For many years, I couldn't find a clan associated with my surname (McCaughtry). Recently, however, I bought a surname history from a website and it states there was a Clan MacUchtry of Garvie in the Middles Ages.

This brings two questions to mind:

1) What are the chances the information in this kind of surname history is accurate?

2) Is there a source I can use to find a Clan Crest for a little known clan? My guess is Clan MacUchtry of Garvie died out a long time ago.

[cajunscot]

Originally Posted by billmcc

For many years, I couldn't find a clan associated with my surname (McCaughtry). Recently, however, I bought a surname history from a website and it states there was a Clan MacUchtry of Garvie in the Middle Ages.

This brings two questions to mind:

1) What are the chances the information in this kind of surname history is accurate?

2) Is there a source I can use to find a Clan Crest for a little known clan? My guess is Clan MacUchtry of Garvie died out a long time ago.

1. Does the web site have any sources/works cited listed? If not, then I would be very wary of its accuracy. Given the fact that you bought a history of the surname, I would suppose that this is a "bucket shop". Bucket Shop histories of surnames are usually very generalised and provide little or no documentation. Can you send the URL of the web site?

A quote from Matt's District Tartans web site is appropriate here:

There are perhaps about 8000 different Scottish surnames. This does not take into account the multiple spelling variations that might exist for a single name. Only about 25 to 30% of Scottish surnames have a connection (historic or romantic) to a clan. [See Matt's footnotes in article for sources]

-- http://www.district-tartans.com/intro.htm

2. It's possible that someone with the surname MacUchtry did bear arms at one point, and if there was a Clan MacUchtry, the chief may have had his own arms -- the "clan badge" is actually the "Chief's Crest badge", because the device in the center was the crest of the Chief's Arms. Given the fact that it's an obscure surname, if such a badge did exist, you would have to have it made to order.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Todd

[Cawdorian]

Take a look at www.electricscotland.com, there is a section called "Family Tree". You can look under "Clans" or "Family History" at the top of the page and possibly find some information. There is also a "Sept" section under the Clans heading..

Some of these sections may also show the clan badges and symbols.

Good Hunting!

Originally Posted by cajunscot

1. Does the web site have any sources/works cited listed? If not, then I would be very wary of its accuracy. Given the fact that you bought a history of the surname, I would suppose that this is a "bucket shop". Bucket Shop histories of surnames are usually very generalised and provide little or no documentation. Can you send the URL of the web site?

2. It's possible that someone with the surname MacUchtry did bear arms at one point, and if there was a Clan MacUchtry, the chief may have had his own arms -- the "clan badge" is actually the "Chief's Crest badge", because the device in the center was the crest of the Chief's Arms. Given the fact that it's an obscure surname, if such a badge did exist, you would have to have it made to order.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Todd

Todd,
1. I think you would call this website a "bucket shop." You are correct, the surname history is generalised and provides no documentation.
Here is the URL:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/4crests/index.html

2. Hunting down the coat of arms for a very distant relative doesn't really interest me. I just wondered if there was a book or something that showed clan crests of the past and present.

Cawdorian,
Thank you for your input.

[cajunscot]

2. Hunting down the coat of arms for a very distant relative doesn't really interest me. I just wondered if there was a book or something that showed clan crests of the past and present.

There are ways to see if there was such a clan, if that clan had a chief and bore arms, and if the crest of the arms was ever used as a "clan badge"; the Scottish Heraldry Society and the Lyon Court would probably be the two best places to start.

Cheers,

Todd