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Geary History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Geary History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Irish surnames are linked to the long Gaelic heritage of the Island nation. The original Gaelic form of the name Geary is "O Gadhra," which is derived from the word "gadhar," which means "dog."

Early Origins of the Geary family

The surname Geary was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they were Chiefs of Coolavin aad Sliabh Lugha. 1

The surname also spelled Gara, O'Gara, and Gerry is descended from Tiachleach, Lord of South Leyney who was killed in 964 A.D. The Geary family was closely associated with the O'Haras from an early time and the chiefs of the two septs alternated as rulers of Luighne. 2

"The O'Garas were lords of the territory of Luighne, now forming and giving name to the barony of Leyney or Lieny, in the county of Sligo, whence they were expelled by the MacSurtains and the Mac Costelloes, families of Anglo-Norman descent." 1

Once more into the archives we delved to find life in early times was fraught with battles and deaths. By example, some of the first entries of the family include: Tiachleach O'Gara, slain in 964; Rory O'Gara, tanist of Leyney, slain; Rory O'Gara, heir presumptive died in 1059; Donlevy O'Gara, lord of Leyney, killed by Brian O'Hara; O'Gadhra, lord of Layney, slain at battle of Ardee; and O'Gara, lord of Sliabh-Lugha, died. 1

Early History of the Geary family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Geary research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1710, 1727 and 1796 are included under the topic Early Geary History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Geary Spelling Variations

Irish names recorded during the Middle Ages are characterized by many spelling variations. This preponderance of variations for common names can be explained by the fact that the scribes and church officials that kept records during that period individually decided how to capture one's name. These recorders primarily based their decisions on how the name was pronounced or what it meant. Research into the name Geary revealed many variations, including Geary, Gara, O'Gara, O'Geary, Gearie, Gearey and many more.

Early Notables of the Geary family

Notable among the family name at this time was

Sir Francis Geary (1710?-1796),was an "admiral, of a family long settled in Cardiganshire, entered the navy in 1727 on board the Revenge, one of the fleet sent into the Baltic under the command of Sir...

Geary Ranking

In the United States, the name Geary is the 2,703^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 3

Geary migration to the United States +

A great wave of Irish migration occurred during the 19th century as a direct result of English colonial rule and tight-fisted absentee landlords. Many of these Irish immigrants boarded passenger ships bound for North America. Those who migrated early enough were given land in either British North America or the United States; those who came in the late 19th century were typically employed in industrial centers as laborers. At whatever age they undertook the dangerous passage to North America, those Irish immigrants were essential to the speedy development of the two infant nations to which they arrived, whether they broke and settled land, helped build canals, bridges, and railroads, or produced products for consumer consumption. An examination of immigration and passenger lists has uncovered a large number of immigrants bearing the name Geary or one of its variants:

Geary Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Geary, who arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1652 4
Brigit Geary, aged 3, who arrived in New York in 1654 4
Henry Geary, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 4
John Geary, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 4
John, Geary Jr., who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682 4

Geary Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eleanor Geary, who landed in America in 1744

Geary Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Geary, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 4
Patrick Geary, who landed in New York NY in 1816 4
Mary Geary, aged 30, who landed in America in 1822 4
Mary Geary, who landed in New York State in 1822
Alexander Geary, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Geary migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Geary Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Dennis Geary, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749

Geary Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret Geary, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830
Catherine Geary, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1831
James Geary, aged 28, a blacksmith, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Reward" from Cork, Ireland
Peter Geary, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Levant Star" from Cork, Ireland
William Geary, aged 30, a smith, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Levant Star" from Cork, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Geary migration to Australia +

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

Geary Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Michael Geary, (b. 1762), aged 31, Irish convict who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1820 5

Geary Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Stephen Geary, British convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Mr. William Geary, British Convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. George Geary, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Mr. James Geary, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mary W Geary, aged 27, a cook, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Joseph Somes" in 1850 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Geary 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:

Geary Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Geary, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th August 1856 11
Mrs. Geary, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th August 1856 11
Mr. John Geary, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir Edward Paget" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th August 1856 11
Denis Geary, aged 25, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
Michael Geary, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Geary (post 1700) +

Rick Geary (b. 1946), American cartoonist and illustrator
John White Geary (1819-1873), American lawyer, politician, Union general in the American Civil War, 16th Governor of Pennsylvania
Geoff Geary (b. 1976), American Major League Baseball player
Anthony Geary (b. 1947), American seven-time Daytime Emmy Award winning actor for his role on the daytime drama General Hospital
John Geary, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of South Plainfield, New Jersey, 1930 12
James Paul Geary, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates 32nd District, 1974; Candidate for West Virginia State Senate 15th District, 1984 12
Irving Geary, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Erie County 6th District, 1930 12
Hamilton W. Geary, American politician, Mayor of Fargo, North Dakota, 1921-25 12
E. Rodney Geary, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 2008 12
Dennis Geary, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 11th District, 1881-83 12
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Geary 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: Fortiter et fideliter
Motto Translation: Boldly and faithfully.

Citations +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOSEPH SOMES / SOAMES 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850JosephSomes.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html