Cleghirn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

In ancient Scotland, the first people to use Cleghirn as a surname were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name someone who lived in Cleghorn, Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Cleghirn family

The surname Cleghirn was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow. Cleghorn in a small village north-east of the town of Lanark and is the ancient home to the family.

"The home of the Cleghorns is in the West of Scotland, but a group of families of the name flourished in the parish of Cramond for several generations, and Robert Cleghorn, farmer, at Saughton, near Edinburgh, was a friend of Robert Burns." 1

Early History of the Cleghirn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cleghirn research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1541 is included under the topic Early Cleghirn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cleghirn Spelling Variations

Before the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Cleghirn has been spelled Claghorn, Cleghorn, Claghorne, Cleghorne, Gleghorn and many more.

Early Notables of the Cleghirn family

More information is included under the topic Early Cleghirn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cleghirn family

For Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: James Claghorn who settled in New England in 1652; Robert Cleghorn settled in New England in 1771.

The Cleghirn 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: Insperata floruit
Motto Translation: It has flourished beyond expectations

Citations +

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)