Surname MacKissack - Meaning and Origin
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MacKissack: What does the surname MacKissack mean?
The last name MacKissack is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name MacShiosag, which translates as “son of the tutor” or “son of the schoolmaster”. Historically, the MacKissack name was associated with the Hebridean island of Islay in Scotland, where the family traces its ancestry back to the 13th Century.
The MacKissack name is most likely derived from the old Gaelic word “shiosag”, which was used to refer to a tutor or instructor of some kind, such as a tutor, schoolmaster, or teacher. This makes sense when considering Islay’s history as a major center of learning and education in Scotland for centuries.
This could explain why members of the MacKissack clan had a reputation for being educated, and why there were many successful members of the family who served as teachers, pastors, academics, and other professionals in the centuries before emigrating to the United States.
Today, the spelling of the MacKissack surname varies widely, and is found all over the world. While some variants, such as Mackissic, MacKisich, and Mackesic, are more common in the United States, the original MacKissack spelling is still used by many members of the family living in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKissack: Where does the name MacKissack come from?
The surname MacKissack is commonly found throughout Scotland and Ireland. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands. In Ireland, it is most often found in Ulster, where it is documented as far back as the 13th century.
In Scotland, the surname is most notably found in the area of Perthshire. It is thought to have originated there when an early family member settled in the area in the late 16th century. Over the centuries these MacKissacks have spread throughout the country, with significant numbers found in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Outside of Scotland and Ireland, the surname MacKissack is also occasionally found in England and Wales, as well as in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States, most MacKissacks are descended from Scottish emigrants who arrived in the colonial period in the 18th century.
Though the surname is not as numerous as other Scottish surnames such as Smith or MacDonald, it is still well represented throughout Scotland and the areas of Ulster and the United States where Scottish immigrants have settled.
Variations of the surname MacKissack
MacKissack is a surname, which has Scottish origins. It originated in the Gaelic Mac Fhiosaig, which was anglicised as MacKissack. The variations of the name have been spelled many different ways over the centuries, leading to various surnames.
The most common variant is Mackessack, with MacEssack, Mackesack, Mackacheck, and Tigerback being other variants of the name. The spelling of the name can also vary within the same family, as well as from region to region.
Some of the most frequently seen variations of MacKissack include MacCuish, MacGeuse, MacGuish, MacKessack, MacKiscot, MacKissock, MacQuest, MacQuish, and MacQuesse. All of these variations are said to have the same origins.
Other forms of the surname include MacKissack-McBride, MacKissac, MicKassick and MacKissick.
Variations of the same name, such as Mackissick, Mackish, Mckissack, Mackiesack, Mckiesick, and MacQnesseck can also be seen in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia.
Overall, MacKissack is one of the oldest surnames in Scotland, with variations that have developed since its origin several centuries ago. No matter the spelling, all variants of the name are descended from the same ancestral origin, and those who bear the surname can tell a lot about their heritage.
Famous people with the name MacKissack
- Paula A. MacKissack: American lawyer and the first African American female lawyer in Columbus, Ohio.
- Doug MacKissack: American award-winning producer, director and writer for television and film.
- Alfred H. MacKissack: American photographer and former mayor of Nashville, Tennessee.
- Mike MacKissack: Former Scottish international rugby player.
- James B. MacKissack: American dentist and the namesake of MacKissack Ultraservice Center at East Carolina University.
- George MacKissack: British-Australian cricketer and member of The First Eleven cricket club.
- Hollis MacKissack: Retired American professional basketball player who played in the ABA with the Carolina Cougars.
- Stephen Joseph MacKissack: Scottish lawyer and former Unionist Member of the Scottish Parliament for Stirling.
- John MacKissack: American real estate executive and founder, president, and chairman of MacKissack Realty Group.
- Robert E. Mackissack: Retired United States Army Brigadier General who served in World War II and the Vietnam War.