| ![Show Contents]() Query History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The western coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Query family. Their name is derived from Guaire, an old Gaelic personal name meaning noble or proud. 1 Early Origins of the Query familyThe surname Query was first found in on the Isle of Ulva, where they were originally a branch of the 'Siol Alpin,' the descendants of Kenneth Mac Alpin, founder and first king of Scotland during the 9th century. One of the first records of the family was "John M'Goyre of Wlua [who] witnessed a charter by John of Yle, Earl of Ross, in 1463. In the royal confirmation of this charter his name appears as M'Geir de Ulva. In the Gaelic genealogical manuscript of 1467 the name appears correctly as M'Guaire." 2 Later, Donald McGillecallum McGorre or McQuhorre was tenant of Kyllewane in Kintyre, 1506, and Cillecallum McNeill McQuhore was also a tenant in Kintyre in the same year. 2 "A side form of the name is Macwharrie, and this shortened to Wharrie is also in current use. In the Isle of Man the name has become Quarry and Querry, and in Ireland it is Gorey (from UaGuaire). " 2 Early History of the Query familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Query research. Another 336 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1509, 1517, 1581, 1627, 1630, 1673, 1674, 1745, 1777, 1778, 1781, 1784, 1787, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1813, 1818, 1824 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Query History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Query Spelling VariationsSpelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Query has appeared in various documents spelled MacQuarrie, MacQuarie, MacQuarry, McQuarrie, McQuarry, MacQuerry, MacCorrie, MacCorry, MacQuarrey, MacWharrie and many more. Early Notables of the Query familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was Chief Lachlan MacQuarrie who died at age 103.Lachlan MacQuarie (d. 1824), major-general and governor of New South Wales, came of an old Scottish family which had been established for many generations on the island of Ulva, near Mull. His father, Lauchlan Macquarrie (the son seems to have dropped the second r), was the sixteenth chief of the Clan. Lachlan, the eldest son, entered the army on 9 April 1777 as ensign in the 2nd battalion of the 84th regiment of foot. From 1777 to 1781 he served in Halifax and other parts of...
Another 425 words (30 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Query Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Query family to Ireland
Some of the Query family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Query familyThe 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 Query or a variant listed above include: Anne McGuary, who arrived in New York in 1740; Donald Macquarrie, a "prisoners of the '45 rising," who was on record in Barbados or Jamaica in 1745.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Query (post 1700) | + |
- Nate Query, American musician best known as the bassist of the Portland, Oregon indie rock band The Decemberists
- Jeff Lee Query (b. 1967), American NFL football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Washington Redskins from 1989 to 1995
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: Turris fortis meus mihi Deus
Motto Translation: To me God is my strong tower
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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England
Scotland
Ireland
