MacRoy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of MacRoy

What does the name MacRoy mean?

The ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name MacRoy is a nickname for a person with red hair. MacRoy is a nickname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname MacRoy comes from the Gaelic word ruadh, which means red. Thus, the original bearers of the surname MacRoy would have been known for their red hair, or possibly, a ruddy complexion.

Early Origins of the MacRoy family

The surname MacRoy was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from very early times, where some say before the Millenium.

Early History of the MacRoy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacRoy research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1488, 1527, 1550 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacRoy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacRoy Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. MacRoy has appeared as Roy, Roys, Roye, Roi, McRoy and others.

Early Notables of the MacRoy family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacRoy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacRoy family to Ireland

Some of the MacRoy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 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 MacRoy family

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name MacRoy or a variant listed above include: Henry and Margaret Roy who settled in Virginia in 1637; Daniel Roy settled in Virginia in 1700; John Roy settled in Georgia in 1734; Joseph Roi settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1790..

The MacRoy 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: Qua tendis
Motto Translation: Whither do you steer.