McGratty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The McGratty surname was Mag Reachtain in Irish Gaelic.

Early Origins of the McGratty family

The surname McGratty 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 McGratty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGratty research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1500 and 1700 are included under the topic Early McGratty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGratty Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period. The following variations for the name McGratty were encountered in the archives: Gratton, Grattan, MacGrattan and others.

Early Notables of the McGratty family

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

Migration of the McGratty family

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name McGratty: 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 McGratty (post 1700) +

Arthur R. McGratty, American philosopher at Fordham University
Christopher McGratty, American researcher for the American Bankers Association
Megan McGratty, American researcher and registered nurse at the Department of Clinical Immunology & Analgesia, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biostatistics, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey

The McGratty Motto +

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