| ![Show Contents]() McGrattan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Ireland The McGrattan surname was Mag Reachtain in Irish Gaelic. Early Origins of the McGrattan familyThe surname McGrattan was first found in Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very early times. Early History of the McGrattan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGrattan research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1500 and 1700 are included under the topic Early McGrattan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McGrattan Spelling VariationsPronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname McGrattan are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Gratton, Grattan, MacGrattan and others. Early Notables of the McGrattan familyMore information is included under the topic Early McGrattan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the McGrattan familyThe 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the McGrattan family relocated to North American shores quite early: John Gratton, who settled in New York in 1820 and Edward Gratton landed in Philadelphia in 1862; Mary Gratton settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1848.
| Contemporary Notables of the name McGrattan (post 1700) | + |
- Bernard J. McGrattan, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 8½ aerial victories
- Hugh McGrattan, American politician, Mayor of Weatherford, Texas, 1912-14 1
- Gerard McGrattan (b. 1972), former Northern Irish hurler who played from 1989 to 2004
- William Terrence McGrattan (b. 1956), Canadian Catholic bishop, 12th and current Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough
- Tom McGrattan (b. 1927), Canadian former NHL ice hockey goaltender who played in one for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1947-1948 season
- Brian McGrattan (b. 1981), Canadian NHL ice hockey player from Hamilton, Ontario
- Brian McGrattan (b. 1959), New Zealand former rugby union player who played from 1981 to 1987, member of the New Zealand National Team, the All Blacks from 1983 to 1986
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: Pro patria vivere et mori
Motto Translation: For my country, I live and die
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