Kirkuff?

[Jack Daw]

When I did a name search for Kirkuff, all finds came back with some American connection, primarily New Jersey. This makes me wonder if the name was slightly changed in spelling at arrival in America. This was not uncommon at Ellis Island. So, maybe the root name is Kirkoff? Kirkoffner?

[berserkbishop]

When I did a name search for Kirkuff, all finds came back with some American connection, primarily New Jersey. This makes me wonder if the name was slightly changed in spelling at arrival in America. This was not uncommon at Ellis Island. So, maybe the root name is Kirkoff? Kirkoffner?

I actually said the same thing. I know that happened with my family, but luckily it was pretty obvious that Malcom MacLeod Rasey was originally Malcom Macleod of Raasay

Bishop

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I actually said the same thing. I know that happened with my family, but luckily it was pretty obvious that Malcom MacLeod Rasey was originally Malcom Macleod of Raasay

Bishop

He could also have been styled Malcom MacLeod at Raasay, indicating that he was a tacksman of his Chief. There was also the habit of refering to people by their territorial designation-- in other words in ordinary correspondence and in conversation he would have been called "Raasay" to distinguish him from the half dozen or so other "Malcom" MacLeods living in the area.

This practice continues down to the present day-- John Duncan of Sketraw would be as correctly refered to as "Sketraw" as "Duncan of Sketraw".

[berserkbishop]

He could also have been styled Malcom MacLeod at Raasay, indicating that he was a tacksman of his Chief. There was also the habit of refering to people by their territorial designation-- in other words in ordinary correspondence and in conversation he would have been called "Raasay" to distinguish him from the half dozen or so other "Malcom" MacLeods living in the area.

This practice continues down to the present day-- John Duncan of Sketraw would be as correctly refered to as "Sketraw" as "Duncan of Sketraw".

Interesting little tidbit of information there. Ok, I will probably Google this one but "Tacksman?" I'm not really sure where he stood with his clan, or who his father was. It becomes a lot harder to find the ancestors when they were in Scotland.

Bishop