Scotch-Irish-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Re: [Scotch-Irish] McQuilkin
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2000 20:47:59 -0800

Hi Mary,

Yep, McQuilkin is there. Under WILKINSON. The name comes from
William, and means "Willie's sons". There was a minor riding clan
on the border of this name, in the Middle March on the English
side of the frontier. There were Wilkinsons in the church lands
of Clankelly in Fermanagh -- apparently they fled from King Jamie
when he cleared the borders.

In Kintyre and Islay you have MacQUILKEN -- or Mac Cuilcein from
Mac Uilcin "son of Wilkin". This became Wilkinson and variants.
You still find both in these areas. MacQuilken is common in Rathlin
Island. These guys and many other Antrim Wilkinsons and MacQuilkens
are of the Kintyre and Islay ilk. In north Antrim the two forms
are STILL used interchangably.

A fixed surname was kind of like an early social security number.
Our Gaelic ancestors knew once you got one the government would use
it to tax and control you. So they resisted and apparently, some
still are....

Sure doesn't help with the genealogy. Our only hope may be DNA
research <grin>!!

Linda Merle

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