Map of Ireland showing where the Mac Adam arms are recorded
The Mac Adam arms were recorded in Clare, c. 1645.
Clare was rocky western Irish country, poor in farmland but held tightly by a few old families. Land there changed hands rarely, and families who stayed put ended up in the records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Mac Adam arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Clare.
Origin & History of the Mac Adam Family in Ireland
The surname Mac Adam originated as a patronymic, meaning it was formed by adding the prefix "Mac," which signifies "son of," to the personal name Adam. This naming tradition was common in Gaelic culture, where family identities were often tied to a specific ancestor. By the year 1645, records confirm that members of the Mac Adam family were firmly established in County Clare. During this period, the family lived through a time of significant political upheaval in Ireland, which often forced families to move or adapt to changing land ownership laws. Because the name was rooted in a common biblical name, it appeared in various regions across Ireland and Scotland, but the Clare branch represents a distinct lineage that maintained its presence in the west of Ireland during the mid-seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Hebrew word meaning man or of the earth
This name
Mac AdamPatronymic surname meaning son of Adam
also spelled
McAdam
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 1985
O’Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees; or, The Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, 1892
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of Ireland, 1654–1656
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
