Meaning of the Surname McKnight:
http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/surname/
(fascinating site contributed
by Marv Hoffer)
SURNAME DICTIONARY/ SLOINNTE NA h-EIREANN
Knight fairly numerous: all areas, especially N Munster and Connacht.
Ir. Mac an Ridire(See Fitzsimons). In Ulster, it is Scottish Mac
Neachtain, usually appearing as MacKnight. MIF.
Mac an Ridire Mac Knight, Knight. líonmhar: Cúige
Uladh. Is cosúil gur Mac Neachtain ba shinsear don dream
sa ach is cinnte gur ghlac muintir Mhic Shiomóin leis an
ainm sinseartha sa san Iar-Mhí. Bíonn Knight le
fáil sa Mhumhain thuaidh agus Connachta - b'fhéidir
go mbeadh daoine ag maíomh gur shíolraigh siad ó
ridirí!
MacKnight numerous: Ulster generally. Ir. Mac an Ridire, ridire,
a knight. It may also be Scottish Mac Neachtain, from old first
name Neachtan (descendant of the waters). This would account for
many in Ulster. SI & GPN.
MacNeight Very rare: Down. See Mac Knight.
Managh rare: Tyrone etc. Ir. ? Manach, a monk.
The following is just two of the many versions I have found
over the years
regarding the origin of the McKnight name. contributed
by Juanita Moston
Copied from:" McKnight Genealogy, 1754-1971", by
L. M. Licht. W. B. Moore,
1981, page 15. Available at Denver Public Library, (929.273M218l)
"The McKnights and Their Name.
The McKnights are descended from a certain Laird of Glenara, a
chieftain of
the MacNaughton clan (MacNaughtane, MacNaughton, or McNaghten).
This is one
of the three clans descended from the old Maomors of Moray, sovereigns
of the
Pictish race. The McNaughtons were in the ancient days a powerful
family,
and among their large estates were those called Glenara, Glenshire
and
Glenfire. In 1267 Gilchrist MacNaughtane of that ilk was by King
Alexander
III appointed veritable keeper of his castle and island of Frechelan,
whence
the tower was assumed as the heraldic insignia.
Sir Alexander McNaughtane of that ilk was knighted by James IV
and
accompanied him on the fatal expedition into England, and was
killed in 1513
on the field of Flodden. His son and successor Joh MacNaughtaine,
had three
sons: Alexander, who died without surviving issue; Malcolm, called
Glenshira,
who succeded his father and died in the reigh of James IV, leaving
two sons –
Col. Alexander, his heir and John, who married but had no issue.
John, the third son, called Shane Duh (Black John) who went
to Ireland as
secretary to his great uncle, the first Earl of Antrim and settled
in
CountyAntrim in 1580, was succeeded by his son and heir, Daniel,
and the
latter by his son John McNaughtan of Benvarden, Co. Antrim, whose
grandsons
succeeded in the 18th century to the Chieftainship of the MacNaughtan
Clan
upon the extinction of the Scottish line descended from Malcolm.
The Laird of Glanara, Chief of the MacNaughtan Clan, was knighted
in the
reign of James IV. His son was locally styled McKnight (son of
a knight),
from which designation the change in the family name appears to
have
subsequently taken its origin. This was possibly influenced by
the
circumstance that this branch of the family embraced the doctrines
of the
Reformation at a very early period, while the main body of the
clan remained
staunch Roman Catholics to a comparatively recent date.
On the crushing of the Irish Rebellion under Sir Cahir O'Dogherty
in 1607
King James of England divided the province of Ulster, Ireland
into lots and
encouraged it colonization. Due to the fact that the coast of
Ulster was so
close to that of Scotland, particularly Dumbarshire, Renfrewshire,
Ayshire,
Galloway and Dumfrushire, a steady stream of Scots crossed to
Ulster Province
and settled in County Down and Antrim. Members of the MacNaughtan
Clan
settled near Lisburn on the Logan River near Belfast. The name
MacNaughtan
in Ireland is spelled McKnight.
When the stream of emigration from the colonies to Scotland
and Ireland took
place about 1700 to 1750 those from Ireland (Ulster Scots) were
the ancestors
of the McKnights now in the United States. Those coming to the
colonies
directly from Scotland carried the name MacNaughton, MacNaught
or McKnight."
The following is copied from "MacKnight Genealogy 1738-1981
& Allied
Families", page 3. Written by Imogene Millican, at Denver
Public Library
(978.273M218m)
"Early History of the McKnight Family in Scotland
The MacKnight fanily in Scotland was in early days a Sept (allied
family) of
the MacNaughton (MacNaghten) Clan. The following history of this
clan is
from The Clans and Tartans of Scotland (1964, William Collins
Sons & Co., ):
"The progenitor of this ancient clan is alleged to be
Nachtan Mor who lived
about the tenth century. The clan is supposed to be one of those
transferred
from the province of Moray to the crown lands in Strathtay by
Malcoln IV.
About a century later the possessed lands bordered on Loch Awe
and Loch Fyne
(west Scottish Highlands). In 1267 Gilchrist MacNaughton and his
heirs were
appointed by Alexander III, keepers of the castle of Froach Eilean
in Loch
Awe. The MacNaughtons also held the castle of Dub Loch in Glen
Shira and
castle Dunderave between Loch Fyne and Loch Awe.
Donald Mac Naughton opposed Bruce and lost most of his possessions,
but in
the reign of David II, the fortune of the Macnaughtons were somewhat
restored
by the grant of lands in Lewis."
The fortresses in Lewis and Strathtay recall their wide ranged
influence.
They eventually lost all but the picturesque castle of Dunderae
on Loch Fyne,
"Clan" was the name applied to a group of Kinsmen united
under a chief, and
claiming a common ancestor. They lived as one great family on
the lands they
possessed.
About the middle of the fifteen hundreds the MacKnight Family,
which had been
a Sept under Clan MacNaughton since the early twelve hundreds,
met all
regulations and requirements (four generations of ancestors who
had been good
citizens loyal and true to Clan and Country) the Chieftain of
the fifth
generation was eligible to apply to the Lord Lyon King of Arms
at Edinburgh
for matriculation as a separate clan. When all credentials were
accounted by
the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, they were registered
in Court
Records - and so - was born Clan MacKnight.
The Scots love for his clan and his country accounted for the
slowness of
Scot emigration to America.
There is conflicting information of the design of the Coat
of Arms. One
article gives the MacKnight Motto "Justum et Tenacem Porpositi"
(Just and
Firm of Purpose) another "I Hope in God".
Since the "Mac" means "Son of" and "Knight"
means "Brave", the name means
"Son of the Brave."