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To Rory, Juli, Neil, Toni, and all others
interested--
I do not believe that ALL Argyll Sinclairs were originally
McNokairds. However, I do believe the great majority were! According
to several sources, Sinclairs in the Western Isles and Hebrides were McNokairds
as well. Neil quoted Arthur Binning as having read a source that listed
Sinclairs in the Cowal penninsula (Neil's family came from here) as
"strangers." Arthur said that this meant they had come from
elsewhere to work the land in response to advertisments.
Now, Neil, I get the feeling that you believe some northern
Sinclairs settled in Argyll before the 17th century and became known as
McNokairds. Thereupon, you believe they changed their surname
back to Sinclair in the first half of the 18th century. Did I
understand that correctly?
I do not believe this is the case--Black cites many specific
sources for McNokairds going back centuries. Let me quote his
citations:
Gregor Makenkerd agreed to serve Edward I of England in
France, 1297 (Bain II, p. 242)
Iain Mc nocerdych was charter witness in Lismore, 1525 (HP,
IV, p. 27)
Gillecreist M'Conoquhy Duy
VcNocarde in record in Argyll, 1574 (OPS II, p. 127)
Gillecreist Mckonchy Duff
V'Nokerd, native servant to Campbell of Glenurchy, 1580 (BBT, p.
223)
John M'Nocaird was tenant in Eyick, 1594 (ibid, p.
283)
Archibald M'Nokaird was portioner of Drumurk, 1629 (Sasines,
286)
Myldoniche or Moldonyt McNoheardie or McNokeardie in
Carnakalliche was put to the horn, 1629 (RPC...)
Patrick Dow M'Nokerd in Auchinchalden and Angus M'Nokerd in
Braklead appear in 1638 (BBT, p. 403)
Finlay Mcnakaird was an 'engager' on the royalist side from
Urquhart, 1649 (IDR, p. 368)
Duncan M'Knokaird is in Monienrinach, 1672 (HP II, p.
208)
John Dow M'Nockard and Malcolm M'Nokard in Kilvicewn, and
Duncan M'Nocard in Scur were denounced rebels, 1675 (HP I)
Archibald M'Nokaird was merchant burgess in Inveraray, 1695
(Campbell I, p. 13)
Dond. McNougard is recorded in Gerrich, Islay, 1741 (Bk.
Isley, p. 559)
Black finishes his article with the statement, "In
Argyllshire the name is now rendered Sinclair." This is what got me
started! I had to find out and prove, if I could, Black's statement.
I was able to do that, and Juli is daily finding even more proof in the parish
registers!
In addition to Black's Surnames above, I added Duncan
C. McTavish's The Commons of Argyll (Lochgilphead: James S. Annan,
1935) which contains lists of men in Argyll in 1685 and 1692. McNokairds
abound! Only two Sinclairs were found--and they lived next to two
McNokairds. Thus, this time period can be used as a "starting
point" for when the name change possibly began. Parish registers in
Inveraray are extant from this time period, with certain gaps, but other
parishes such as Glenorchy and those in Islay were not extant until much
later.
Also, Toni Sinclair has added the McNokairds found in Isle of
Islay in 1730s and 1741, as set forth in Freda Ramsay's The Day Book of
Daniel Campbell of Shawfield 1767 (Aberdeen University Press).
I trust these lists and registers because they are
absolutes--not someone's opinion or theory. They were taken at a certain
time period and set forth "as it was," so to speak. They are
presumably unaltered and unadulterated. Through use of these lists and
registers, I was able to draw my own conjectures!
I hope I haven't bored you all out there--just keeping the
discussion going!
Karen M
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