Old Photograph of Fishing Cove Near Macduff Scotland

Old photograph of a thatched cottage by a fishing cove near Macduff, Scotland. The settlement here was purchased in 1733 by William Duff, who became the first Earl Fife. In 1760, James Duff, the second Earl built a harbour and in 1783 and succeeded in promoting Macduff to a Burgh of Barony.

Much of Scotland and Ireland as well as the Isle of Man were under Viking control for the latter part of the First Millenium, and they were of very fair complexion, so this may well be an ethnic name. The surname as MacDuff is much associated with MacBeth although it seems that these stories are at best allegorical, as the surname MacDuff did not exist in the 11th century! The first recording may be that of Malisius Mc Duf, seneschal of Stratherne in 1264, with Neil M'Duffy being recorded in Arane in 1460. In Ireland the name as McGiff and McGuff is associated with the province of Connacht, although it was almost certainly introduced from Scotland in the 14th century.



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