Megel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Megel

What does the name Megel mean?

The name Megel was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Megel family lived in Galloway. The Megel surname also comes from the Gaelic patronytmic name Mac an Ghoill, which means "son of the stranger."

Early Origins of the Megel family

The surname Megel was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway), 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 Megel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Megel research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1231, 1579, 1582, 1595, 1734 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Megel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Megel Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Megel has appeared as MacGill, Magill, Makgill and others.

Early Notables of the Megel family

Sir James MacGill of Nether Rankeillour (died 1579), a Scottish politician, Lord Clerk Register to Mary, Queen of Scots; and his son, David MacGill or Makgill (died 1595) also known as David MacGill of Cranstoun...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Megel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Megel family to Ireland

Some of the Megel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Megel migration to the United States +

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, Clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them:

Megel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Wendel Megel, who landed in New York in 1709 1

The Megel 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: Sine fine
Motto Translation: Without end.

Sources +

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)