M’KIRDY, formerly 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 last century.

William, the eldest son, had no issue. John, the 2d son, married Grace Gregory, and had several children.

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 daughters.

John Gregory M’Kirdy, 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.