Mackay Family Tree research resources
Research the background of the Mackay Family Tree using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 10831 people with the Mackay surname? In that year Mackay was ranked number 377 for popularity in the UK. |
"The son of the champion. They claim to be descended from Ymore, son of Donald of Strathnavern, a descendant of Achonacher (claimed as an ancestor of the family of Forbes), who came from Ireland about the end of the twelfth century. "(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)
Mackay records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Mackay family tree. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Mackay family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Mackay family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Mackay family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Mackay family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Mackay family. |
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Historical References
"MACKAY, MACDE, MACCAY. Gaelic MacAoidh, "son of AODH,' q.v. Nothing certain is known of the origin of the northern Mackays beyond the fact that they were early connected with Moray, and may have been a part of the ancient Clann Morgunn. The Inverness-shire Mackays are usually called in Gaelic Mac Ai, that is, MacDhai, or Davidson; they formed a branch of Clan Chat tan (Skene, Highlanders, p. 421). In 1326 there is entry of a payment by Gilchrist M'Ay, progenitor of the Mackays of Ugadale, to the constable of Tarbert (ER., i, p. 53, and intro., p. Ixriv). Gilchrist Mac ymar McAy had a confirmation from Robert i of certain lands in Kintyre, to be held by him and his son, a minor, also named Giluchreist or Gilcrist, granted at Mayreth (Monreith) in Galwida, a. 1329 (RMS., i, App. i, 99). Odo M acid 11 was canon of Argyll, 1433 (Pap. Lett., vra, p. 468). Several payments were made to Robert Makgye (Macgye, Macye, M'Gy, Makgy, Magy), the king's jester between 1441-50 (ER., v). Gilnew McCay was tenant of Arskynnel Beg in Kintyre, 1506 (ER., xn, p. 707), and Niniane Makke and George McKe of Myretoun are mentioned in 1538 (RSS., n, 642). Patrick McKe was burgess of Wigtown, 1575 (RFC., ii, p. 503), and Daniel M'Cay was retoured heir of Iver M'Cay of Arnagise in the lands of Arnagiae and Ughaddell and in the office of coronator 'insulae et limitum de North Kintyre,' 1662 (Retours, Argyll, 71). Percy Wallace MacKaye (b. 1875), an American dramatist and poet. The unique Gaelic charter of 1408 was granted by Donald, lord of the Isles, to Brian Vicar Mackay of Islay (facsimile in Clan Donald, i, opp. p. 1). In Islay and in a lesser degree in Kintyre the a of Mac is prolonged, the c becoming prefixed to the surname, thus MacAoidh becomes MacCaidh on the east side of the island next to Kintyre, MacCaoidh in the middle as at Laggan. It is MacAoidh in the Rhinns. M'Alde 1559, McCa, McCaa, McKa, and McKaa all 1684, MacCey 1719, Maclye 1781, Mackai 1619, Maickie 1600, McKeiy 1618, Makhe 1538, Makie 1558, Mackkye 1588, Makkcee 1506, Makkie 1600, M'Ky 1663, Maky 1513, Makky 1567, Meikkie c. 1649; Makcawe, McCei, Mackaw, Makay, M'Kee, McKey, McKeye, Makkay, Makkaye, Makkey, Makee, Makkee, Macky, McKy, McKye. 0 "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Mackay ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Mackay Tree?
Visit our Mackay DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Mackay Family History
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Mackay Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Mackay family tree.
Check out Mackay Parish Records at Find My Past.
Investigate the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Mackay family name using the FreeBMD database.
Explore Genealogy Bank for Mackay family records.
Investigate MyHeritage for Mackay family data.
Explore the LDS Database for records of the Mackay family.
Research the Mackay surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Mackay Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 16124 people with the Mackay surname in the UK? Mackay is now ranked number 344 for popularity in the UK. |
Mackay Family History Databases
Check out WikiTree for user contributed Mackay family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Mackay data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Look at MyTrees for information on the Mackay family and people looking to contact living Mackay relations.
Investigate GENi for Mackay family records.
Find your Irish Mackay relatives on findmypast.ie
Mackay Forums
Research the Mackay surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 9115 people with the Mackay surname in the USA? Mackay is ranked number 154 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Mackay Databases
Search the Ellis Island Database for information on the Mackay family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Mackay surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Some people with the surname Mackay
Alan Alexander Andrew Angus Barry Billy Buddy Charles Claude Dave David Derek Donald Duncan Eric Frances Graeme Helen Hugh Iain Iven James Jimmy John Judith Katherine Keith Kim Malky Margaret Matthew Michael Mickey Murdoch Nancy Neil Newton Norman Patrick Peter Robert Roderick Ruth Samuel Skene Thomas Trudy Wendy
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