"Scotland The Brave" Midi

Origin
of
Family Name McNew

Taken from the "Historical Research Center"

The Scottish surname McNew is patronymic in origin, being one of those names derived from the first name of the father. This name is a corruption of the surname MacNee, which also takes the forms of MacNay, MacNey, Macnea and MacNia. It finds its source in the Irish Mac Niadh, a variant of Mac Neidhe, which means "son of the champion". One of the earliest instances of this surname is to Macnia, king of Ard of the Vi Echadh, a District in the Baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, County Down, who died in 702.

The MacNee are a sept of the MacGregor Clan who kept to the old Celtic clan rule of defending possession by the sword, rather than by marriage or influence in government, unlike the Colquhouns. The latter were defeated by the MacGregors of Glen Fruin in 1603. As part of a long series of vindictive acts against them, the MacGregor Clan was then outlawed and were not allowed to use their surname again until 1784. This gave rise to the many septs' names adopted by them, such as MacNee.

Other early instances of this name include Donald and Gillemore MacNie, who were fined for trying to re-establish the MacGregor name in 1613 (Register of Privy Council). Finally, the legendary "Robin Hood" of Scotland, Rob Roy, a Highland Chief and subject of Sir Walter Scott's novel "Rob Roy", belonged to this Clan.

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BLAZON OF ARMS:

Argent, an oak tree eradicated in bend sinister proper, surmounted of a sword in bend, supporting on its point, in the dexter canton, an antique crown gules.

CREST:

A lion's head erased, crowned with an antique crown proper. The oak tree is emblematic of Peace and Concord. Argent (white) denotes Peace and Sincerity. The sword is a true emblem of Military Honour, while the crown signifies Victory.

MOTTO:
Srioghal mo Dhream.

TRANSLATION:
My clan is loyal.

ORIGIN:
Scotland

Table of Contents

Origin of Family Name McNew

Origin
of
Family Name McNew