Show ContentsMacGrory History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. MacGrory originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Ruaidhri, which means son of Rory. 1

Early Origins of the MacGrory family

The surname MacGrory was first found in County Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the MacGrory family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGrory research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1298 and 1800 are included under the topic Early MacGrory History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacGrory Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname MacGrory were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. MacCreary, MacCreery, MacCrary, MacCrory and others.

Early Notables of the MacGrory family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGrory Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacGrory family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the MacGrory family relocated to North American shores quite early: Alexander, James and Mary MacCreary, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1856 and 1874; Andrew, Ben, Henry, Hugh, John, Robert, Thomas and William MacCreery all arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1860.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.


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