Can any one help me find information
regarding the Macdonald name
I know there are 3 ways McD, MacD, and
the way I spell mine
Both my father and grandfather born in
Stornoway on the isle of Lewis insisted
on this spelling and I have never known why
Any info would be appreciated
Thanks in advance Gordon Macdonald

Hi: The family I've been researching also spells Macdonald. I heard that it would identify them or where they were from. I have researched the line from Ross S. MacDonald to his father, Rosswell Claire Macdonald, to his father Walter to his father Robert Macdonald and to his father Daniel Macdonald. Daniel was born in New Brunswick in 1790. He moved to Hallowell Twp, Prince Edward Co., Ontario in the early 1800's. His wife was Catherine and I believe she also was born in N.B. Robert, Walter and Rosswell Claire all were born in Hallowell Twp in Prince Edward Co. I have no idea where in Scotland them came from. Because you listed the small "d", I felt compelled to answer your message. Hope to hear from you.

My E-Mail address has been changed to:

lizswhite@verizon.net

Hi there,
I'm not sure how helpful this info will be to you...anyway,oddly enough My dad is called Gordon Macdonald and is also from Stornoway (that said,neither are uncommon west coast names).Im from Scotland too. With regard to the spelling of the name you may/or may not know :
the prefix 'Mac' is Scottish Gaelic for 'Son of', so the name literally means 'Son of Donald' stemming back to the Origins of The Clan .The 'Mc', "MacD' & 'macd' are (as far as i am aware ) just a result of the spellings evolving over centurys,many poor people never learned to read or write and so it was the responsibility of the minister/registrar to keep all records. I hope that helps a little bit ,i have quite alot of info about the Macdonald clan..if you are interested feel free to e-mail me and i can send you some stuff when i get a chance :)

Eilidh

Hi there,
I'm not sure how helpful this info will be to you...anyway,oddly enough My dad is called Gordon Macdonald and is also from Stornoway (that said,neither are uncommon west coast names).Im from Scotland too. With regard to the spelling of the name you may/or may not know :
the prefix 'Mac' is Scottish Gaelic for 'Son of', so the name literally means 'Son of Donald' stemming back to the Origins of The Clan .The 'Mc', "MacD' & 'macd' are (as far as i am aware ) just a result of the spellings evolving over centurys,many poor people never learned to read or write and so it was the responsibility of the minister/registrar to keep all records. I hope that helps a little bit ,i have quite alot of info about the Macdonald clan..if you are interested feel free to e-mail me and i can send you some stuff when i get a chance :)

Eilidh

oops i meant to include (with regard to Elizabeths message)...The most influential Macdonald Clan were from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland,They ruled the western isles (were stornoway is) hundreds of years ago and their clan is reffered to 'Macdonald lord of the isles' (thats who my family are descended from , however there are other Macdonald clans such as 'Macdonald of Clanrannald' (the clan who were victims of the massacre of Glencoe),'Macdonalds of Keppoch','Macdonalds of Sleat','Macdonalds of GlenGarry'........

They are all Highland clans though,none of them originated near or after the central belt.

Clan mottos include 'By Sea and by Land'(lord of the isles),'My hope is constant in thee'(Clanrannald),'The rock of the raven' (Glengarry).

To my small knowledge it was generally people of 'Macdonald of Clanrannald' and 'Macdonald of GlenGarry' who travelled to live in America...

MacD (or any other Mac[upper case letter] was supposed reserved for the head of the clan with the macd form being taken by lesser mortals. The McD form most likely originates through poor literacy and/or laziness either of the owner or other parties addressing that person. Although I use the Macd form my GG Grandfather used the McD style in his latter years

I have before me a copy of a page taken from the Register of Marriages in Stornoway 1796. The whole page is written in the same hand and the writer appears to swing from Mc to Mac indiscriminately. For example, a Lewis McDonald, Sailor in Stornoway, married Katharine MacKenzie lawful daughter of Murdock McKenzie, Sailor. Why are the father and daughter's surnames spelt differently?

Also a Donald MacDonald, Shipmaster in Stornoway married Christian McLeod lawful daughter of Neil McLeod Weaver in Stornoway.

My adoptive family is Macdonald with the small d and my grandfather has the family traced back to the Mayflower but the Macdonald doesn't come in until my great- great- grandmother Amiee Jane Perkins who marrys John Collinwood Macdonald and has Carence Gerard Macdonald who marrys Margaret Oldfield and has my grandfather Wallace Cameron Macdonald and he's says that the Macdonalds are the Macdonalds of the Glencoe Massacre

Hello Edith
I have just read your positing in regards to the spelling of Macdonald and history of the Clan Macdonald, I would be grateful if will send me any thing on the history of the clan, I have managed to trace my forefathers back to the late 1700s but cant seem to get any further back. Any info and tips would gratefully appreciated . To ian@ifmacdonald.fsnet.co.uk

Regards Ian F Macdonald.