From The Hall Of Names, Inc. #943323-11.07-2514

The world would be a much lesser place without the tremendous fighting of the Scottish Highland clans. From the desolate, sea-swept Herbridean Islands and the Croft-scattered western coast, this surname has emerges as belonging to on of the great families whose tradition is romanticized by the skirl of the bagpipes, the brandished sword, the colourful kilt and the Highland Games.

Historical researchers, using some of the oldest manuscripts, including Clan genealogies, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Ragmen Rolls, the Inquisition, the Black Book of the Exchequer, parish chartularies, baptismal records, tax records, and many other manuscripts, found the name McCutcheon in Argyllshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Spelling variations of the name McCutcheon caused much confusion in research. Theses changes occurred for a variety of reasons. From time to time the surname was spelt Hutchison, Hutchison, Hutchison, MacCutcheon, MacHutcheon, MacCutchin, and these changes in spelling occurred, sometimes even between father and son. It was no uncommon for a clansman to be born with one spelling, marry with another, and yet another appear on his headstone. Sometimes a different spelling indicated a religious or clan loyalty to a branch or chieftain.

The Dalriadan race of the Hebrides was anciently descended fro the early Irish Kings, specifically King Colla da Crioch, who was banished from Ireland in 327 A.D., along with 350 clan chiefs. Even now, there are Scottish highland clans who still call themselves the “Children of Colla”. Dalriadan King Ferguson Mor MacEarca defeated the PICTs, their neighbors to the east, in 498 A.D. Kenneth MacAlpine, the first King of Scotland, or Alba, or Caledonia, as it was known, was half Dalriadan, half PICT.

The Highland Clans were a different breed. In early history many battles were fought with the Scottish King in Edinburgh. Bonnie Prince Charlie finally rallied their support for his claim to the throne which culminated at Culloden in 1745.

The surname McCutcheon emerged as a Scottish Clan or family is their territory of Argyllshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at Ardmanock with manor and estates in that shire. The Hutchesons believes to be quite separate from the Northumbrian Hutchinsons, are descended from MacDonal of Sleat from Hugh, son of Alexander, the Earl of Ross. The MacDonalds of Sleat were known as the Clan Huisdean or Clan of Hugh. They settled inArdmanock in Argyllshire. John Hustcheson branched in the 15th century north to Inverness, and Hugh MacHutcheon acquired lands in Ayrshire in 1662. The Clan was at Culloden in support of Prince Charles, Alexander Hutchison was groom to the Prince. The two names MacHutcheon and Hutchison appeared to be interchangeable. Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir Francis of Glasgow.

For the next two or three centuries the surname McCutcheon played an important role in the highlands and in the affairs of Scotland. However, typical of the ancient conflict between highlander and Edinburgh, many ancient highland clans have still not officially been recognized as clans by the Lord Lyon of Scotland.

Many Clansmen of Highland families migrated from Scotland to Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were granted the lands of the native Catholic Irish. Twenty-seven heads of families of Hutchison and MacHutcheon settled in Tyrone, Antrim, Down and Derry.

However, to many, life in Ireland became a disillusionment. Conditions were little better than in their homeland. Poverty prevailed, and the religious conflicts remained, except that now they were in a strange land and without the support and kinship of the clan. The New World beckoned to the adventurous.

Clansmen sailed aboard the small sailing ships known as the “White Sails” which plied the stormy Atlantic, ships such as the Hector, the Rambler, and the Dove, indenturing themselves for as long as ten years to pay their passage. There ships were originally designed for 100 passengers, but frequently sailed with 400 to 500 people on board. Many ships arrived with only 60-70% of their overcrowded passenger list, the rest dying at sea.

In North America, the Highlander settled Virginia, the Carolinas, Pictou, Nova Scotia, and the Ottawa Valley. One of the first migrants which could be considered a kinsman to the name McCutcheon, of that same Clan or family, was John Hutchison in 1805; Hugh MacHutchsion settled in Quebec in 1775.

The American War of Independence found many who were loyal to their new cause, other remaining loyal to the Crown trekked north to Canada and become known as the United Empire Loyalists.

Many prominent people enjoy the distinction of this name Clyde Hutchison, American Chemist; James Hutchison, British Physician; Paul Hutchison, Canadian Lawyer.

Research determined the about Coat of Arms to be the most ancient recorded for the family surname McCutcheon.