MacGartlind History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The chronicle of the name MacGartlind begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. The name is derived from the Old English personal name Gærland. However, the surname MacGartlind may be a local name derived from some place which is now unknown; gær and land are common elements in Old English nomenclature.

Early Origins of the MacGartlind family

The surname MacGartlind was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland. Searching through early records, we discovered: "Robert Gerland of Perthshire rendered homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296, Thomas Gerland was rector of the church of Banevy, 1321, and Gilbert Gerland was bailie of Perth, 1359. Thomas Garland was burgess of Linlithgow in 1360, and Roger Gerland or Garland was rector of the church of Eglisham, 1368-1370." 1

The name may have originated in England as of note was Johannes de Garlandia or John of Garland (fl. c. 1205-1255) was a philologist and university teacher who studied at Oxford. Another Johannes de Garlandia (Johannes Gallicus) (fl. c. 1270-1320) was a French music theorist of the late ars antiqua period of medieval music. And John Garland (fl. 1230), was an early grammarian and alchemist, who was assigned by Bale and Pits to the eleventh century, but some argue that he was also a native of France. 2

Further south in the parish of Chumleigh, Devon, "Garland is supposed by Prince to have been the birthplace of John de Garland (Garlandia), a poet of the eleventh century, and it continued in the Garlands until the close of the seventeenth century. " 3

There is much debate as to which century the important poet lived as another source explains "John Garland (fl. 1230), grammarian and alchemist, was assigned by Bale and Pits to the eleventh century, and Dom Rivet, accepting this date, argued that he was also a native of France. They were not acquainted, however, with Garland's poem, 'De Triumphis Ecclesiæ.' Garland there describes himself as one whose mother was England and his nurse Gaul, and says that he had studied at Oxford under one John of London, a philosopher. From Oxford he went to Paris, and since he there studied under Alain de Lille, who died in 1202, we may assume that he was born about 1180. " 2

Early History of the MacGartlind family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGartlind research. Another 211 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1296, 1379, 1389, 1425, 1482, 1487, 1578, 1598, 1637, 1642, 1660, 1661, 1787 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacGartlind History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacGartlind Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. MacGartlind has been written Garland, Garlland, Gerland, Gerlond and others.

Early Notables of the MacGartlind family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Augustine Garland (fl. 1660), English Regicide, son of Augustine Garland, attorney, of Coleman Street, London. By the death of his father, in 1637, he succeeded to property in Essex at Hornchurch and Waltham-holy-Cross, and at Queenborough in the island of Sheppey. On 9 May 1660 he appeared before the lord mayor of London and claimed the benefit of the king's declaration. Nevertheless he was put on his trial, and on...
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGartlind Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacGartlind family to Ireland

Some of the MacGartlind family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 175 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacGartlind family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of MacGartlind: Daniel and Elizabeth Garland who settled in Barbados in 1654; Hugh Garland settled in Virginia in 1634; Peter Garland settled in Virginia in 1650; Robert Garland settled in Virginia in 1655.

Citations +

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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital