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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Caithness => Topic started by: AncesStory on Tuesday 14 April 15 21:58 BST (UK)
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Our 5 x G Gmother is given the maiden name of Margaret MacKay (McConeil) of Reay, Caithness, in her marriage registration of December 1786. There seems to be a lack of consistency of her maiden name in official documents. I understand that in Reay, Caithness, in the late 18th century her family was most likely Gaelic – the family retained the Gaelic for another century at least. Is the name McConeil a patronymic, (named after Margaret’s father or Grandfather) or does the name McConeil relate to the clan she was affiliated with or is another name she would have been known by?
If her name is a patronymic, does her name McConeil mean son of Conel, son of Donald or son of Neil or something else?
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Having researched Margaret Mackay some more, it may be that her maiden surname as on her marriage certificate of Dec 29 1786,Reay, Caithness - MacConeil(Mackay) - means McDonald (Mackay). According to Black, ( Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland: their origin, meaning and history), the surname Macdonald, and the pronunciation of its Gaelic form Mac Dhomhnuill, gave rise to numerous recorded variants such as M’conill, M’oneill, Makconeil.
It is possible that Alexander Campbell of Reay married a Margaret McDonald rather than McKay?