The Name McNairn

-in Galloway in 1684, the name appears in several different forms: McKnarin, McKnarrine, McKnarrie, McNaren, McNarien, McNarin, McNarrine, NcNarron, McNearie, McNearin.

- Galwegian surnames found in "The Surnames of Scotland" other forms also include M’Narin, M’Nairn etc.

"Scots Kith and Kin" says McNairn appears first in Dumfriesshire in the 14th century and belongs to the clan of Appin Stewart

- an explanation of this association with the clan of Appin Stewart might be that McNairns were tenant farmers at that time on lands that Stewart of Appin received through his father's will.

Earliest records indicate that McNairns were tenant farmers taksmen etc. rather than peasants or nobility- Cuthbert M’Narne tenant of the lands of Auchirdilakdy in Dumfriesshire in 1376
                    — Malcolm M’Nerane l509

— Gillecrist Makrierrane - tenant under Stewart of Appin in 1509
                from "Surnames of Scotland"


Origins of the name

— it could be suggested that McNairn comes from the county of Nairn and that a family that originated in Nairn came to Galloway and as is a Gaelic custom Mac was added to the name however no connection has been found in the research up to now.

in. Gaelic Nairn is "na fhearn" (fh mute) - meaning the Alder Trees

- another possibility - rather a romantic one is: Neirin or Arieurin as he was better known was a famous "Welsh" bard of the 7th century The poem The Gododin tells of the battle in which the heroes of Neirin’s Celtic tribe living somewhere south of where Edinburgh now stands were wiped out by the Saxons-Neirin escaped and spent his last years in Gal1oway— no one knows whether or not he had any descendants.

— more than likely all the variations came about because few people knew how to spell and pronunciations varied with the region.

"The Surnames of Scotland" by George F. Black N.Y. Pub.1.ib., 1946 "Scots Kith and Kin" Clan House, Edinburgh Published in. the 1950's