Show ContentsCleber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Cleber family. Their name comes from the Gaelic word Mac-Giolla-Uidhir, which literally means son of the pale youth or son of Odhar's servant. 1

Early Origins of the Cleber family

The surname Cleber was first found in Ayrshire and Galloway, where John McLur and Robert McLure were first listed as followers of the Earl of Casilis in 1526. A few years later in 1532, Tomas Maklure was sergeant of Assize in Carrick. Interestingly, the earliest evidence of a Clan piper was Robert MacLure who was piper to the chief of the Buchanans in 1600. 1

Early History of the Cleber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cleber research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1660, 1720, 1723, 1729, 1807, 1857, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cleber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cleber Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Cleber has been recorded as MacClure, MacLure, MacCloor, McLeur, McCloor and others.

Early Notables of the Cleber family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was J. Cluer, an engraver and publisher of music, who carried on business in Bow Churchyard, London, in the middle of the first...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cleber Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Cleber family to Ireland

Some of the Cleber 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 and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cleber family

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Cleber, or a variant listed above: Agnes, Alexander, Andrew, George, James, Jane, John, Richard, Robert, Samuel and William MacClure, who all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860.



The Cleber 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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.


  1. 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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