Show ContentsGlassgow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Glassgow Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Glassgow

What does the name Glassgow mean?

It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands that the Strathclyde-Briton people first used the ancient name Glassgow. It was a name for someone who lived in the city of Glasgow on the river Clyde in the county of Renfrew (first recorded in 1116 as Glasgu), or from either of two minor places with the same name in Aberdeenshire. The origins of the place name are uncertain, it may come from the Welsh glas, or "gray," and cau, meaning "hollows." 1 2

Early Origins of the Glassgow family

The surname Glassgow was first found in Renfrewshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rinn Friù), a historic county of Scotland, today encompassing the Council Areas of Renfrew, East Renfrewshire, and Iverclyde, in the Strathclyde region of southwestern Scotland. 3

One of the first records of the family was that of John de Glasgu, who was chaplain of Gamelin, bishop of St. Andrews in 1258. Later, Andrew de Glasgow was an escheator in 1289, and John of Glasgow appears as a monk of Holyrood in 1299. "Payment was made to John de Glasgu in 1343 for the table of the king's servants, Alan Glasgw was murdered in 1494, and Robert Glasgow was a witness in the burgh in 1554." 4

Early History of the Glassgow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Glassgow research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1258, 1259, 1287, 1289, 1299, 1340, 1343, 1419, 1568, 1614, 1629, 1653, 1690, 1693, 1721, 1761, 1764, 1792, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Glassgow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Glassgow Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Glassgow has been spelled Glassgow, Glasgow, Glassgaw and others.

Early Notables of the Glassgow family

John de Glasgu (fl. 1259), chaplain to Bishop Gamelin. John of Glasgow (fl. 1287-1289), was a Scottish monk of Holyrood Abbey. Andrew de Glasgow (fl. 1289), was a burgh official overseeing escheats for the Exchequer. John de Glasgu (fl. 1343), royal servant compensated for services to the king's table. Master John de Glasgow (c. 1340-before 1419), was Vicar of St. Mary's and Canon of Moray. John Glasgow M.A. (fl...
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Glassgow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Glassgow family to Ireland

Some of the Glassgow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 111 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Glassgow family

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: Edward Glascow who settled in New York in 1822; Elizabeth, Hannah, Samuel, and William Glascow settled in New England in 1760.

The Glassgow 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: Lord, let Glasgow flourish
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
  4. 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)

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