MACKURERDY, or MAKWRERDY, an ancient surname in Bute, Arran, and others
of the Western Islands, and derived from their original inhabitants.
At a very early period
the larger portion of the island of Bute belonged to the Mackurerdys,
which was leased to them by James IV. in 1489, and in 1506 feued as
crown lands, in one general charter of the 30th parliament. The charter
shows that there were a total of 78 feuars, and of these 12 were
Mackurerdys, 11 Bannachtynes, and 10 Stewarts. This charter is curious,
as showing many remarkable Scottish surnames.
The properties in Bute
feued to the Mackurerdys, with others, principally descended to Robert
Mackurerdy, baron of Garachty, who married Janet Fraser, and had several
sons and daughters. He was drowned on a voyage between Bute and Ireland
William, the eldest son,
had no issue. John, the 2d son, married Grace Gregory, and had several
Alexander, the eldest of
these, died unmarried. John, the 2d son, was possessed of considerable
estates in British Guiana, at the close of last century, and eventually
settled at Birkwood, Lanarkshire. He married in London, in 1802, Mary,
eldest daughter of the deceased David Elliot, Esq., and had 3 sons and 2
John Gregory MíKirdy, the
eldest son, succeeded to Birkwood. He married Augusta, eldest daughter
of the deceased Captain James Bradshaw, R.N., M.P.
The second son was named
Charles Clark Mackirdy. David Elliot Mackirdy, the 3d son, is a colonel
in the army.