Show ContentsCathro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Cathro family

The surname Cathro was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they held a family seat in their territories of Strcathro. The Pictish influence on Scottish history diminished after Kenneth Macalpine became King of all Scotland. But those east coast families still played an important role in government and were more accessible to Government than their western highland counterparts. Allegiances were important to Scottish middle age survival. Later they held a family seat at Perth when William Cathraw was a businessman in 1509.

Early History of the Cathro family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cathro research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1745 is included under the topic Early Cathro History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cathro Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cathro, Cathraw, Cathrope, Cathrow, Cathroe and many more.

Early Notables of the Cathro family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • the Cathro family of Perth


New Zealand Cathro 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:

Cathro Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Cathro, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
  • Isabella Cathro, aged 25, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
  • John Cathro, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
  • James Cathro, aged under 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Era" in 1855
  • Mary Cathro, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1865
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cathro (post 1700) +

  • John J. Cathro (1842-1909), American Republican politician, Painter and decorator; Farmer; Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Alpena District, 1895-96 1


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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