Hamish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Hamish

What does the name Hamish mean?

The Hamish surname is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Tómais," meaning "son of Thomas." 1

Early Origins of the Hamish family

The surname Hamish was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where the history of this particular Clan actually begins with another larger clan from which the MacThomases are derived, the Clan MacKintosh. 1

The clan's progenitor was Adam M'Intosh, son of William, of Garvamore, son of the seventh chief of the Clan MacKintosh and held a family seat at Garvamore in Badenoch about the 13th century. The name most frequently became M'Thomas (son of Thomas) but was often spelt M'Thomis, M'Homie, M'Omie, M'Comie and others. The Thoms variant was first listed as Patrick Hunter Thoms, son of George Thomas. From this spelling the Thowmis, Thowms and Thownis spellings were derived.

Early History of the Hamish family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hamish research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1537, 1587, 1590, 1597, 1678 and 1681 are included under the topic Early Hamish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hamish Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacThomas, MacComas, MacComie, McColm, Thoms and others.

Early Notables of the Hamish family

More information is included under the topic Early Hamish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hamish family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: William McThomas settled in Philadelphia in 1828.

Contemporary Notables of the name Hamish (post 1700) +

Dr Hamish MacInnes (b. 1930), Scottish mountaineer, leading mountain search and rescuer, author and advisor
Alfred Hamish Reed MBE (1875-1975), English-born, New Zealand publisher
Hamish Graeme Hardie (1928-2023), British sailor who competed in the 6 Metre event at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Hamish Harding (1964-2023), born George Hamish Livingston Harding, British businessman, pilot, explorer, and space tourist based in the United Arab Emirates, one of the five people inside a submersible that went missing in the North Atlantic while en route to view the wreckage of the Titanic on 18 June 2023
Hamish McGlashan (1963-1988), Australian rower at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Hamish Keith More (1940-2022), Scottish cricketer who represented Scotland in first-class cricket from 1966 to 1976 and in List A cricket in 1980
Hamish Brayshaw (b. 1998), Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League
Hamish McLachlan (1967-2020), Australian rower who competed in the men's eight event at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Hamish MacInnes OBE FRSGS (1930-2020), Scottish mountaineer, explorer, mountain search and rescuer,"the father of modern mountain rescue in Scotland"
Mr. Hamish George Gordon Cormack O.B.E., M.B.E., British Lieutenant Colonel for The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017

The Hamish Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Deo Juvante Invidiam Superabo
Motto Translation: With God's help, I will overcome envy

Sources +

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)