Contents [hide]

Macrae History Etymology Coat of Arms Creation Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Sources

Macrae History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Macrae

What does the name Macrae mean?

The clans of the ancient Scottish Pictish tribe were the ancestors of the first person to use the name Macrae. It was name for a prosperous person. The Gaelic form of the surname Macrae is Mac Rath, which literally means son of grace or son of prosperity.

Macrae Coat of Arms Creation

Nearly three centuries ago there was a great bagpipe competition held in Kintail, the home of the Macraes, and pipers from far and near came to compete. The supreme test was to play a particular tune all the way up to the top of a hill in the neighbourhood.

Two of the competitors were nearing the top together, but one of them, a Macrae, was a step or two in front of his rival, who, in his chagrin, pulled out his dagger and pricked the other's bagpipe; but Macrae managed to get his foot on the topmost rock just as the wind failed, and exclaimed " Sguir-oran," which is now the name of this hill and the slogan of the Macraes. From this incident the Macraes then took for their crest a bared right arm with the hand holding a dagger, and the motto " Fortitudine " (with fortitude).

Early Origins of the Macrae family

The surname Macrae was first found in Inverness-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) divided between the present day Scottish Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles, and consisting of a large northern mainland area and various island areas off the west coast, the shire was anciently both a Pictish and Norwegian stronghold, but their ancient history is often clouded with conjecture. It appears certain that they lived before the 14th century at Clunes, to the west of Inverness in the territories of the Fraser Clan. Consequently the family has always been friendly towards that Clan. From about 1400, they moved to the location with which they are readily associated, Kintail.

Early History of the Macrae family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Macrae research. Another 548 words (39 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1425, 1477, 1505, 1539, 1688, 1715, 1745, 1764, 1778 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Macrae History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Macrae Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Macrae has been spelled MacCrae, MacCraith, MacCrath, MacCraw, MacCray, MacCrea, MacCree, MacCreight, MacCrie, MacReagh, MacRae, MacRay, MacRie and many more.

Early Notables of the Macrae family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

the Earl of Seaforth who forfeited his lands in 1715, but in 1764 was allowed to buy the lands back from the Government. In gratitude he offered to raise a regiment to be known as the Seaforth Highlan...

Macrae Ranking

In the United States, the name Macrae is the 12,579^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Macrae family to Ireland

Some of the Macrae family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Macrae migration to the United States +

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Macrae:

Macrae Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nancy Macrae, who arrived in North Carolina in 1771 2
Nancy MacRae, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1772 2

Macrae Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Duncan MacRae, who arrived in New York, NY in 1836 2
Roderick and John MacRae, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1840
John MacRae, aged 27, who landed in New York, NY in 1893 2

Macrae Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alexander Macrae, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Aultchruin, Scotland, in 1908
Agnes Macrae, aged 28, who settled in America from Coupar, Scotland, in 1909
Anna B. Macrae, aged 19, who settled in America from Maryburgh, Scotland, in 1910
Alexander Macrae, aged 25, who immigrated to America from Strathcarron, Scotland, in 1913
Bella MacRae, aged 8, who landed in America from Stornaway, Scotland, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Macrae migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Macrae Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Blanche L. MacRae, aged 33, who settled in Vancouver, Canada, in 1911

Macrae migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Macrae Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Macrae, aged 24, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1851 3
Anne Macrae, aged 20, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1851 3
Mary Macrae, aged 16, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1851 3
Archibald Macrae, aged 14, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1851 3
Duncan Macrae, aged 11, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1851 3

Macrae migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Macrae Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander Macrae, aged 18, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1878
Mr. Duncan Macrae, (b. 1849), aged 29, Scottish shephrd from Ross departing on 10th August 1878 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 9th November 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Macrae (post 1700) +

Elizabeth Hendon MacRae (1936-2024), American actress who performed in dozens of television series and in nine feature films, including her recurring character as Lou-Ann Poovie on the sitcom Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
Sheila MacRae (1922-2014), American actress, probably best known for her role as Alice Kramden in a 1960s revival of "The Honeymoooners" with Jackie Gleason
Heather MacRae (b. 1946), American stage, film and television actress, best known for her work with Woody Allen
Meredith Lynn MacRae (1944-2000), American actress and singer, best known for her roles as Sally Ann on My Three Sons (1963-1965) and as Billie Jo on Petticoat Junction (1966-1970)
William MacRae (1834-1882), American brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War
Gordon MacRae (1921-1986), American two-time Primetime Emmy Award nominated actor and singer, known for his roles in two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Oklahoma! (1955) and Carousel (1956)
Calum MacRae (b. 1980), Scottish rugby union skills coach
John Duncan Macrae (1905-1967), Scottish actor
Duncan Macrae (1905-1967), Scottish actor and comedian
Stuart MacRae (b. 1982), Canadian professional ice hockey forward
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Macrae 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: Fortitudine
Motto Translation: With fortitude.

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Lysander.htm