The History of the McCains

Mongavlin Castle, Donegal, where the McCains settled in Ireland

 

Amazon is running a sale on Finding the McCains, A Scots Irish Odyssey this week for the excellent price of $14.60.  The book is a biography of the McCain family of Dunamuck, mid Argyll, Scotland.

This is a good time for those who have not yet purchased the book to do so.  There are many histories circulating on the internet and in publish books on the history of this family, but unfortunately most are in error in all the basics.   Finding the McCains, A Scots Irish Odyssey is the result of ten years of extensive Y-DNA testing and the Latin, Gaelic, and Lallans, primary sources from mid Argyll. 

 

 

'Finding the McCains,' is an account of one Mississippi McCain’s 40 year odyssey to find his family in Ireland. Senator John McCain and his cousin, novelist Elizabeth Spencer, both include a short history of the Mississippi McCain family in their respective memoirs 'Faith of our Fathers' and 'Landscapes of the Heart.' This history is a romantic tale of Highland Scots who supported Mary Queen of Scots and who fled to Ireland after her downfall in 1568.

 

The search for the McCains became a mystery story with clues, false turns, many adventures, and then ultimate success through Y chromosome DNA testing. In 2008 the McCains were reunited with their family that remained in Ireland, after 289 years of separation. The McCain history includes people and events familiar to readers of Irish and Scottish history; Redshanks, Iníon Dubh, Mary Queen of Scots, the Earls of Argyll, the Ulster Migration, and the Scots-Irish, are all part of this family’s story. Faint memories of this past were told for generations in Mississippi and as the research progressed the facts behind these memories were uncovered.

 

Another theme in the book is the Scots-Irish. Contemporary histories about the Scots-Irish present stereotyped and romanticized accounts of this dynamic group. 'Finding the McCains' reveals a more complex history and shows the cultural conflation common in Scots-Irish popular history. 'Finding the McCains' is also a genetic genealogy how-to guide for people of Irish and Scottish ancestry.

 

 

Link:  Finding the McCains

The Known Anglicised Forms of Mac Eáin

The current known anglicised forms of our Mac Eáin family are.... McCain, McCann, McKane, MacKean, McKean, and McKeen. 

All these surnames are proven forms of the Mac Eáin family of Kilmichael Glassary, mid Argyll.   All are 'common' anglicised forms of Mac Eáin with the one exception of McCann.  McCann is normally the anglicised form of Mac Canna, but the DNA results proved that occasionally McCann is an anglicised form of Mac Eáin.  This came about in the early 1800s and reflects the census taker's spelling of the name.    

We also know that most of the families in our clan group have used several anglicised spellings.  The Marsh Creek McCains for example have used McKeen, McKean, and McCane, prior to 1820, and post 1820, used McCain. 

Finding the McCains, a Scots Irish Odyssey On Sale Today

Amazon has my new book on sale for the whackingly good price of $14.75 today. A biography, a mystery story solved via forensic DNA testing, a travelogue of adventures in Ireland and the UK. Notables in the book include Phil Robertson, Muhammad Ali, and a real Bean Sí. And you will learn some interesting aspects of Irish and Highland Scot history.

Link:  Finding the McCains

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