Show ContentsMakie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Makie

What does the name Makie mean?

In the Scottish/English Borderlands, the Strathclyde Britons were the first to use the name Makie. It is derived from the Gaelic name Aodh, meaning Hugh, and the word mac, meaning son of. 1

Early Origins of the Makie family

The surname Makie was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area.

The first on record was Gilmighel Mac Ethe of Dumfries who rendered homage to King Edward I in 1296. "In the following year, as Gille Michel MacGethe, he was thanked by Edward I for putting down evildoers and for other services. Neel McEthe, Gillecryst McEthe, Hoen McEthe, Cuthbert his brother, and all of the lineage of Clenafren, made submission to Edward I in 1298. Michael Macgethe was juror on an inquisition in Annandale, 1304." 2

Early History of the Makie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Makie research. Another 311 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1331, 1339, 1424, 1426, 1444, 1463, 1471, 1473, 1480, 1500, 1506, 1527, 1570, 1574, 1595, 1611, 1673, 1682 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Makie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Makie Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Makie has been spelled MacGee, MacGhie, MacGhee, Magee and others.

Early Notables of the Makie family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Gilbert M'Ghie, 1st Lord of Balmage (d. 1426); Gilbert M'Gy, 2nd Lord of Balmage (1426-1471); William M'Gye of Balmage and...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Makie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Makie family to Ireland

Some of the Makie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Makie migration to the United States +

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them:

Makie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Makie, who landed in South Carolina in 1809 3


  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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