McCaskey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the McCaskey family were born. Their name comes from an ancient Norse warrior name Askell, which means cauldron of the Gods and denoted son of Asgaill.
Early Origins of the McCaskey family
The surname McCaskey was first found in living on the Islands of Skye and of Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas), where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. On Skye, ancestors of the McCaskey Clan occupied the district of "Rubha an Dunain, " where the ruins of the family residence may seen to this day.
Early History of the McCaskey family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCaskey research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1863 and 1795 are included under the topic Early McCaskey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCaskey Spelling Variations
Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. McCaskey has been spelled MacAskill, MacAskill, Gaskell, Gaskill, MacGaskill, MacKaskil, MacKaskill and many more.
Early Notables of the McCaskey family (pre 1700)
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCaskey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first McCaskeys to arrive on North American shores:
McCaskey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
McCaskey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
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:
McCaskey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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 Translation: By hope.