| ![Show Contents]() St Clair History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of St ClairWhat does the name St Clair mean? The surname St Clair is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. The St Clair family lived at St. Clare in the arrondisement of Pont d'Eveque, Normandy before arriving in Scotland. Early Origins of the St Clair familyThe surname St Clair was first found in Suffolk, where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. Early History of the St Clair familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our St Clair research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1086 and 1130 are included under the topic Early St Clair History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. St Clair Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: St. Clair, St. Clare, St. Clere, De Clare and others. Early Notables of the St Clair familyMore information is included under the topic Early St Clair Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. St Clair RankingIn the United States, the name St Clair is the 2,788th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 Migration of the St Clair family to IrelandSome of the St Clair family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| St Clair migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: St Clair Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Thomas St. Clair, who settled in Baltimore in 1783
St Clair Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- David St. Clair, who settled in Philadelphia in 1855
St Clair Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Urnnie St. Clair, aged 35, who immigrated to America, in 1905
- Joseph N St. Clair, who settled in America, in 1907
- Ralph Griffith St. Clair, aged 49, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
- Geo. W. St. Clair, aged 2, who settled in America, in 1908
- Richard St. Clair, aged 40, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1909
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| St Clair migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: St Clair Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. William StClair, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 28th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name St Clair (post 1700) | + |
- Isla St. Clair (b. 1952), Scottish singer, actress and former game show co-host
- Isla St. Clair (b. 1952), Scottish singer and actress
- William M. St. Clair, American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from St. Clair County, 1849 3
- Wayman Peter P. St. Clair (b. 1842), American politician, Member of Nebraska State House of Representatives, 1877 3
- John W. St. Clair, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State Senate 8th District, 1891-94; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1896 3
- John St. Clair, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 19th District, 1822-26 3
- Jessica St. Clair (b. 1977), American actress, writer, sketch comedian, and comedy improviser
- James St. Clair, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 105th District, 1978 3
- J. J. St. Clair, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1860 3
- J. H. St. Clair, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Idaho, 1912 3
- ... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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: Entends-Toi
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