| ![Show Contents]() Greir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of GreirWhat does the name Greir mean? The ancestors of the Greir family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. Their surname comes from the given name Gregor. The personal name Gregor, which is the Scottish form of Gregory, is derived from the Latin name "Gregorius" and from the Late Greek name "Gregorios," which mean alert, watchful, or vigilant. The name is "generally considered to be a shortened form of Macgregor." 1 Early Origins of the Greir familyThe surname Greir was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The coat of arms for the family includes the coat of arms for King Donald MacAlpin (d. 864), King of Alban, the United Kingdom of the Scots and Picts in the top left of the shield. It denotes the heritage of the family through the MacGregors. Early History of the Greir familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Greir research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1542, 1598, 1669, 1754, 1780, 1831 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Greir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Greir Spelling VariationsMedieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Greir has been spelled Greer, Grier, Grear, Grerar, Greir, Greerr, Grearr and many more. Early Notables of the Greir familyAnother 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Greir Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Greir family to IrelandSome of the Greir family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 165 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Greir migration to the United States | + |
Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Greir were among those contributors:
Greir Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Friederich Greir, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1736 2
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: Memor esto
Motto Translation: Be mindful.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- 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)
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