Map of Ireland showing where the Mcdermitt arms are recorded
The Mcdermitt arms were recorded in Ireland, c. 1645.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Dublin.
Dublin was the seat of government in Ireland and the place where grants were sought and recorded. Families with business at the castle or the courts settled nearby, and settling there put their arms on record.
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 Mcdermitt 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 Ireland.
Origin & History of the Mcdermitt Family in Ireland
The surname McDermitt is an anglicized variation of the Gaelic name Mac Diarmada, which translates to "son of Diarmaid." The name Diarmaid itself carries the historical meaning of "free from envy." By the mid-seventeenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the bustling urban environment of Dublin. In 1645, records indicate that members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of the city during a period of significant political upheaval in Ireland. As the name moved from its rural Gaelic roots into the English-speaking administrative centers like Dublin, the spelling evolved to better suit the phonetic preferences of the time. This transition reflects the broader historical trend of Irish families adapting their traditional names to survive and thrive within the changing legal and social landscape of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Diarmada
Son of the free man or son of the god of the sea.
This name
McdermittDerived from an Irish patronymic meaning son of the one who is free from envy.
also spelled
McDermitt
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
Woulfe, Patrick, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, 1923
National Archives of Ireland, Civil Survey of the County of Dublin, 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
