McCurdy

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McCurdy is a surname of Scottish origins.

Contents 1 Scottish nobility 2 Descendency and diaspora 3 See also 4 Sources

[edit] Scottish nobility

McKirdys were the principal possessors of the island of Bute at a very early period; they belonged to the tribes who possessed the western islands of Scotland, long under the Crown of Sweden."

Subsequently James IV, King of Scots in 1489, leased the Crown property in Bute, which in 1503 was embodied in one general charter of the 30th Parliament, land assigned to the MacKuredys, Makarartys, McVarathy, Stewarts, etc, the greater portion being assigned to the MacKuredys, consisting of the following properties:

1. "To Gilkrist Makurerdy, half of Brothog and Beausayer, and the 22 shilling and three penny land of Baron."
2. "To Gilkrist Makurerdy, Jr., the eleven shillings and five penny land of Baron."
3. "To Finlay Makurerdy, half of Langilculcreith and half of Kerrymanch and half of Stramanan."
4. "To John Makurerdy, half of Stramanan and half of Danallid."
5. "To Donald Makurerdy, two-thirds of Brigadill and Langilculcathla."
6. "To Alexander Makuredy, half of Cowleing."

The most of the above properties descended to Robert Makurerdy, the Baron of Garratchy. There are traditions existing in many families that the McKirdys descended from a chieftain named Gilkrist, who was supposed to have flourished about 1525; whether this was Gilkrist of Brothog, his son Gilkrist, or a son of one of the other Makurerdys mentioned in the general charter is unknown. Be that as it may, Gilkrist the chieftain had four sons: Gilkrist, Donald, Finlay and John.

Donald was the father of Donald Jr. and Alexander; the latter's son Robert was the father of Robert, the Baron of Garratchy, to whom most of the feued lands descended. Donald, Jr. was probably born about 1550 and may be properly termed the "Founder of the MacKirdys" as he was the first, so far as known, to contract the name from Makurerdy. Of his children we have no authentic account except of his son Fingal, who was killed with his father in a battle with a Cameron clan in 1600, so Fingal's son Donald became their heir.

Donald MacKirdy was born about 1598; he married Peggy Cameron, a great grand daughter of James IV, King of Scots; they had six sons: Irven; Pethric, Fingal, Daniel, Gilkrist and Alexander; of two of these sons, nothing is known.

Pethrick McCurdy was probably born about 1648. His father's name undoubtedly was Daniel, the son of Donald and Peggy MacKirdy. Pethrick McCurdy married Margaret Stewart, a descendant of King Robert II of Scotland. Her father, Charles Stewart of Ballintoy, Ireland was the son of Ninian Stewart of Kilchattan and his wife Grizel; he was the son of Sir James Stewart, whose father was Sir Ninian of Nether Kilmory in 1532; his father was Sir Ninian, who was born in 1469 and succeeded his father as Sheriff of Bute; he was made Castellan of Rothsay by King James IV Stewart. Sir James was the son of Sir John Stewart who was born in 1360 and died in 1449; he was Sheriff of Bute; he married Janet Semple of Eliotstown. Sir John was the son of King Robert II of Scotland.

[edit] Descendency and diaspora

It is through the marriage of Petheric McCurdy to Margaret Stewart that most McCurdy families in the Eastern and Southern United States can trace their roots as Petheric and Margaret's sons John, Daniel and James immigrated to Pennsylvania and South Carolina during the Colonial period.

• The names of McCurdy, McCready, McCurry, McQuady and other similar names are generally believed to have descended from the MacKirdy stock as research in many cases have proven.

[edit] See also

Famous name bearers:

• James McCurdy
• Pat McCurdy

[edit] Sources

(incomplete)

• Information taken from the Public Domain Historical Genealogy of the McCurdy Family by D.E. McCurdy