Surname Origin

[AlMcCord]

There seems to be an alternative explanation as to the Scottish McCord Surname origin. George F. Black writes:

"In the reign of Robert I, Nigellus M'Herarde or M'Horrard had lands in Kirkandrews.
His name is mac Eraird, Erard's son, Erard being a compound of air and ard, meaning
"very tall"; in this position, air becomes er, ir, or, ur."

The above comes from an article by Alan Milliken.

The current theory is that it is a corruption of Muirchertaig, and an early Dàl Cuinn Scion emigrating to Scotland.

My SNP'S according to Yfull, beginning at R-DF104 are: DF109>Y3645>FGC36289>Y3646>Y3644>A1774>A1775> terminal A22790.

My 4x Great Grandfather was John McCord born in the Parish of Colmonell in South Ayrshire 1747.

Any thoughts, insights, or help would be greatly appreciated.

[Webmaster]

AI,

There is not much I can add to that. I agree that your family group fits:

The current theory is that it is a corruption of Muirchertaig, and an early Dàl Cuinn Scion emigrating to Scotland.

at least, the early Dál Cuinn scion part. The origin of the surname may be from Muirchertach, or not. I must leave that to the linguists. I have corresponded with Alan Milliken previously and he seemed to be convinced by the genetic evidence that at least R1b-DF105+, which is equivalent to R1b-DF109, men are Dál Cuinn.

There are some Irish records that mention colonization of Scotland as early as 350 AD, which is too early for the Connachta septs of the Dál Cuinn, who all appear to be R1b-DF105+, but definitely by 500 AD during the Dál Riata colonization Dál Cuinn men could easily have been involved. There was also the establishment of the abbey on Iona by St. Columb Cille from Ireland circa 565 AD. And the historian Bede, writing circa 700 AD, recorded there were Dál Cuinn Irishmen living in Scotland in his time frame.

So it is not unlikely at all that we are seeing Dál Cuinn descendants whose families have lived in Scotland for a millennium and a half and lost touch of their original Dál Cuinn roots over the centuries. But whether there were any records made or whether any records made survived of these people appears unlikely. There is just family tradition like the Robertsons:

The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland, made up the ancient Dalriadan kingdom, the ancestral home of the Robertson family. Their name comes from the personal name Robert. Known as the Clan Donnachaidh, the family's origins are very distinguished, as the senior branch of the line were the hereditary abbots of Dunkeld, who traced their descent from Iona.
[ House of Names ]

Bear in mind the Irish form of Christianity did not forbid priests to marry until they were forced to adopt the Roman Catholic rules circa the 1200s AD. So yes, the Irish clergy could marry and have children in the time frame we are talking about.

[AlMcCord]

Thank you kindly for your analysis! I can understand the lack of records due to the Viking raids.

[Webmaster]

AI,

It is my pleasure. The other thing to keep in mind is the the genealogies were primarily kept in order to track which men were eligible for the chieftainship of a particular sept. So more distant family lines were dropped from being recorded because they were not eligible and so not worth recording for the main purpose of the genealogies. That means there are probably hundreds of unrecorded branches that we have no guidance for.

[AlMcCord]

That makes a lot of sense that they only did genealogies of the Chiefs to be. I am begining to learn some of the phylogenetic equivalents of snps. I'm pleased I found this group, and look forward to learning more concepts and info of our Kinfolk. Once again, I express my gratitude.