McIlrath History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

In ancient Scotland, the ancestors of the name McIlrath lived in the Kingdom of Dalriada. In those days the name McIlrath was used to indicate a person who young man with tanned skin or with tawny hair with darker streaks. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac 'Ille riabhaich, which means son of the brindled lad.

Early Origins of the McIlrath family

The surname McIlrath was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from very early times.

Early History of the McIlrath family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McIlrath research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1376, 1476, 1508 and 1526 are included under the topic Early McIlrath History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIlrath Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McIlrath has appeared as Macilreach, McIlreach, MacIlreath, McIlreath, Macilriach, McIlriach, Macilraith, McIlraith, Macilaraith, McIlaraith, Macilarith, McIlarith, Macilwraith, McIlwraith, Macilwraithe, McIlwraithe, MacIlwrathe, McIlwrathe, MacKilwrath, McKilwrath, MacKilwrathe, McKilwrathe, Macgfillreich, McFillreich, Macileriach, McIleriach, Macillrich, McIllrich, Macilurick, McIlurick, Macilwrick, McIlwrick, MacIlwrith, McIlwrith, MacIlrevie, McIlrevie, MacKilreve, McKilreve, MacKilrea, McKilrea, MacElrath, McElrath, MacElreath, McElreath, McElvrick, MacElvrick, McIllrie, MacIllrie, MacAlwraith, McAlwraith, Revie, McRevie and many more.

Early Notables of the McIlrath family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the McIlrath family to Ireland

Some of the McIlrath family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIlrath migration to the United States +

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name McIlrath or a variant listed above include:

McIlrath Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John McIlrath, aged 45, who landed in America, in 1895

McIlrath Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edward McIlrath, aged 3, who landed in America from Liverpool England, in 1906
Elizabeth McIlrath, aged 32, who settled in America from Liverpool England, in 1906
Francis McIlrath, aged 8, who landed in America from Liverpool England, in 1906
Grace McIlrath, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from Antrim, Ireland, in 1907
Andrew McIlrath, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Portglenone, Ireland, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McIlrath (post 1700) +

Timothy "Tim" James McIlrath (b. 1979), American rock musician
E. K. McIlrath, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Florida, 1952 [1]
Dylan McIlrath (b. 1992), Canadian ice hockey defenceman

The McIlrath 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: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.