Contents [hide]

McGrigor History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

McGrigor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The old Scottish-Dalriadan name McGrigor is derived from the given name Gregory. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Griogain, which translates as son of Gregory.

Early Origins of the McGrigor family

The surname McGrigor 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 McGrigor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGrigor 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 McGrigor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGrigor Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of McGrigor include MacGregor, MacGrigor, MacGrioghair (Gaelic) and others.

Early Notables of the McGrigor family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGrigor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McGrigor family to Ireland

Some of the McGrigor 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.

McGrigor migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The McGrigor were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

McGrigor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hugh McGrigor, aged 42, who arrived in New York in 1775 1
Isobell McGrigor, aged 59, who landed in New York in 1775 1
Jean McGrigor, aged 29, who arrived in New York in 1775 1

McGrigor migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGrigor Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William McGrigor, who landed in Canada in 1817

McGrigor migration to Australia +

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

McGrigor Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John McGrigor, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 2
Mr. Alexander McGrigor, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 20th January 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Mr. James McGrigor, English convict who was convicted in Chatham, Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

McGrigor 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:

McGrigor Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Jane McGrigor, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 5

Contemporary Notables of the name McGrigor (post 1700) +

Sir James McGrigor (1771-1858), Scottish physician, military surgeon and botanist, formative in the creation of the Royal Army Medical Corps
Alexander Bennett McGrigor (1827-1891), Scottish lawyer, university administrator and bibliophile
Sir James Angus Rhoderick "Jamie" McGrigor (b. 1949), 6th Baronet of Campden Hill, Middlesex, British peer, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands (1999-2016)
Sir Charles Edward McGrigor (1922-2007), 5th Baronet of Campden Hill, Middlesex, British peer
Sir Charles Colquhoun McGrigor (1893-1946), 4th Baronet of Campden Hill, Middlesex, British peer
Sir James Rhoderic Duff McGrigor (1857-1924), 3rd Baronet of Campden Hill, Middlesex, British peer
Sir Charles Rhoderic McGrigor (1811-1890), 2nd Baronet of Campden Hill, Middlesex, British peer
Sir James McGrigor (1771-1858), 1st Baronet of Campden Hill, Middlesex, British peer
Rhoderick McGrigor (1893-1959), British Royal Navy admiral

The McGrigor 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 +

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 Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html