McMickin

**Aspiringloser** · 17th February 12, 09:18 PM

It's my mother's maiden name. My grandfather died when I was 15. I'm now 34 and have only just now become interested in my family's Scottish ancestry. I've heard we are Irish and I've heard we are Scottish. I haven't been able to find a lot of info on the internet regarding the name McMickin. I thought maybe someone else on this forum might be able to shed some light. So shine on.

**Arnot** · 18th February 12, 02:46 AM

George F. Black's states in The Surnames of Scotland that this name and other spelling variants are "All Galloway names. Probably from Ir. MacMiadhachain ('son of Miadhachan') which Woulfe (p. 392) Englishes MacMeechan, MacMeekan, MacMeekin,etc." Your spelling is also listed with the other variants.

While this might not apply to your particular family, it could be a place to start.

**Aspiringloser** · 18th February 12, 07:22 AM

Thanks!! Every little bit helps.

**Kate** · 25th February 12, 05:27 PM

My family of Ulster Scots has the name McSkimming and other various spellings, too numerous to count. You sound like a "queer Mac" like me.

The name can be traced to Galloway.

An extract from "In Scotland Again" H.V. Morton p.26 & 27. a book once owned by John McSkimming. (b.1878).

"The meaning of Galloway is the 'Land of the Stranger Gaels'. It comes from all, a stranger and Gaidhel, the Gaels and it is interesting to find that these queer Macs or stranger Gaels still exist in great numbers in the local phone directory.

McCLUMPHA McCRINDLE McMEEKING McSKIMMING

McCUTCHEON McFADZEAN McQUAKER McHAFFIE

McKEAND McMIKEN McCUBBIN McDAVID

McWHIRTER McHARRIE

These names, many of which suggest the queer Macs that occurred in Ireland during the Irishing of the Normans go right back into Galloway history and their owners are as justly proud of them as more normal clansmen. The ancestry of the Galloway men is, therefore a long and honoured one, and I creep through the little stone towns gazing with awe and respect at the names of the strange Macs. Who knows what improbable things lie in the race memory of this people. If the recipe for heather ale exists, it may lie lost in the subconscious mind of someone called McSKIMMING."

**Aspiringloser** · 25th February 12, 06:11 PM

Thank you for this information!

**SlackerDrummer** · 29th February 12, 01:40 PM

The surname as spelled only shows up in Ireland (1.71 FPM - Midlands of Ireland 23.57 FPM) and the United States (0.34 FPM) on the World Family Names website (which is a fascinating place to spend some time BTW).

**ctbuchanan** · 29th February 12, 02:41 PM

This is an anglicized form of the Olde Gaelic (Scots and Irish) Mac Miadhachain. The Gaelic prefix 'mac' means 'son of', plus the personal name Miadhachan, composed of 'Miadhaeh', honourable and the diminutive suffix 'a(i)n'. William McMeekan is recorded as being a christening witness at Timplepatrick, Co. Antrim, on March 20th 1815, whilst James McMeekan is recorded at Donaghadee, County Down on August 8th 1845, when he married Eliza Jane Irwin. In the 'modern' idiom the name has no less than fifteen spelling variations including MacMeekin(g), MacMeeken, MacMechan, MacMickan, MacMychem etc.. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillecrist Mak Makin or M'Maykin, charter witness, which was dated circa 1185 - 'The Book of St. Mary of Melrose', Scotland, during the reign of King William, known as the Lion of Scotland, 1165 - 1214.

A bit more I found:
"MacMiadhachain Clan History: It appears likely that the clans origins were as Dalriada Scots from Ireland at some time prior to 800. If the Miadhachain connection is correct, Clan Miadhachain originates in County Clare, Ireland. It is possible that the clan split with those who emigrated to Scotland taking the surname MacMiadhachain while those who remained in Ireland took the surname O'Miadhachain."

I came across two tartans associated with the name: Carrick and MacInnis although both seem tenuous at best.

**ctbuchanan** · 29th February 12, 02:52 PM

And to muddy the waters a bit more;
http://mcmickingfamilytree.weebly.co...-gen-1-26.html

Aren't family surnames fun?
Cheers

**Aspiringloser** · 29th February 12, 03:08 PM

Thank you for these bits of information, gentlemen.

**ctbuchanan** · 29th February 12, 04:13 PM

One last go. It seems that there was a Barony with the name MacMicking which translated into a clan although I am not certain it is still in existence or Armigerous (no chief).

But I have now stumbled upon several sources that contain basically this same information:
The Clan MacMicking

•Branches: McMicking of Killantringan, McMicking of Miltonise
•Badge: a demi savage holding a spear with a quiver of arrows.
•Mottos: "Res Non Verba" (Deeds Not Words) "We Hae Dune" (We Have Done)
•Gaelic Name: MacMiadhachain
•Tartans: Carrick, Annan, Galloway (red and green)

Clan McMicking's earliest known origins: "Mahun (836) who accompanied Alpin from Kintyre on his invasion of Galloway." With Mahun counted as the first generation, generations 2-8 are not known at this time. Generation 9 was Rustid Mahun circa 1200 who was succeeded by his son Gildroth MacMahun, generation 11 was Angus MacMahun, 12 Uchtred MacMahun.

"The McMicking family represents the old Ayrshire and Wigtonshire McMickings. The McMickings of Killantringan [held] one of the most ancient baronies of Ayrshire and at various epochs of Scottish history were not undistinguished. One of their members, in 1427, lost his life through his adherance to the Lord of the Isles in a rebellion against King James of Scotland. At the Reformation the family took a prominent part in Ayrshire and during the reign of Charles II many of them suffered imprisonment and fines in the cause of civil and religious liberty. Sir Gilbert McMicking married Agnes MacDonald, daughter of John, Son of Angus, Lord of the Isles. Major Gilbert McMicking, C.M.G., of Miltonise, Wigtonshire, Scotland, who sat in the Imperial House for a number of years and who commanded the Royal Scots during the Great War, and Admiral Sir James Startin, are all members of this family."

The 12,000 acre estate called Killantringan was held by Clan McMicking from the mid 1300's until it was sold in 1839 to pay debts. Miltonise, a 7000 acre estate, located in Ayrshire, was acquired in the early 1700's, and remains in McMicking hands today.

There is a stunning lighthouse with that name as well
http://marinas.com/view/lighthouse/1...United_Kingdom