MacCormack

The MacCormack Sept of the Clan Buchanan

McCormack, Carmack, Cormack, Cornick, Cramick, MacArmick, MacCarmack, McCarmick, MacCormaic, MacCormick, MacKernick, MacCornick, MacKornok, McArmick, McCarmack, MacCarmick, McCormaic, McCormick, McKernick, McCornick, McKornok, Makormok

Cormag is an old Gaelic personal name which comes from the early Celtic word corb-mac, which means “charioteer”.  The name is recorded as far back as 1132 when Gillecrist MacCormaic witnessed to a grant of land to the abbey of Deer.  It appears to be the name which was taken by tacksmen who held significant portions of the lands of Buchanan and was a name which was quite common in the Highlands around Loch Lomond.

It is rather interesting that the Buchanan followers of Bonnie Prince Charlie took the name MacCormack.  More specifically, it was recorded by Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle that the Buchanans (MacCormacks) were serving with Stewart of Appin at the Battle of Culloden and five of these men were killed and one was wounded in this battle.  

A tacksman (Scottish Gaelic: Fear-Taic, meaning "supporting man") was a land-holder of intermediate legal and social status in Scottish Highland society.