The Clan History

A surname of territorial origin from the lands of Cathcart in Renfrewshire. This name is of Scottish descent and is found in many ancient manuscripts in the above country. Examples of such are a Ranulfus de Ketkert who witnessed a charter by Alan fitz Walter conveying the patronage of the church of Kethcart to the monastery of Paisley in 1178. Names were recorded in these ancient documents to make it easier for their overlords to collect taxes and to keep records of the population at any given time. When the overlords acquired land by either force or gifts from their rulers, they created charters of ownership for themselves and their vassals. Other examples of this name were found in the person of William de Kathkerte of the county of Are who rendered homage in 1296 and mention is made in record to Sir Alan of Cathcart in the year 1336.