Show ContentsMacLure History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the MacLure family. Their name comes from the Gaelic word Mac-Giolla-Uidhir, which literally means son of the pale youth or son of Odhar's servant. 1

Early Origins of the MacLure family

The surname MacLure was first found in Ayrshire and Galloway, where John McLur and Robert McLure were first listed as followers of the Earl of Casilis in 1526. A few years later in 1532, Tomas Maklure was sergeant of Assize in Carrick. Interestingly, the earliest evidence of a Clan piper was Robert MacLure who was piper to the chief of the Buchanans in 1600. 1

Early History of the MacLure family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacLure research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1660, 1720, 1723, 1729, 1807, 1857, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacLure History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLure Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. MacLure has been written as MacClure, MacLure, MacCloor, McLeur, McCloor and others.

Early Notables of the MacLure family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was J. Cluer, an engraver and publisher of music, who carried on business in Bow Churchyard, London, in the middle of the first...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacLure Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacLure family to Ireland

Some of the MacLure family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 139 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


MacLure migration to the United States +

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name MacLure or a variant listed above:

MacLure Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Maclure, who landed in New York in 1796 2
  • William Maclure, who arrived in New York in 1796 2
MacLure Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert MacLure, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1841
  • Sydney A. Maclure, aged 23, who landed in America from Manchester, in 1893
  • Percy Maclure, aged 26, who settled in America, in 1896
  • Mrs W. J. Maclure, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1896
MacLure Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Christina Maclure, aged 27, who immigrated to America from Glasgow, Scotland in 1904
  • Kath Maclure, aged 21, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland in 1906
  • Mary Maclure, aged 18, who landed in America from Glasgow, in 1906
  • Mrs. E. C. Maclure, aged 67, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
  • Allan Maclure, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Nassau, Bahamas, in 1910
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacLure migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacLure Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Margaret Maclure, aged 38, who settled in Victoria, Britich Colombia, in 1908
  • Samuel Maclure, aged 48, who settled in Victoria, British Colombia, in 1908

Contemporary Notables of the name MacLure (post 1700) +

  • The Very Rev Edward Craig Maclure DD, MA (1833-1906), Dean of Manchester (1890 to 1906)
  • Sir John Robert Spencer Maclure (b. 1934), 4th Baronet of the Maclure Baronets
  • Sir John William Spencer Maclure (1899-1980), 3rd Baronet of the Maclure Baronets
  • Sir John Edward Stanley Maclure (1869-1938), 2nd Baronet of the Maclure Baronets
  • Sir John William Maclure (1835-1901), 1st Baronet of The Home in Whalley Range, Lancashire, British businessman and Conservative politician, Secretary of the Famine Relief Fund (1862 to 1865)
  • Samuel Maclure (1860-1929), Canadian architect, responsible for over 450 commissions in British Columbia
  • Mark Maclure (b. 1955), former Australian rules footballer
  • William Maclure (1763-1840), Scottish/American geologist, eponym of Mount Maclure, and the Maclure Glacier, Yosemite National Park


The MacLure 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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.


  1. 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)
  2. 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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