Cathcart. Of territorial origin from the lands of Cathcart in Renfrewshire. The first of the family came to Scotland with Walter fitz Alan, the first of the Stewards, and from his name, Rainald, may like his leader, have been of Breton origin. Rainald appears as witness to a charter by Alan fitz Walter conveying the patronage of the church of Kethcart to the monastery of Paisley c. 1178 (RMP., p. 12). He also witnessed, as Ranulfus de Ketkert, a similar charter by Alan, the son of Walter in favor of the same house c. 1202-3 (ibid., p. 14). As Reginaldus de Cathekert he witnessed another charter by the same Alan to Robert Croc of the lands of the lands of Kellebrid c. 1200 (Lennox, II, p. 2). His son, William de Cathkert witnessed a charter whereby Duugallus filious Cristini de Levenax exchanged the lands of Cnoc with the monastery of Paisley for lands near Walkeinschaw in 1234 (RMP., p. 180). William de Kathkerte of the county of Are rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 205). Sir Alan of Cathcart, an adherent of Bruce, was probably the first to be designated dominus ejusdem (in 1336) (LCD., p. 158). Adam Cathcart was heir of Thomas Cathcart in Mylneholme of Auchincreif his father in 1622 (Retours, Ayr, 215). The name was originally pronounced Cath-cārt but has now been Anglicized into Cāth-cart. Kethkert 1451.
from The Surnames of Scotland; Their Origin, Meaning, and History; by George F. Black, Ph.D.; The New York Public Library.
**********
by Eleanor Lexington
A river winding through a narrow channel is the meaning of Cathcart, or the origin of the name.
In Scotland there is a parish named Cathcart, a few miles south of Glasgow. It contains the towns of Old Cathcart and New Cathcart. There is a river here called Cart, an old Gaelic word. The river happens to narrow at this point, or a strait therefore called Cath, another Gaelic word, meaning narrow. The Cart running in a narrow channel became caethcart, or Cathcart, which in turn gave its name to the town, and in due course of time someone assumed it as a patronymic. The rivers, it may be mentioned, has branches, one called the White Cart and the other the Black Cart. The town now called Gartside was originally Cartside.
The Cathcart family is one of the most ancient in Scotland and Kethcart and De Kethcart are other forms of the orthography, possibility the original spelling. Rinadius de Kethcart is a name we find in the records of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, 1178. At Greenock, another town of this shire, was one seat of the family, and the Viscounts of Cathcart were also Barons of Greeock. The family name has been of importance in Ayrshire, and the Lords of Gallowayare of Cathcart blood. Knockdolian Castle, of this shire, is a seat of the Cathcart family, and to this branch belongs the coat of arms reproduced.
One of the Pilgrim Fathers was the Rev. Robert Cathcart, born in Ireland, he settled in Delaware, where he married Mary Latimer.
The progenitor of the New England branch of the family was Gershon Cathcart, who lived in Bristol, Mass., where he married Mary Coleman.
Sir William Schaw Cathcart was one of the most distinguished soldiers of the Revolution, although on the wrong side of the firing line, from our point of view. He was the tenth Baron Cathcart in the peerage of Scotland and the first Viscount and Earl Cathcart in the peerage of the United Kingdom and son of the ninth Baron Cathcart and his wife, Jeannie, daughter of Admiral Hamilton. Sir William's wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant-Governor Elliott of New York. Sir William was aide to Major Sir Thomas Wilson, commanding at Boston, and his conduct won him fame and promotion. At the famous ball, or "mischianza", given in honor of Sir William Howe in Philadelphia, May 1778 Cathcart led one portion of the knights. Returning to England, he won further honors, his services being of the greatest importance in the overthrow of Napoleon. His wife was lady-in- waiting to the Queen of George III, and he was appointed "gold stick". His son, Sir George Cathcart was aide to Wellington at Waterloo, and afterwards a famous general, to whom belongs the honor of ending the Kaffir War in 1853. He was killed in the Crimea, and buried on Cathcart Hill. His "Commentaries" on the war in Russia and Germany are valuable contributions to literature. Another author of the family was William Cathcart, born in Ireland in 1821 He came to Pennsylvania when a young man, and was prominent in the Ministry and was president of the American Baptist Historical Society.
The statesman of the family was Charles William Cathcart, presidential elector on the Polk ticket and United States Senator.
We must not forget one of the patriots of the family. Of the forty-two ladies who took part in the Edenton, NC tea party, Oct. 25, 1775, was one Margaret Cathcart, her name being third on the list. The State Library has recently been presented with the book giving the names of these women, as published in a London paper in 1775. The gift came at an opportune time, for the D.A.R.'s were preparing to erect a tablet in the hall of history commemorating this historic event with names of the signers. As pictured by a London cartoonist, the "Edenton Tea Party" shows a number of women seated around a table, drawing up and signing a paper; under the table is an infant, and a small dog biting the baby's ear.
Among the representatives of the family in the Revolution was William Cathcart, surgeon of the Fourth Continental Dragoons.
The arms reproduced is an ancient one, belonging to the Earls of Cathcart The creation of the Scottish barony dates from 1460 (Galloway Branch) It is azure, three cross-crosslets fitched issuing out of as many crescents argent. Crest, a dexter hand couped above the wrist, and erect proper, grasping a crescent argent, as in the arms. Motto: I Hope To Speed.
The arms granted 1n 1703 to the Ayrshire branch of the family is quite similar. It has the crosses and the crescents, with the addition of a human heart. The crest 1s a hand holding a heart royally crowned. Motto: By Faith We Are Saved. The crosses and crescents denote crusader ancestors and the hand is a pledge of faith, sincerity and justice. The colors azure and argent denote the first loyalty, truth and integrity; the second peace, sincerity and purity.
One branch of the family quarters the arms of Sir Reynold de Kethcart, who attended the Prince of Scotland to the Holy Land, sinme of Richard and also the coat of Sir William Wallace, to whom the Cathcarts were related by marriage. The supporters are two parrots. The supporters which, by the way, only belong to the highest rank - of another arms, are dexterity a lion rampant, gules; ainster, a savage wreathed with laurel. (Cathcart Castle is in County of Renfrew, Scotland.)