| ![Show Contents]() Gregor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Gregor family. The root of their name is the given name Gregory. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Griogain, which translates as son of Gregory. Early Origins of the Gregor familyThe surname Gregor was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, as their origins can be traced back to Griogair, son of the eighth century King Alpin of Scotland, the High King of the Scots and Picts who died in 860 AD. Hence, their famous motto translates from Gaelic as 'Royal is my blood.' They are the principal branch of the Siol Alpine whose representative, King Kenneth the Hardy, was son of MacAlpin, the first King of the Scots. Early History of the Gregor familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gregor research. Another 491 words (35 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1587, 1603, 1640, 1671, 1734, 1888 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gregor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gregor Spelling VariationsSpelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Gregor has been spelled MacGregor, MacGrigor, MacGrioghair (Gaelic) and others. Early Notables of the Gregor familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was - Robert Roy "Rob Roy" MacGregor (1671-1734), legendary Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century, who is sometimes known as the Scottish Robin Hood
Gregor RankingIn the United States, the name Gregor is the 7,153rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Gregor family to Ireland
Some of the Gregor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Gregor migration to the United States | + |
Numerous Scottish settlers settled along the east coast of the colonies that would become the United States and Canada. Others traveled to the open country of the west. At the time of the American War of Independence, some remained in the United States, while those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The highland games and Clan societies that sprang up across North America in the 20th century have helped many Scots to recover parts of their lost traditions. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Gregors to arrive in North America:
Gregor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- David Gregor, who arrived in New York in 1819 2
- John Gregor, who arrived in New York in 1819 2
Gregor Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Wenzel Gregor, who landed in Wisconsin in 1907 2
| Gregor migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Gregor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Lewis Gregor, a cabinet-maker, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
- John Gregor, a tailor, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
- James Gregor, a joiner, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
- James Gregor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 3
- Elizabeth Gregor, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal Admiral" in 1838 3
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Gregor (post 1700) | + |
- Andrew Gregor (b. 1975), retired American soccer midfielder
- Colin Gregor (b. 1981), Scottish rugby union player
- Anthony James Gregor (b. 1929), American Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley
- William Gregor (1761-1817), English chemist and mineralogist, younger son of Francis Gregor, a captain in General Wolfe's regiment 4
- Michael Gregor (1888-1953), born Mikheil Grigorashvili, Russian aircraft engineer of the FDB-1 biplane fighter
- Michael Gregor, Austrian musician
- Haryaksha Gregor Knauer, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Arizona, 2012 5
- Gregor Hammerl (1942-2023), Austrian politician who was President of the Federal Council of Austria in 2012
- Gregor Dorfmeister (1929-2018), German journalist and writer who used the pseudonym Manfred Gregor
- Gregor Hayter (b. 1976), Scottish former rugby union player
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: 'S Rioghal Mo Dhream
Motto Translation: Royal is my blood.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ROYAL ADMIRAL 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838RoyalAdmiral.htm
- Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Gregor migration to the United States 
Gregor migration to Australia 
Italy
Scotland
Ireland
