McBride History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. McBride originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Giolla Bhrighde, which denotes a devotee of St. Brigid.

Early Origins of the McBride family

The surname McBride was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where the they are descended from the son of the servant (follower, devotee) of St. Brigit, the virgin Abbess of Kildare who died 525 A.D. The surname was first listed as eranaghs of Raymunterdoney in Donegal, a parish which includes Tory Island. The parish comprises 12,017 statute acres, but more than two-thirds is mountainous. Records show the name was principally found at Gweedore in the seventeenth century.

Early History of the McBride family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McBride research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1440, 1650, 1659, 1718, 1726, 1730, 1778 and 1800 are included under the topic Early McBride History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McBride Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period because the general population had to rely on local official's understanding of how their name should be spelt, hence spellings in records often changed through a person's lifetime. The following variations for the name McBride were encountered in the archives: MacBride, Kilbride, Gilbride and others.

Early Notables of the McBride family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

McBride World Ranking

In the United States, the name McBride is the 433rd most popular surname with an estimated 64,662 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name McBride is ranked the 817th most popular surname with an estimated 6,558 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name McBride is the 954th popular surname with an estimated 4,165 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks McBride as 624th with 1,146 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks McBride as 695th with 9,615 people. 5


McBride migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name McBride to North America:

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

McBride migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McBride Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

McBride migration to Australia +

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

McBride Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

McBride 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:

McBride Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name McBride (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name McBride +
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