| ![Show Contents]() McEnteer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The story of the name McEnteer reaches back through Scottish history to the kingdom of Dalriada. The name evolved for a person who worked as a carpenter or wright. The Gaelic form Mac an t-saoir means son of the carpenter. Most historians agree that their earliest habitations were on MacDonald territories on Kintyre. Most legends about their beginnings point to an origin in the Hebrides. From this point on, opinions differ. One legend has the Clan-an-t-Saor (Children of the Carpenter) arriving in Lorne in a galley with a white cow, another says that the galley, set adrift, developed a leak below the water line and the MacDonald Chieftain placed his thumb in the hole to keep the boat afloat. Spotting help at a distance, he cut off his thumb so that he could wave. He was ironically named the Carpenter or MacIntyre. Some claim that the family derived its name from a member of the MacDonalds who was called Cean-tire because of his ownership of lands on the peninsula of Kintyre. Early Origins of the McEnteer familyThe surname McEnteer was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where according legend, Maurice or Murdock, The Wright, (c.1150) became the first MacIntyre chief as a reward for helping his uncle, Somerled, King of Argyll and the Western Isles. Early History of the McEnteer familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McEnteer research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1543, 1597, 1890, 1955 and 1991 are included under the topic Early McEnteer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McEnteer Spelling VariationsSpelling variations are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. Many spelling variations of McEnteer have been recorded over the years, including MacIntyre, MacIntire, MacIntre and many more. Early Notables of the McEnteer familyAnother 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McEnteer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the McEnteer family to Ireland
Some of the McEnteer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| McEnteer migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: McEnteer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
| McEnteer migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: McEnteer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- James McEnteer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865
- Sarah McEnteer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865
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: Per ardua
Motto Translation: Through difficulties.
|
McEnteer migration to Australia 
McEnteer migration to New Zealand 
