Show ContentsGuiry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Many variations of the name Guiry have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Mag Uidhir, which is derived from the word "odhar," meaning "dun-colored;" in the genitive case, the word is "uidhir."

Early Origins of the Guiry family

The surname Guiry was first found in County Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Guiry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Guiry research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1683 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Guiry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Guiry Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name Guiry revealed many variations, including Maguire, MacGuire, Guire, Guirey, Guiry and others.

Early Notables of the Guiry family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Guiry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Guiry family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Guiry family relocated to North American shores quite early: Dennis McGuire, who settled in New England in 1772; Arthur, Bernard, Catherine, Daniel, Hugh, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Robert, Thomas, and William McGuire, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.


Contemporary Notables of the name Guiry (post 1700) +

  • Thomas John Guiry (b. 1981), American actor, known for his roles in The Sandlot, The Mudge Boy, and The Four Diamonds


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