McMechan Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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The Irish surname McMechan was originally O Miadhachain in Irish Gaelic, which is derived from the word "miadhach," meaning "honorable."

McMechan Early Origins

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The surname McMechan was first found in County Leitrim (Irish: Liatroim) anciently the western half of the kingdom of Breifne, located in Northeastern Ireland, in Leinster province, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

McMechan Spelling Variations

One explanation for the many variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname McMechan were found in the many archives researched. These included O'Meehan, Meighan, MacMeehan, MacMeekin, MacMeekan,MacMehan, MacMehon and many more.

McMechan Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMechan research. Another 236 words (17 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McMechan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMechan Early Notables (pre 1700)

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

The Great Migration

Many Irish families boarded ships bound for North America in the middle of 19th century to escape the conditions of poverty and racial discrimination at that time. Although these immigrants often arrived in a destitute state, they went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. An inquiry into many immigration and passenger lists has revealed many early immigrants to North America bearing the McMechan family name:

McMechan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Hen. McMechan, aged 46, who arrived in America from London, in 1892
Mary McMechan, aged 40, who arrived in America from County Mayo, in 1893
Patrick McMechan, aged 13, who arrived in America from County Mayo, in 1893

McMechan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Jane McMechan, aged 33, who arrived in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1907
Jeannie McMechan, aged 25, who arrived in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1910
Charles McMechan, aged 55, who arrived in America, in 1921
William McMechan, aged 32, who arrived in America, in 1921
Rebecca McMechan, aged 31, who arrived in America from Paisley, Scotland, in 1924

McMechan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John McMechan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm
Susan McMechan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm

Contemporary Notables of the name McMechan (post 1700)

Maurice H McMechan (1902-1988), American inventor and aviator, he invented and held a patent for an Orchard heating system in 1970 and built two aircraft: McMechan AC-2 and the McMechan 1936 aeroplane
John McMechan, Canadian politician, Member of the Toronto City Council in 1951
Kelly McMechan, Canadian curler from Manitoba at the 1990 Labatt Brier

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Citations

^ State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICOL. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840WilliamNichol.htm

Other References

Fitzgerald, Thomas W. Ireland and Her People A Library of Irish Biography 5 Volumes. Chicago: Fitzgerald. Print.
Vicars, Sir Arthur. Index to the Prerogative Wills of Ireland 1536-1810. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Print.
Johnson, Daniel F. Irish Emigration to New England Through the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick Canada 1841-1849. Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield, 1996. Print.
Bolton, Charles Knowles. Bolton's American Armory. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1964. Print.
Matthews, John. Matthews' American Armoury and Blue Book. London: John Matthews, 1911. Print.
Bell, Robert. The Book of Ulster Surnames. Belfast: Blackstaff, 1988. Print. (ISBN 10-0856404160).
Weis, Frederick Lewis, Walter Lee Sheppard and David Faris. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 7th Edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0806313676).
Egle, William Henry. Pennsylvania Genealogies Scotch-Irish and German. Harrisburg: L.S. Hart, 1886. Print.
Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).
O'Hart, John. Irish Pedigress 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4).
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The McMechan Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The McMechan Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 22 November 2014 at 19:13.