The Cash Family History

The Cash Family originated in Scotland. The original spelling of the name was not Cash. While some, including the book by the singer Johnny Cash, believe that the original spelling was Caesche, history seems to show that this may not be the case.

Information published by Don Leslie Cash states that current name Cash is derived from "Caschel", which is the gaelic term for Castle. Previous to this, the name was spelled Caiseal. Variations include Casche (ca. 1450), and Casch. By the late 1500's and early 1600's the common name was Cash.

Don Cash believed that the Cash Seat was at "The Place Cash" near Strathmilgo, Fife, Scotland. The name came from the noble family of Duncan, 6th Earl of Fife, and Ada, niece of Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. The lands, which were and still are called "the Lands of Cash, or Casche" (the gaelic term describing a castle or fortress), were granted by Malcolm IV in a dowry charter dated 1160. From Duncan and Ada, it is assumed that a grandson, about 1225, first took the surname Casche, later to be the modern day spelling of Cash. This information is gathered by the martlet (bird) on top of the family crest, which is the cadency mark of the fourth son.

The House of Casche endured for 263 years until James I (James IV of Scotland) returned from bondage in England and had the Earldoms dismantled. In about 1430 the family was dispersed. Some Cash's went to clan country and took the name MacCash and MacCaishe under the Clan MacDonald. Some went to Germany, where it became Kash or Kashe. Others went to Ireland, near Cashel.

William, the originator of the name in America, is of the small branch that stayed behind in the Fife area.

My thanks to the research of Don Leslie Cash, and the information provided by Cristopher D. Cash.

William, who was born in Fife, Strathmiglo, Scotland in 1653, settled in Westmoreland Co, VA. He died in Washington Parish in 1708. This branch of the Cash Family is traced from William's son, Joseph, his son, Peter, Peter's son, William, and William's son Dennis. By Dennis' generation, the branch of the family was in North Carolina. Dennis and his brothers Isham and Moses then settled in Hot Springs County, Arkansas.

According to the Federal Homestead records, Dennis, Peter and Moses staked out adjoining land in this area. By 1859, they had settled on 500 + acres. Family photos dating from the late 1800's show that the family was heavily into logging in later generations.

The direct line continues from Dennis to his son Henry, Henry's son Sam, and Sam's son Allen, all of Arkansas.

The Allen Cash branch of the family is now located in the Madison, WI area.

Wayne Meddley, a newly found 4 cousin from Malvern Arkansas, provides some information on his great-grandmother, Francis Adeline Cash, as well as information on his branch of the family. Take a look at it!