McCaw's name and it origine (limited copy rights )

   This interesting and unusual name is a curtailed form of the Scots Gaelic Maccaw, itself a semi Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic prefix "Mac" means "son of", plus the personal name Adhamh i.e. Adam, from the Hebrew meaning "red earth". It first appears as a personal name in Scotland circa 1189, when Adam, sub-prior of Melrose, became abbot of Cuspar - Duncan Adam who flourished circa 1316, had four sons, and it is believed that all Scottish bearers of the name (with it's numerous variants) descend from them. In 1506, one, Gillenow M'Kaw had a grant of the lands of North Garrochach, and an Alexander Caw, writer in Edinburgh, appears on record in 1679. Christian Caw, noted in "The Guildry of Edinburgh", had a pension paid to him in 1741, and Sir James Lewis Caw, (born 1864), was Director of the National Galeries of Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Donald McCawe, tenant of Drumboy, which was dated 1481, in the "The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland", during the reign of King James 111 of Scotland, 1460 - 1488. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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McCaws of Bute 1590

It contains the following:    

1 70 Bute in the Olden Then. 

Barrone was in 1419 the property of John Stewart the 

Sheriff, being held on a ward tenure from the Steward of 

Scotland. In the middle of the fifteenth century part of it 

Was held by the king's ranger, John Scott, in payment of his 

Official duties. At the end of the century James IV. Granted 

The whole lands to David Lyndesay and his wife Eufame 

Stewart. 

In the redistribution of lands in 1506, Barrone was divided 

Between Gilcrist Makwerich of Achamor, Gilcrist Mak- 

Werich (or Macmorich of Beallelon), Archibald Stewart, and 

Gilcrist Makconochy. Before 1554 the larger portion of 

These lands had been disponed to Sheriff James Stewart 

Garrach, or The Garachtys, comprising North Garochty (now 

Plan) and South Garochty, has been tenanted from time imme- 

Morial by the family of Makkaw. Three tenants of the name 

Received charters in 1506 — Gilnew in North Garochty, and 

Gilpatrick and John in South Garochty. 

Sheriff Sir James Stewart obtained South Garrachty from 

John M'Caw by disposition dated 28th December 1590. In 

1699 Bannatyne of Lubas sold the Sheriff a part of Garrachty 

And Glencalum. 

Arch. M'Caw sold his half of North Garrachty to the Earl 

In 1737. 

Arch. M'Caw sold Glencalum to the Earl in 1707. 

From a clare constat executed by the Marquess in 1796, it 

Appears that Daniel, son of James, son of Daniel, son of Gil- 

New, was then portioner of the west part of South Gar- 

Rachty, holding in feu-farm off the Marquess for the yearly 

Payment of — 

1. 25 shillings Scots at Whitsunday and Martinmas ; 

2. I boll 3 firlots of oats, and 

The Barons of Bute. 1 7 1 

3. 2 bolls bear between Christmas and Candlemas. 

4. One-fifth, one-twentieth, and one-thirtieth part of a 

Lardner mart at each Martinmas in name of feu- 

Duty, deducting three-ninths on account of marts 

And oats from feu -duty; heirs-male doubling feu- 

Duty on entry. 

By a settlement in 1845, James M*Kay (the last of the 

Mackays), portioner, disponed the lands of South Garrachty to 

John M'Kechnie, eldest son of the deceased James M'Kechanie, 

Merchant in Rothesay, and Mary M'Kay, and to his heirs ; 

Failing whom, to the heirs of James M*Kechanie, on condition 

That they took the name of M*Kay. On i6th April 1875 the 

Rev. John M*Kechnie entered into possession, and on his 

Decease in 1877, his widow, Mrs Mackay, succeeded to the 

Property. 

In 1828, the Marquess's property extended to 103 acres 2 

Roods 18 falls. 

In 1828, James M'Kay's property extended to 70 acres 2 

Roods. 

McCaws of Garrachty

                             McCaws of Garrachty

                           

According to family tradition McCaws come from the Isle of Bute and belong to the clan of the Stewarts of Bute.

Tradition is substantiated by a report on 'The M'Caws of Garrachty' written by Adam Dick MacBeth in 1908, now in the Genealogical Collection of the NY Public Library (ARD). MacBeth writes that the lands of Garrachty, occupying the southwestern extremities of the Isle of Bute, belonged to the M'Caws for four centuries and possibly longer.

