Contents [hide]

Muir History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Muir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Muir is an ancient Scottish name that was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is a name for someone who lived near a moor, or heath. 1 In Gaelic, Mor means great or big; therefore, a scribe may have mistaken the adjective Mor as a surname More or Muir. This may explain the occurrence of the surname Muir, or a variant in Northern Scotland.

The name Muir would seem out of place in that region because it holds a meaning of "living by a moor or heath," not the typical landscape of the highlands. Judging by its meaning, Muir is a local name of the south that described the area, in which the original bearer lived or held land. 2

Early Origins of the Muir family

The surname Muir was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland. Thomas de la More was the executor of the will of Devorguilla de Balliol in 1291. While the first spelling of the name was More, it gradually evolved to Muir which became more popular, and by 1300 the name Muir had become the preferred spelling. Donald, Adam, Renaud, Gilchrist and Simon Muir, all rendered homage on behalf of their Clan to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296.

"Adam de la More and William de la More were jurors on the lands of Lady Elena la Zuche in Conyngham, 1296. Ade More who held lands of Reltone in Rerwickshire, in 1315-1321 may be Adam More or Moire, knight, who witnessed charters by Bruce in 1328-1329. Elizabeth Mere, daughter of Sir Adam Mure of Rowallan, became queen of King Robert 11, 1347. Adam of Mwre was juror on inquest in Kirkwall, 1369. John Mvr of Enerothyll was witness, 1460, and John Mur or Muyr was vicar general of the Predicant Order in Scotland, 1469-1470 ." 2

Early History of the Muir family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Muir research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1458, 1526, 1541, 1559, 1594, 1657, 1700, 1740, 1753, 1760, 1765, 1771, 1787, 1793, 1798, 1800, 1810, 1812, 1822, 1829, 1869, 1887, 1890 and 1959 are included under the topic Early Muir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Muir Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Muir has been spelled Muir, Mure, Moor, Moore, Mure, More, Moorman and many more.

Early Notables of the Muir family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Sir William Mure (1594-1657), Scottish writer and politician; John Muir, a Sanskrit scholar, and his brother Sir William Muir, who was an Arabic scholar and biographer of Mohammed; and Edwin Muir (188...
Thomas Muir (1765-1798), parliamentary reformer, was born at Glasgow on 24 Aug. 1765, being the only son of Thomas Muir, a flourishing tradesman, who in 1753 published a pamphlet on England's foreign...
William Muir (1787-1869), divine, son of William Muir, merchant, of Glasgow, was born at Glasgow on 11 Oct. 1787, and was educated there and at the divinity hall of Edinburgh. He matriculated at Glasg...

Muir World Ranking

In the United States, the name Muir is the 3,585^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Muir is ranked the 827^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,487 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Muir is the 330^th popular surname with an estimated 10,850 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Muir as 180^th with 3,021 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Muir as 454^th with 14,342 people. 7

Migration of the Muir family to Ireland

Some of the Muir family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Muir migration to the United States +

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them:

Muir Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Adam Muir, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 8
George Muir (Moore) who was banished to New Jersey from Scotland in 1685
William Muir, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 8

Muir Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Muir and his wife and children, who settled in Georgia in 1732
James Muir, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1733 8
John Muir, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 8
Alexander Muir, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 8
Robert Muir, his wife, and children, who settled in New York in 1774
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Muir Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sophia Muir, who arrived in New York in 1836 8
Walter Muir, who arrived in Iowa in 1848 8
Christina Muir, who arrived in Iowa in 1848 8
Dorothy Muir, who landed in Iowa in 1848 8
Mary Muir, who landed in Iowa in 1848 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Muir migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Muir Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Muir, who landed in Canada in 1820

Muir migration to Australia +

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

Muir Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Muir, (Moore, Moor), Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Gilbert Muir, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 10
Mr. William Muir, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. David Muir, British Convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. Thomas Muir, British Convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Muir 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:

Muir Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander Muir, aged 31, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Mary Muir, aged 31, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Isabella Muir, aged 11, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Alexander Muir, aged 9, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
Robert Muir, aged 7, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Muir (post 1700) +

William W. Muir, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Bay County 1st District, 1916; Farmer-Labor Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 10th District, 1920 13
William M. Muir, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Bay County 1st District, 1918 13
Thomas M. Muir (b. 1879), American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Union County, 1923-49 13
Robert Muir, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1900 13
Percy F. Muir, American politician, Independent Candidate for New York State Assembly from Queens County 6th District, 1933 13
Mary L. Muir, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wyoming, 1940 13
M. D. Muir, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1908 13
Larell D. Muir, American politician, Mayor of Murray, Utah, 1978-85; Defeated, 1985 13
Joseph Z. Muir, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1924 13
John Muir, American politician, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, 1853-54 13
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Muir family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Charles William Muir (d. 1914), British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 14

Hillcrest Coal Mine

Mr. Robert Muir (1859-1914), Scottish Miner from Torpichen, West Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 15

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. B Muir, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Matthew Muir, American 2nd Class passenger from Philadephia, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 17

Winter Quarters coal mine

Mr. Daniel Lockhart Muir (b. 1885), American mine worker from Richfield, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 18
Mr. George Wilson Muir (b. 1883), American mine worker from Almy, Wyoming who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 18
Mr. John L. Muir (b. 1852), Scottish mine worker from Lanarkshire residing in Richfield, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 18

The Muir 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: Duris non frangor
Motto Translation: I am not disheartened by difficulties.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html