McGear Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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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.

McGear Early Origins

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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.

McGear Spelling Variations

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

McGear Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGear research. Another 247 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1684, 1658 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McGear History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGear Early Notables (pre 1700)

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

McGear In Ireland

Some of the McGear family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

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 Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John McGear U.E. who settled in St. Stephen, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 ^[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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

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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

Other References

Bolton, Charles Knowles. Scotch Irish Pioneers In Ulster and America. Montana: Kessinger Publishing. Print.
Martine, Roddy, Roderick Martine and Don Pottinger. Scottish Clan and Family Names Their Arms, Origins and Tartans. Edinburgh: Mainstream, 1992. Print.
Donaldson, Gordon and Robert S. Morpeth. Who's Who In Scotish History. Wales: Welsh Academic Press, 1996. Print. (ISBN 186057-0054).
Browne, James. The History of Scotland it's Highlands, Regiments and Clans 8 Volumes. Edinburgh: Francis A Niccolls & Co, 1909. Print.
Fairbairn,. Fairbain's book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition 2 volumes in one. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1968. Print.
Markale, J. Celtic Civilization. London: Gordon & Cremonesi, 1976. Print.
Samuelsen, W. David. New York City Passenger List Manifests Index 1820 - 1824. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1986. Print.
Urquhart, Blair Edition. Tartans The New Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Secauccus, NJ: Chartwell Books, 1994. Print. (ISBN 0-7858-0050-6).
Innes, Thomas and Learney. Socts Heraldry A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principles and Modern Application of the Art of Science. London: Oliver and Boyd, 1934. Print.
Prebble, John. The Highland Clearances. London: Secker & Warburg, 1963. Print.
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The McGear Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The McGear Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 2 March 2016 at 13:23.