Show ContentsMcQuire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Many variations of the name McQuire have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Mag Uidhir, which is derived from the word "odhar," meaning "dun-colored;" in the genitive case, the word is "uidhir."

Early Origins of the McQuire family

The surname McQuire was first found in County Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the McQuire family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McQuire research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1683 and 1707 are included under the topic Early McQuire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McQuire Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name McQuire revealed spelling variations, including Maguire, MacGuire, Guire, Guirey, Guiry and others.

Early Notables of the McQuire family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McQuire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States McQuire migration to the United States +

Irish families left their homeland in astonishing numbers during the 19th century in search of a better life. Although individual reasons vary, most of these Irish families suffered from extreme poverty, lack of work opportunities, and exorbitant rents in their homeland. Many decided to travel to Australia or North America in the hopes of finding greater opportunities and land. The Irish immigrants that came to North America initially settled on the East Coast, often in major centers such as Boston or New York. But like the many other cultures to settle in North America, the Irish traveled to almost any region they felt held greater promise; as a result, many Irish with gold fever moved all the way out to the Pacific coast. Others before that time left for land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula, or the Maritimes as United Empire Loyalists, for many Irish did choose to side with the English during the American War of Independence. The earliest wave of Irish migration, however, occurred during the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the McQuire name:

McQuire Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne McQuire, aged 12, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775 [1]
McQuire Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Julia McQuire, aged 3, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1834 [1]
  • John McQuire, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1854 [1]

Australia McQuire migration to Australia +

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

McQuire Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John McQuire, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [2]
  • Mr. Peter Mcquire, (b. 1812), aged 16, Irish errand boy who was convicted in Monaghan, Ireland for robbery, transported aboard the "Fergusson" on 16th November 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1843 [3]
  • Mr. Barnard McQuire, (Barney, McGuire), Scottish convict who was convicted in Dumfries, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [4]
  • Biddy McQuire, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" [5]
  • Mary McQuire, aged 17, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Constance" [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand McQuire 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:

McQuire Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James McQuire, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" in 1855 [6]
  • Ann McQuire, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" in 1855 [6]
  • Mary McQuire, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" in 1855 [6]
  • Thomas McQuire, aged 36, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
  • William McQuire, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fergusson
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTANCE 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Constance.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook