| ![Show Contents]() Girty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland Although the Girty surname came to Britain with the Normans, it derives from the Germanic personal names Gerard, or Gerald, composed of the elements "gar," or "ger," meaning "spear," "hard," meaning "brave," or "strong," and "wald," meaning "rule." The Anglo-Norman surname Girty in Ireland was often Mac Gerailt, and was used as a synonym of Fitzgerald. Early Origins of the Girty familyThe surname Girty was first found in County Carlow (Irish: Cheatharlach) a small landlocked area located in the province of Leinster in the South East of Ireland, where some of the name may have come from Anglicized versions of MacOrcachta, believed to be descended from Cathal, brother of Teige Mor, of the powerful O'Connors of Connacht. However, it is thought that the majority of this name in Ireland are of English (Norman) stock. Early History of the Girty familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Girty research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1598 is included under the topic Early Girty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Girty Spelling VariationsIn the days before Gaelic or English gained any significant semblance of standardization, the scribes who created documents simply recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in the Middle Ages many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Girty family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Garrett, Garratt, MacGarrett, McGarraty, Garret, Garrat, Garet, Garitt, Garatt and many more. Early Notables of the Girty familyMore information is included under the topic Early Girty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Girty migration to Canada | + |
Many Irish families left the English-controlled Ireland in the 19th century. Early immigrants were primarily after land and the opportunity of living a life entirely of their own fashioning. In the 1840s, this pattern of immigration changed as the Great Potato Famine struck Ireland. Hundreds of thousands left the diseased and starving island with little expectations but many hopes. By this time there was very little available land in the east, so many immigrants joined the movement for the western frontier lands, or settled in established urban centers. Irish immigrants not only made enormous contributions to the rapid development and population of North America, but they also brought with them a rich cultural heritage. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Girty: Girty Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. James Girty U.E. who settled in Amherstburg, Malden Township, Essex County, Upper Canada, Ontario c. 1784 1
- Mr. Simon Girty Sr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Girty (post 1700) | + |
- George Herbert Girty (1869-1939), American paleontologist
- Simon Girty UE (1741-1818), aka Katepacomen, an American colonial of Scots-Irish birth who was taken prisoner as a child by the Seneca and adopted by them, 7 years later he returned to his family and later established a liaison with between the British and their Native American allies during the American Revolution, he was granted lands in Amherstburg, Canada as a United Empire Loyalist
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: Semper fidelis
Motto Translation: Always faithful.
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
|
Girty migration to Canada 
