Dewer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The descendants of the clans of the ancient Scottish tribe known as the Picts were the first to use the name Dewer. It was a name for a pilgrim from the Gaelic word deoradh. The deoradh kept the relics of saints. The family have been the hereditary custodians of St. Fillan's Crozier. 1

Early Origins of the Dewer family

The surname Dewer was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland. Dewarton is a village, in the parish of Borthwick, county of Edinburgh. It is here that the Dewar family have held the estate of Vogrie since early times. 2

Early History of the Dewer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dewer research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the year 1296 is included under the topic Early Dewer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dewer Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Dewer has been spelled Dewar, Dure, Dewyer, Dewer, McIndeor, McJarrow and many more.

Early Notables of the Dewer family

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

Dewer migration to the United States +

In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Dewer:

Dewer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Steven Dewer, who arrived in Antigua in 1679

Dewer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Dewer, aged 19, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1851 3

Dewer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Dewer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Dewer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1851 4

The Dewer 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: Quid non pro patria
Motto Translation: What would not one do for his country.

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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) CONDOR 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Condor.htm