Throughout the ages, the Isle of Bute had been divided into 99 land holdings. Two of the landholdings known as North Garrachty and South Garrochty belonged throughout the centuries to M'Caws. The M'Caws were often called 'Barons of Bute' even though they were only occasionally entitled to the honorific, as Barons had to own 70+ hectares of land. Boundaries of North and South Garrachty are shown on Wilson's 'Guide to Rothsay and the Island of Bute' (1848) and mention is made in 'Bute in Olden Times' and John Blain's 'History of Bute'.

I understand the name McCaw translates from the Gaelic as 'Servant of the Saints' or as the 'Saint's man', and has reference to Adamnan (@ 624-704 AD) who was the ninth Abbot of the Monastery of Iona, who, in about 690 AD wrote 'The Life of Saint Columba' one of the earliest writings of the early Celtic Christian Church. The name probably alludes to the ancient ruins of a 6th Century monastery standing on a hill in the midst of Garrachty midway between North and South Garrachty. The ruin is now known as Saint Blaine's Chapel. Adamnan is said to have visited this holy place when Bute was still part of the Kingdom of Dalriada.

The M'Caw holdings of North and South Garrachty are very well documented. In 1506 a charter, or instrument of sasine infefting Alexander Stewart of Kerequhonlich (Kelwhinlech in 1908) recites the grants contained in the King's (James IV) charter, and the words referring to the lands of Garrachty (Gaelic for rough field house) are as follows: "Gillenow M'Caw, terras de le North Garrochach; Gilpatrick M'Caw alteram dididiatem terrarum de South Garrochachi, Johanni M'Cawm alteram dimidiatem dictarum."

Gillenow M'Caw was granted the land of North Garrachtie (also known as North Garrochty, Garrachtymor, and - as of 1908- called 'the plan' (flat place). There is no descent copied for this holding.

Gilpatrick and John M'Caw were each granted half the lands of South Garrachty, which in the reign of Alexander III, were valued at 50 shillings a year. The descent for the two portions of South Garrachties (also known as Yonder Garrachy or Garrochach, or Garoch) was listed as follows:

The M'Caws of the Southernmost portion of South Garrochtie:
1506: Gilpatrick M'Caw (or John)
1568: Gilchrist M'Caw
1603: Alexander M'Caw
????: Patrick M'Caw
1642: Alexander M'Caw
1649: John M'Caw
1677: Patrick M'Caw

The M'Caws of the Northwestrn (70 acre) portion of South Garrachtie:
1506: John (or Gilpatrick) M'Caw
1568: Gilnew M'Caw
1602: John M'Caw (son of Alexander)
1647: John M'Caw (emigrated to Ireland)
1686: Gilnew M'Caw (son of John. Married Jean Stewart, dau of James Stewart of Lagizean)
????: Daniel M'Caw (son of Gilnew)
1745: James M'Caw (son of Daniel)
1796: Daniel M'Caw (son of James)
1845: James M'Caw (son of Daniel. Married Elizabeth Barbour. Had a sister, Ephemia M'Caw)

James M'Caw, who was also known as James McKay (pronounced McKye) died in 1858. His wife, Elzabeth Barbour died in 1875. In 1890 South Garrochty, including St. Blaine's Chapel on the hill, was purchased by a Sir William McEwan, a prominent brain surgeon from Glascow, for use as his country residence and as a model farm. More recently (1980s) it has been owned by an English Judge : J. Irving Smith, The Garrochty, Kingarth, Isle of Bute, Scotland PA20 9LX (Telephone 070083-667).

As the Isle of Bute is a tiny place, it's 99 land holdings now owned almost exclusively by the current Marquis of Bute, there has long been a tradition of younger sons leaving the Island to seek their fortunes. holdings passed from elder son to elder son. Younger sons made their way to Glascow or Belfast or farther. Large numbers of men from Bute made passage from the nearby Scottish port of Largs to Belfast during the 18th and 19th Centuries. The records in Belfast are spotty. There is, however, an account of a William and a James McCaw arrested for their role in the McKee murders in March 1799 an event arising from the Rebellion of the United Irishmen in 1798 (a protestant-led, middle -class revolt patterned upon the recent French Revolution). William was executed and James was sent as a prisoner to Australia.