McGear History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Rugged coastal mountains and the windswept Hebrides islands were the home of the first family to use the name McGear. It was originally given to a short person. The Gaelic form of the surname is Mac an gheairr, which means son of the short or low-sized man.

Early Origins of the McGear family

The surname McGear was first found in Kirkcudbrightshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt), part of the present day Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, former county in Southwestern Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, and were believed to be descended from one of the many (350) chiefs who accompanied the banished King Colla da Crioch, who left Ireland for the Hebrides and south west Scotland in the year 327. This ancient Irish clann were originally from County Armagh in Ireland.

Early History of the McGear family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGear research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1658, 1684 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McGear History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGear Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of McGear have been recorded over the years, including McGirr, McGeer, McGear, MacGirr, MacGeer, McGhirr and many more.

Early Notables of the McGear family

More information is included under the topic Early McGear Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McGear family to Ireland

Some of the McGear family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGear migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to the Crown re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first McGears to arrive on North American shores:

McGear Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jane McGear, who settled in Delaware in 1772

McGear migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGear Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John McGear U.E. who settled in St. Stephen, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 1

Citations +

Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X