Contents [hide]

Macgregor History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

MacGregor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name MacGregor is the given name Gregory. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Griogain, which translates as son of Gregory.

Early Origins of the MacGregor family

The surname MacGregor was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, as their origins can be traced back to Griogair, son of the eighth century King Alpin of Scotland, the High King of the Scots and Picts who died in 860 AD. Hence, their famous motto translates from Gaelic as 'Royal is my blood.' They are the principal branch of the Siol Alpine whose representative, King Kenneth the Hardy, was son of MacAlpin, the first King of the Scots.

Early History of the MacGregor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGregor research. Another 491 words (35 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1587, 1603, 1640, 1671, 1734, 1888 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacGregor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacGregor Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name MacGregor include many spelling variations. They include They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. MacGregor, MacGrigor, MacGrioghair (Gaelic) and others.

Early Notables of the MacGregor family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

Robert Roy "Rob Roy" MacGregor (1671-1734), legendary Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century, who is sometimes known as the Scottish Robin Hood

MacGregor Ranking

In the United States, the name MacGregor is the 6,027^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in New Zealand, the name MacGregor is ranked the 840^th most popular surname with an estimated 867 people with that name. 2

Migration of the MacGregor family to Ireland

Some of the MacGregor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacGregor migration to the United States +

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 MacGregor, or a variant listed above:

MacGregor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James MacGregor, who arrived in New England in 1718 3
Greggie and Jane Macgregor, who settled in Georgia in 1737
Dunham Macgregor, who arrived in Maryland in 1747 3
John Macgregor, who arrived in Maryland in 1747 3

MacGregor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter MacGregor, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1811 3
James Macgregor, who landed in New York, NY in 1831 3
Fanny Macgregor, who arrived in New York in 1835 3
Catherine MacGregor, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
David Macgregor, aged 16, who settled in America from Dundee, in 1892
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacGregor Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Henry R. MacGregor, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Dundee, in 1903
D S MacGregor, aged 38, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1903
C. Macgregor, who landed in America, in 1903
Gregor Macgregor, aged 25, who landed in America from Inverness, Scotland, in 1908
Charlotte J. Macgregor, aged 30, who settled in America from Brisbane, Australia, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacGregor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacGregor Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Ella MacGregor, aged 47, who settled in Monteral, Canada, in 1910
Henry Macgregor, aged 53, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1918
Ian. C. Macgregor, aged 22, who immigrated to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, in 1918

MacGregor migration to Australia +

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

MacGregor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John MacGregor, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
Miss Roseana Macgregor, (b. 1826), aged 24, Greek general servant, from Cephalonia (Kefalonia) travelling from London aboard the ship "Slains Castle" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 25th January 1851 5

MacGregor 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:

MacGregor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Gregor MacGregor, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Mr. A. Macgregor, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 6
Prof. D. Macgregor, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st June 1871 7
Rev. W. Macgregor, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st June 1871 7
Mrs. Macgregor, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Wild Deer" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st June 1871 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name MacGregor (post 1700) +

Katherine "Scottie" MacGregor (1925-2018), American actress, best known for her role as Harriet Oleson in Little House on the Prairie
Craig MacGregor (1949-2018), American musician, best known as the longtime bassist for Foghat
Cammy MacGregor (b. 1968), American tennis player, active from the mid-80s until 1995
Clark MacGregor (1922-2003), American politician, Republican U.S. Representative from Minnesota
Mary MacGregor (b. 1948), American singer
Gregor MacGregor (1786-1845), Scottish soldier, adventurer who fought in the South American struggle for independence
Clifford J. MacGregor (1904-1985), American Arctic explorer and naval aviator
Douglas Macgregor (1906-1964), American industrial psychologist
Frances A. MacGregor, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 13th District, 1961 8
Ernest C. MacGregor, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Delaware County, 1935 8
... (Another 35 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the MacGregor family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Arthur L. Macgregor, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 9
Mrs. Betsy Macgregor, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 9

The MacGregor 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: 'S Rioghal Mo Dhream
Motto Translation: Royal is my blood.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
The Argus News Paper 27th January 1852 Page 2 (Retrieved 26th April 2019). Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4775844?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FA%2Ftitle%2F13%2F1851%2F01%2F27%2Fpage%2F505154%2Farticle%2F4775844
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/