McIntosh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McIntosh

What does the name McIntosh mean?

The McIntosh surname comes from the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name, Mac an Toisich. McIntosh is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Many patronymic surnames were formed by adopting the given name of an ancestor of the bearer, while others came from popular religious names, and from the names of secular heroes. The surname McIntosh comes from the Gaelic name Mac an Toisich, which means "son of the chief, leader, or thane." Members of this distinguished Pictish family were originally found in Moray.

McIntosh Coat of Arms Creation

There exists a declaration from the Lord Lyon in the year 1672 in favour of the Laird of Macintosh, which says that he is the only undoubted Chief of the name of Macintosh and of the Clan Chattan, which comprehended Macpherson, Macgillivray, Farquharson, Macqueen, Macphail, Macbean, and others. This ended the claims of the chief of the Macphersons to be chief of the Clan Chattan.

In common with the Macphersons and the Sutherlands, they have a cat as their crest. Like the Macphersons, their motto is " Touch not the cat bot (without) a glove," and they have in their arms a right hand holding a dagger as a badge of their faithfulness to King Robert the Bruce in killing his enemy, the Cumming. They claim to be descended from Macduff, a Thane of Fife, and for this reason they have the red lion of Scotland in their shield. The boar's head in their shield shows that Lachlan Macintosh married Jean Gordon of Lochinvar, and there is a lymphad in memory of ancestors being driven to the coast of Caithness (Cattu), or as Nisbet has it, for marry-ing the heiress of the Clan Chattan. 1

Early Origins of the McIntosh family

The surname McIntosh was first found in Moray (part of the modern region of Grampian). The McIntosh family is said to descend from Seach MacDuff, who was awarded the lands of Petty and Breachley in Inverness-shire and was appointed Constable of Inverness Castle for his support of King Malcolm IV in the suppression of a rebellion in Morayshire in 1160. A son of Seach then assumed the name "Mac-an-Toisch," and thus began the Clan MacIntosh.

Early History of the McIntosh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McIntosh research. Another 424 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1314, 1336, 1396, 1411, 1594, 1704, 1715, 1745, 1746, 1833, 1890 and 1957 are included under the topic Early McIntosh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIntosh Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. McIntosh has been spelled Kyntosh, Intosh, Intoch, Toshe, Tosh, McKyntosh, McKintosh, McKintoisch, McKintoch, McIntosh, McComtosh, McKintowse, McIntosh, MacKyntosh, MacIntoch, MacIntosh, McIntoch, Mackintowse, MacKintosh and many more.

Early Notables of the McIntosh family

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

McIntosh World Ranking

In the United States, the name McIntosh is the 735^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name McIntosh is ranked the 446^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,660 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name McIntosh is the 313^rd popular surname with an estimated 11,387 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks McIntosh as 207^th with 2,708 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks McIntosh as 571^st with 11,382 people. 6

Migration of the McIntosh family to Ireland

Some of the McIntosh family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIntosh migration to the United States +

In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name McIntosh:

McIntosh Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander McIntosh, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 7
Duncan McIntosh, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 7
Ewen McIntosh, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 7
Lang McIntosh, who landed in Virginia in 1716 7
Loughlan McIntosh, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McIntosh Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas McIntosh, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 7
Andrew McIntosh, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1805 7
Angus McIntosh, who arrived in America in 1812 7
Allen McIntosh, aged 51, who arrived in New York in 1812 7
James McIntosh, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1812 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McIntosh migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McIntosh Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John McIntosh U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 8
Mr. John McIntosh U.E., (Glass) who settled in Canada c. 1784 8
Mr. Malcolm McIntosh U.E. who settled in Carleton, [Saint John West] New Brunswick c. 1784 8
Mr. Peter McIntosh U.E. (b. 1760) born in Inverness, Scotland who settled in South Glengarry, [Lancaster], Ontario c. 1784 he served in the Kings Royal Regiment of New York, married to Jane Fraser, he died in 1813 8
Mr. Peter McIntosh U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McIntosh Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ann McIntosh, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Anne McIntosh, aged 2, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
Anne McIntosh, aged 8, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Christian McIntosh, aged 3, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Donald McIntosh, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McIntosh migration to Australia +

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

McIntosh Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. David McIntosh, Scottish convict who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Robert McIntosh, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. John Mcintosh, (b. 1818), aged 16, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Donald McIntosh, British convict who was convicted in Kingston, Jamaica for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
Mr. Andrew McIntosh, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McIntosh 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:

McIntosh Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William McINTOSH, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Duchess of Argyle
Charles Hunter McINTOSH, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Portenia
Alexander McIntosh, aged 40, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
Margaret McIntosh, aged 39, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
John McIntosh, aged 10, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McIntosh (post 1700) +

Robert Robinson "Say" McIntosh (1944-2023), American political and civil rights activist
James "Jim" Stewart McIntosh (1930-2018), American silver medalist rower at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Elizabeth "Betty" Peet McIntosh (1915-2015), American spy, known for her undercover work during World War II who lived to be 100 years old
Maggie McIntosh (b. 1947), U.S. politician from Maryland
D. A. McIntosh, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1912, 1916 14
C. H. McIntosh, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nevada, 1912 (Honorary Vice-President) 14
Blanche McIntosh, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1948 14
Anne McIntosh, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1964 14
Angus McIntosh, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Schenectady County, 1858 14
Alexander C. McIntosh, American politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Iredell County, 1848-49 14
... (Another 56 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McIntosh family +

Halifax Explosion

Ms. Annie McIntosh, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Master William McIntosh (1911-1917), Canadian resident from Protestant Orphanage, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Mr. Joseph D. McIntosh (1874-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15

USS Arizona

Mr. Harry George Mcintosh, American Seaman First Class from Virginia, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16

Victoria steamboat disaster

Adeline F. McIntosh, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

Vimy Ridge

Oliver James McIntosh (1890-1917), Canadian Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917

McIntosh Motto and War Cry +

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: Touch not the cat bot a glove
Motto Translation: Don't touch the cat without a glove.
War Cry: "Loch Moy."

Citations +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html