Origins of the McMath Surname

MacMath (from "The Surnames of Scotland" by George F. Black)

Mac Mhatha, son of Matthew, q.v. Alexander McMath of Dalpeder resigned the office of coronator of Nythisdale in 1468 (The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, Volume II, Doc. 974).  Dalpedder in Dumfriesshire is recorded in 1538 as the seat of the family (The Manuscripts of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, 16), which ended in an heiress, Bessy McMath, who married John Johnstone of Esbyshields.  Thomas McMath witnessed an instrument of Sasine in Dumfries, 1506 (History of Dumfries by Rogert Edgar, p. 228), and M'Math of that Ilk appears in the list of freeholders of Dumfriesshire in 1597.  Edward M'Mathe appears as merchant in Edinburgh, 1600 (Register of marriages for the parish of Edinburgh, 1595-1750).  John M'Mayth was retoured heir of Roger M'Mayth, his father, in lands in barony of Sanquar, 1601 (Retours, Dumfries, 12).  William Mckmath was "boxmaster to ye Incorporation of the Walkers" in Edinburgh, 1684 (Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Vol. IX, p. 121).  "In the seventeenth century a family of merchant burgesses of the name of Macmath flourished in Edinburgh, and the arms assigned to them in Funeral Escutcheons . . . are certainly founded on M'Naught" (Scottish Arms by Robert R. Stodart, Vol. II, p. 187).