Scotland
EnglandThe surname McBriar 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. "Of all the families springing from Dumfries the MacBrairs have the longest and most honourable connection, having been virtually hereditary provosts of the burgh for nigh 150 years." [1]
"The name of M'Brair," says Sir Herbert Maxwell, "contains in itself a reproach to a celibate order -Mac brathair (braher) the friar's son." [1] Another source claims the name was from the Lowland Scottish word brae, meaning 'hill'.
Other early record show: John de Byres, a monk in Neubotle, Midlothian, in 1309; and Thome de Byris owned a tenement in Edinburgh in 1392.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McBriar research. Another 330 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1590, 1384, 1473, 1491, 1481, 1503, 1499, 1502, 1548, 1469, 1504, 1579, 1630, 1469, 1473, 1503, 1502, 1548, 1533, 1557, 1494, 1667, 1510, 1506, 1500, 1444, 1573, 1684, 1667, 1579, 1534, 1639, 1593 and 1653 are included under the topic Early McBriar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: MacBriar, McBriar, MacBrair, McBrair, MacBraire, McBraire, MacBriare, McBriare, Briar, Brier, Brire, Briars, Briers, Brires, Braires, Brares, Braire, Brair, MacBrare, McBrare, Brare, MacBrar, McBrar, Brar, MacBrayr, McBrayr, MacBrayre, McBrayre, McBryar, MacBryar, MacBray, McBray, MacBrire, McBrire, MacBrier and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early McBriar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Robert McBrare who landed in Carolina in 1716; T.W. McBrier settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1852; Charles McBrire landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1857.
