Map of Spain showing where the Mcsween arms are recorded
The Mcsween arms were recorded in Granada, c. 1773.
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 Spain in this period.
Charles III of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Charles III of Spain
1759–1788
Reigning in Spain when the Mcsween arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Spain
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
Granting authority
The Cronista Rey de Armas was the official body that regulated and granted coats of arms throughout Spain.
How they got arms
Families often obtained their arms through royal grants or by proving their noble status to the official heraldic authority.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the registers of the Cronista Rey de Armas starting in 1496.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Spain.
Origin & History of the Mcsween Family in Spain
The surname McSween is a variation of the Gaelic name Mac Suibhne, which translates to son of Suibhne. The name Suibhne itself is derived from an Old Irish word meaning pleasant or well-disposed. Historically, the family originated in the rugged landscapes of western Scotland and the Hebrides islands. By the eighteenth century, members of the family had expanded their reach far beyond their ancestral homes. Records confirm that McSween family members were established in the Caribbean island of Grenada by 1773. During this period, many Scots traveled to the West Indies to participate in the growing sugar trade and colonial administration. These early settlers helped shape the local economy and society of the island while maintaining their distinct cultural identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Suibhne
A Gaelic personal name derived from the word for well-going or pleasant.
This name
McsweenA patronymic surname meaning son of the pleasant or well-disposed one.
also spelled
McSween
MacSwine
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
Johnston, James B., Place-Names of Scotland, 1934
The National Archives (UK), Treasury: Grenada: Original Correspondence, CO 101
The National Archives (UK), Colonial Office: Grenada Original Correspondence, CO 101/17
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
