MACHARDY, Macharday, Machardie: Gaelic MacC(h)ardaidh, 'son of the sloe,' from older Gaelic cardi. The h is intrusive, and silent in the vernacular. The home county of the MacHardies is the Highlands of Aberdeenshire and the immediate neighborhood north and south, but with some few unimportant exceptions they did not own land on Deeside. They were, however, numerous and influential. The Strathdon branch counted themselves of the Clan Chattan and followed Macintosh as their chief (Stirton, Crathie, p. 413414). Dr. Macbain suggested that the name came from Pictish Gartnaigh, pronounced Gratney, a well-known name of old in Mar. (There was an earl of Mar called Gartney or Gratney about 1300.) He thinks it was developed to MacCardney or MacCarday, and ultimately before 1587 to MacHardy. A commission for the trial of persons accused of the 'crewall slawchter of Thomas McChardy in Brakmar, was issued in 1560 (Rose, p. 233). John Mackhardie in Crathinaird, 1633 (SCM., III, p. 139). Donald Fleming alias McQhardies was officer of the baron-bailie's court of Braemar, 1676 (Stirton, Crathie, p. 420), and John M'Ardie and Alexander M'Kardie appear in Invercauld, 1696 (Poll Book).