Blue History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada is thought to be the home of the ancestors of the Blue family. Their name comes from someone having lived in the county of Argyll (now in the Strathclyde region), on the isle of Arran. The name Blues may also be derived from the Gaelic word "gorm", which means Blue. The name is also commonly found on tombstones in and around Knapdale. One may presume that because of this, the origin of the name may have been derived from a marriage to a MacMillan. Furthermore, the Anglicized name Blue may have derived from a particular branch of the MacMillans called the "MacGhilleghuirm", which means "son of the blue lad."

Early Origins of the Blue family

The surname Blue was first found in Argyllshire on the isle of Arran, where they held a family seat from ancient times, and the name can frequently be found on tombstones in and around Knapdale, on the isle of Arran.

Early History of the Blue family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blue research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1360 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Blue History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blue Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. Blue has appeared as Blue, Blew, Blewe, Bleu, Gorm, Gilligorm and others.

Early Notables of the Blue family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

Blue Ranking

In the United States, the name Blue is the 1,162nd most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 1


Blue migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Blue or a variant listed above:

Blue Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Blue Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Blue migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blue Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Blue migration to Australia +

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

Blue Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Blue 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:

Blue Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Blue (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Blue +
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