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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2013
Orr Family Crest
Orr Family Crest
Orr

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Contents

Where did the Scottish Orr family come from? What is the Scottish Orr family crest and coat of arms? When did the Orr family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the Orr family history?

The story of the Orr family is rich with Scottish history. It begins in the ancient kingdom of Dalriada where Orr evolved as a name for some who lived on a bank, or on the edge of a hill. The Orr surname arose independently from different sources. In some instances, it came from the Old English word ora, which means "edge" and was probably a name for someone who lived on a bank, or on the edge of a hill. Orr also came form the Old Norse name Orri, which meant "black rooster." It also emerged from the Gaelic word, odhar, which meant "pale" and would have been a nickname that became a surname.

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Historical recordings of the name Orr include many spelling variations. They include They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. Orr, Ore, Orre and others.

First found in Renfrewshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.


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This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Orr research. Another 133 words(10 lines of text) covering the years 1296 and 1503 are included under the topic Early Orr History in all our PDF Extended History products.

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More information is included under the topic Early Orr Notables in all our PDF Extended History products.

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Some of the Orr family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 139 words(10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products.

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Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Orrs to arrive on North American shores:

Orr Settlers in the United States in the 17th Century


  • Robert Orr, who landed in Maryland in 1674

Orr Settlers in the United States in the 18th Century


  • Samuel Orr, who landed in Leeward Islands in 1710
  • Hugh Orr, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1740
  • Clement Orr, who arrived in New England in 1742
  • Ann Orr, aged 18, landed in New York, NY in 1774
  • Isabella Orr, aged 20, arrived in New York in 1774

Orr Settlers in the United States in the 19th Century


  • Alexander Orr who arrived in New York state in 1803
  • Alexander Orr, aged 25, arrived in New York in 1804
  • Joshua Orr, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811
  • Josua Orr, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811
  • Mathew Orr, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811


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  • Ashley Rose Orr (b. 1990), American actress
  • David L. "Dave" Orr (1859-1915), American first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1883 through 1890
  • Douglas Orr (1892-1966), American architect
  • Gary Orr (b. 1967), Scottish professional golfer
  • Robin Orr CBE (1909-2006), Scottish composer
  • Baron John Boyd Orr (1880-1971), Scottish Professor of Agriculture awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1949
  • Sheena Shirley Orr (b. 1959), original name of Sheena Easton, Scottish four-time Grammy Award nominated singer
  • Buxton Orr (1924-1997), Glasgow-born British composer
  • Charles Wilfred Leslie Orr (1893-1976), English composer
  • Marion Alice Orr (1918-1995), pioneering Canadian aviator who was the first woman to run a flying school

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  • Ulster Pedigrees: Descendants, in Many Lines of James Orr and Janet McClement, Who Emigrated from Scotland to Northern Ireland ca. 1607 by Ray A. Jones.
  • William Orr of Ireland, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky and his Descendants by Paul J. Ostendorf.
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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: Bonis omnia bona
Motto Translation: All things are good to the good.

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  1. Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.
  2. Adam, Frank. Clans Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands 8th Edition. London: Bacon (G.W.) & Co, 1970. Print. (ISBN 10-0717945006).
  3. Filby, P. William and Mary K Meyer. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index in Four Volumes. Detroit: Gale Research, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8).
  4. Egle, William Henry. Pennsylvania Genealogies Scotch-Irish and German. Harrisburg: L.S. Hart, 1886. Print.
  5. Bolton, Charles Knowles. Scotch Irish Pioneers In Ulster and America. Montana: Kessinger Publishing. Print.
  6. Burke, John Bernard Ed. The Roll of Battle Abbey. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
  7. Leeson, Francis L. Dictionary of British Peerages. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1986. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-1121-5).
  8. Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).
  9. Bain, Robert. The Clans and Tartans of Scotland. Glasgow & London: Collins, 1968. Print. (ISBN 000411117-6).
  10. Fairbairn,. Fairbain's book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition 2 volumes in one. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1968. Print.
  11. ...

The Orr Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Orr Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 16 March 2013 at 14:34.

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