| ![Show Contents]() Elshire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Elshire family. Their name comes from the given name Alexander, which in turn was originally derived from the Greek name, which means "defender of men." In the late 11th century, Queen Margaret introduced the name, which she had heard in the Hungarian Court where she was raised, into Scotland by naming one of her sons Alexander. The popularity of the name Alexander was ensured by the fact that it was borne by three Scottish kings, the first being Margaret's son who succeeded to the throne of Scotland following the death of Malcolm III. The name Elshener is a local or dialectal pronunciation of the name Alexander. Early Origins of the Elshire familyThe surname Elshire was first found in Kintyre, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Early History of the Elshire familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elshire research. Another 455 words (32 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1295, 1431, 1475, 1493, 1555, 1561, 1574, 1605 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Elshire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Elshire Spelling VariationsThe medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Elshire has been recorded as Elshener, Elshenar, Elshender, Alshioner, Alesander, Alexander, Aleschunder, Elchyneur, Elzenour, Alshunder, Alshenour, Elshenour, Alexshunder, Alschunder, Alshenour, Alschunder, Alshonder, Alschoner, Alzenhar, Alzenor, Aschenour, Elchuner, Elshinar, Alshonner, Alshinor, Alshonar, Elsher, Elsender, Elshar and many more. Early Notables of the Elshire familyMore information is included under the topic Early Elshire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Elshire family to Ireland
Some of the Elshire family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Elshire familyDescendents 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 Elshire, or a variant listed above: Nicholas Elshie who settled in Connecticut in 1640; Duncan Alexshunder landed in America in 1685; James Eleshundar settled in Virginia in 1670; and Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, who colonized Nova Scotia, in Antigonish, Pictou, the Carolinas, Virginia and Upper Canada. Richard H. Alexander, traveled from Ontario with the ".
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: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.
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