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McBeth History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McBeth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of McBeth

What does the name McBeth mean?

The western coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the McBeth family. Their name is derived from the names of Macbeth and Bethune, or Beaton. The Macbeth and Bethune families, who were hereditary physicians to the Chiefs of Macdonald, practiced medicine on the Isles during the Middle Ages and their names merged in English into the one surname of Beaton. The Macbeths were concentrated in Islay and Mull, whereas the Beatons were concentrated in Skye.

Early Origins of the McBeth family

The surname McBeth was first found in the Isle of Islay, where legend has it that the progenitor of this Clan is none other than Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findláich) (1005-1057), the High Steward of Moray. As his mother was a daughter of King Kenneth III, and he married Grudoch, a daughter of the son of King Kenneth III, he had as much of a claim to the Scottish throne as King Duncan I. MacBeth, therefore, challenged Duncan and defeated him in battle in 1040, assuming the throne.

Known in English simply as Macbeth, he was last Celtic king of Scotland, ruling from 1040 to 1057, when he died in battle against future king Malcolm of the Canmore dynasty.

He is best known through the Shakespearean drama bearing his name. Thespians rarely mention the play by the name and typically call it "the Scottish play" as they believe that by uttering the name brings one bad luck.

Early History of the McBeth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McBeth research. Another 184 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1600, 1609 and 1763 are included under the topic Early McBeth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McBeth Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. McBeth has appeared as McBeth, Beaton, Beeton, MacBeth, MacBeaton, McBee and many more.

Early Notables of the McBeth family

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

McBeth Ranking

In the United States, the name McBeth is the 10,049^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

McBeth migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The McBeth were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

McBeth Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John McBeth, who arrived in New York in 1789 2

McBeth Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander McBeth, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1801 2
Mathew McBeth, aged 33, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
J McBeth, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 2

McBeth migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McBeth Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Adam McBeth, aged 6, who landed in Canada in 1815
Christian McBeth, aged 14, who landed in Canada in 1815
George McBeth, aged 16, who arrived in Canada in 1815
Margaret McBeth, aged 18, who landed in Canada in 1815
Molly McBeth, aged 18, who landed in Canada in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McBeth 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:

McBeth Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J McBETH, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" 3
Jane McBeth, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 4
John McBeth, aged 27, a gardener, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 4
James McBeth, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 4
J McBETH, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McBeth (post 1700) +

Marcus Andre McBeth (b. 1980), American Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher
W Francis McBeth (1933-2012), American composer, professor of Music at Ouachita University, Arkansas
John A. McBeth, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1886-90 5
Alexander McBeth, American politician, Member of Ohio State Senate from Champaign County, 1810-12 5
John McBeth (1944-2023), New Zealand author and journalist who spent the majority of his career spent in Southeast Asia

Historic Events for the McBeth family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. John McBeth, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 6

The McBeth 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: Conjuncta virtuti fortuna
Motto Translation: Good fortune is allied to bravery

Citations +

"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)
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html