gaelic surname Mac Adaidh, which means son of Adam. Addie, Addy, Adie, Eadie, Eddie, and Edie are all pet forms or double diminutives of the name Adam.

Early Origins of the McKiddie family

The surname McKiddie was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where they held a family seat at Strathardle, in the valley of the Ardle Water.

The first of the Clan was Gillimichael M'Ade, famous in Strathardle tradition, who was alive in 1232. The name took on many forms as it emerged from the original Gaelic. MacAddie, MacKeddie, MacChaddy, and when it became fashionable to drop the Mac it became Addie, Keddie, Chaddy, even MacKiddie, and so on.

Their home and clan seat was deep in the forest of Strathardle at Petcarene. Some members of the Fergusons of the Balmacruchie became McAdies.

ONe of the first records of the family was "the ship of John Kede, a Scotsman, was wrecked at Holkham, Norfolk, England, in 1388," [1] but from that early recording we must wait almost two centuries to find the next. The same source note that "John Kady was in record in Dysart, 1577, Margaret Keddie in Falsyde, parish of Roberton, 1623, and Dorathia Kadie, was heir of Alexander Kadie, tailor in Edinburgh, 1616. " [1]

Early History of the McKiddie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKiddie research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1635, 1639, 1647, 1664 and 1670 are included under the topic Early McKiddie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McKiddie Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, McKiddie has been spelled MacAddie, McAddie, MacKeddie, McKeddy, MacKiddie, McKiddie, MacKedy, McKedy, MacKeddey, McKeddey, MacAdie, McAdie, Keddy, Keddie, Cheddy, Cheddie, Keddey, Kedy, Kiddie, Kiddy, Cheddey, MacEddie, McEddie, MacEddy, McEddy, Kede, Ceddy, Keddie, MacAdie and many more.

Early Notables of the McKiddie family

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


United States McKiddie migration to the United States +

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name McKiddie:

McKiddie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David McKiddie, aged 36, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Circassia" from Glasgow, Scotland [2]
  • Jessie McKiddie, aged 38, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Circassia" from Glasgow, Scotland [2]
  • Penelope McKiddie, aged 31, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Circassia" from Glasgow, Scotland [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name McKiddie (post 1700) +

  • Gavin Thomson McKiddie (b. 1940), Scottish former first-class cricketer, born in Forfar who played for Scotland in 1977
  • Chris McKiddie, British actor, known for Is It Me You're Looking For? (2011), Mirror God (2012) and Five Memories (2012)
  • William McKiddie Duncan (1913-1975), Scottish professional footballer who played for Blackburn Rovers, Carlisle United and Gillingham between 1933 and 1938


  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. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


Houseofnames.com on Facebook