McCrary History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name McCrary or a variant listed above, including:

McCrary Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• David McCrary, who landed in New York in 1817 3
• J McCrary, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
• S McCrary, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
• W McCrary, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
• K. A. McCrary, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCrary Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Robert McCrary, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States, in 1918
• Arthur M McCrary, aged 31, who landed in America, in 1918
• Joseph McCrary, aged 26, who settled in America, in 1922
• Joseph S. McCrary, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1922

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCrary Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Margaret McCrary, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834

• Howard McCrary, American Grammy Award nominated musician, entertainer, and actor, father of actors Darius McCrary and Donovan McCrary
• Jim McCrary (1939-2012), American photographer, best known for his album covers including: Carole King's Tapestry; The Carpenters' Ticket to Ride; and Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen
• Donny McCrary (b. 1982), American professional boxer, nicknamed "The Savage"
• Jesse J. McCrary Jr. (1937-2007), American lawyer and politician, 19th Florida Secretary of State (1978-1979), the first black member of the Florida Cabinet since the end of Reconstruction
• Gregory Alonza "Greg" McCrary (1952-2013), American NFL football tight end
• Giles Connell McCrary Sr., (1919-2011), American self-employed oil operator, investor, art collector, rancher and politician, Mayor of Post, Garza County, Texas (1969-1991)
• Michael Curtis McCrary (b. 1970), former American NFL football defensive end
• Darius Creston McCrary (b. 1976), American Young Artist Award nominated film and television actor
• Fred McCrary (b. 1972), American retired NFL football player
• George Washington McCrary (1835-1890), American politician, Congressman from Iowa, and United States Secretary of War (1877-1879)
• ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)