Kemmey

This most interesting surname is of Old Scots-Gaelic origin, and is a variant of "MacKimmie", the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "MacShimidh", which is composed of the Gaelic prefix "Mac", son of, and the personal name "Simidh", meaning Simon (Simmie); hence "the son of Simon". One 16th Century authority, narrating the birth of one Simon Fraser, says of the name Simon: "A name pretty rare in Scotland, south or north, although kindly to this famely, being the first name it had, and hence the Lord Lovat (chief of the Frasers) is called "M'Khimy". The name is therefore probably derived from the Simon Fraser who was killed at Halidon Hill in 1333. The first recorded namebearer (see below) was granted in heritage half the lands of Lepinquhillin in Bute, by King James 1V, and his brother, John Makkymmie, the other half. Sym Mak hymme is recorded as one of the assize concerning the lands of Garntulie in 1529, and Johannes MacKymmey appears in Murthlac in 1550. George Kemmy and Barbara Watt were married on June 1st 1749 at Cabrach, Aberdeen. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edwin Mak kymme, which was dated 1506, in the "Register of the Great Seal of Scotland", during the reign of King James 1V of Scotland, 1488 - 1513. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.