MACNOKARD: Gaelic Mac na cearda, 'son of the smith. ' in old Gaelic cerd meant a worker in brass, and in early times the ceard was the craftsman par excellence, held in the highest respect, but in later times, through the decay of native industries in metals, the term was degraded and applied to the poorest class of itinerant artificers, patchers of pots and pans, and equated with Scots tinkler. In Burns's time the word seems still to have retained its meaning of a worker in brass, as the caird in the "Jolly Reggers" says of himself:

My bonie lass, I work in brass,

A tinker is my station."

Macnokard was a common name in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and occurs often in old Scots records and documents of that period. Gregor Makenkerd agreed to serve Edward I of England in France, 1297 (Bain, II, p. 242). Iain Mc nocerdych was charter witness in Lismore, 1525 (HP., IV, p. 27) Gillecreist M'Conoquhy Duy Vc Nocarde in record in Argyll, 1574 (OPS., II, p. 127), appears again in 1580 as Gillecreist Makonchy Duff V'Nokeid, native servant to Campbell of Glenerquhy (BBT., p. 223). John M'Necaird was tenant in Eyich, 1594 (ibid., p. 283). Archibald M'Nokaird was portioner of Drumurk, 1629 (Sosines, 286), and Myldoniche or Moldonyt McNoheardie or McNokeerdie in Carnakalliche was put to the horn in the same year (RPC., 2. ser. II, p. 341, nr, p. 46). Patrick Dow M'Nokerd in Auchinchalden and Angus M'Nokerd in Braklead appear in 1638 (BRT., p. 403), Finlay Mc nakaird was an 'engager' on the royalist side from Urquhart, 1649 (IDR., p. 368), and Duncan M'Knokaird is in Monienirnach, 1672 (HP., II, p. 208). John Dow M'Nockard and Malcolm M'Nockard in Kilvicewn, and Duncan M'Norcard in Scur were denounced rebels 1675 (HP., I). Archibald M'Nokaird was merchant burgess of Inveraray, 1695 (Campbell I, p. 13), and Dond McNougerd is recorded in Gerrich, Islay, 1741 (Bk. Islay, p. 559). In Argyllshire the name is now rendered Sin clair. McNikord and McNokord 1699, McNekard 1724. See also Caird.Stolen from Fore-bears