Skittie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Skittie

What does the name Skittie mean?

The ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name Skittie is a nickname for a particularly skilled archer having derived its origin from the Old Norse word skyti, which means archer. The Gaelic form of the name was Scideadh.

Early Origins of the Skittie family

The surname Skittie was first found in the island of Skye, where they were a Norse\Gael Clan whose Gaelic name was spelled Scideadh. This distinguished family were "gallowglasses" (mercenary soldiers) who were invited by the Earls of Desmond in southern Ireland to be a part of his formidable army.

Early History of the Skittie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Skittie research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1360, 1600, 1640, 1646, 1722 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Skittie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Skittie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Skittie has appeared in various documents spelled Skiddie, Skidie, Skidy, Skiddy, Skitty, Skittie and others.

Early Notables of the Skittie family

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

Migration of the Skittie family to Ireland

Some of the Skittie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Skittie 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: A. W. Skitty landed in America in 1800.

The Skittie 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: Non inferiora secutus
Motto Translation: Not having followed mean pursuits.