Show ContentsMcIlroy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the McIlroy family

The surname McIlroy was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat on the Scottish border. After the Norman Conquest of England many of Duke William's rebellious Barons moved north. The border became a convenient but turbulent no-man's land where the persecuted Many were given land by King Malcolm Canmore and later by King David of Scotland. Some were native Scots. In the 16th century they became known as the 'unruly clans'. The name was first recorded in Scotland in Wigton.

Early History of the McIlroy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McIlroy research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1880 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McIlroy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIlroy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Milroy, Mcilroy, Malrie, Milrie, Malroy, Mulroy and others.

Early Notables of the McIlroy family

More information is included under the topic Early McIlroy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McIlroy family to Ireland

Some of the McIlroy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States McIlroy migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McIlroy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James McIlroy, aged 16, who immigrated to the United States from Antrim, in 1894
McIlroy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elizbeth McIlroy, aged 42, who immigrated to the United States from Armagh, Ireland, in 1907
  • James McIlroy, aged 22, who landed in America from Newry, Ireland, in 1907
  • Bella McIlroy, aged 27, who landed in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1909
  • Daniel McIlroy, aged 48, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1911
  • Dolly McIlroy, aged 3, who immigrated to America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada McIlroy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McIlroy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Sgt. John McIlroy U.E. who settled in Didgeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 74th Highland Regiment, married to Elizabeth having 10 children 1
McIlroy Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Anna Caroline McIlroy, aged 50, who settled in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1916
  • Cecil McIlroy, aged 14, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1924
  • Frances McIlroy, aged 40, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1924

Australia McIlroy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McIlroy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Mcilroy, (b. 1815), aged 22, Irish nursery maid who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Diamond" on 29th November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
  • William McIlroy, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" 3

New Zealand McIlroy migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McIlroy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Mcilroy, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Dinapore" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th August 1857 4
  • Miss Agnes Jane Mcilroy, (b. 1852), aged 13, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 4
  • Charles McIlroy, aged 25, a ploughman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
  • Margaret McIlroy, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
  • Agnes McIlroy, aged 21, a servant, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Adamant" in 1875 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McIlroy (post 1700) +

  • Malcolm Douglas McIlroy (b. 1932), American mathematician, engineer, and programmer, co-creator of the Hunt–McIlroy algorithm
  • Mary McIlroy, American politician, Representative from California 10th District, 2009 5
  • Bernard McIlroy, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington 8th District, 2000 5
  • Rory McIlroy MBE (b. 1989), Northern Irish professional golfer, winner of the 2011 U.S. Open, named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year, in 2011 and 2014
  • William J. McIlroy (1928-2013), British secularist and atheist activist, writer and editor of Freethinker, General Secretary of the National Secular Society
  • William "Bill" McIlroy (b. 1883), Australian rules footballer
  • Kate McIlroy (b. 1981), New Zealand athlete who represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games (2006)
  • Dame Anne Louise McIlroy DBE (1874-1968), British doctor, one of the first women medical graduates from Glasgow University in 1898
  • James McIlroy (b. 1976), British middle distance runner
  • Joel McIlroy (b. 1973), Australian actor, best known for his role as Flynn Saunders in the popular soap opera "Home and Away"
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Archibald Mcilroy, Irish 2nd Class passenger residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 6


The McIlroy Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Espérance
Motto Translation: Hope.


  1. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diamond
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Constance.htm
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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