Contents [hide]

McRoberts History Etymology Coat of Arms Creation Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

McRoberts History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McRoberts

What does the name McRoberts mean?

The McRoberts family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name McRoberts is derived from the personal name Robert. Known as the Clan Donnachaidh, (MacDhonnchaidh) 'son of Duncan' the family's origins are very distinguished, as the senior branch of the line were the hereditary abbots of Dunkeld, who traced their descent from Iona. In addition, Abbot Duncan of Dunkeld, the Robertson progenitor, was killed in battle in 964, as he led the warriors, bearing, a reliquary of St. Columba. His grandson, Abbot Crinan of Dunkeld, married the Kings daughter and then fathered King Duncan I of Scotland who was killed by MacBeth (of Shakespearean fame). Crinan is buried at the Isle of lona, burial place of Scotland's early Kings. 1

McRoberts Coat of Arms Creation

The wolf, long a terror in many parts of Scotland, appears in several crests and shields. Wolves were evidently a pest in Perthshire, and it is said that one Donald Macdonald got the lands of Struan or Strowan in Perthshire for killing wolves, and three wolf heads appear in his shield.

The crest is a hand holding an imperial crown, and the motto is " Virtutis gloria merces " (Glory is the reward of valour). Robert, one of the heads of the family, apprehended one of the murderers of King James I., and for this the family of Struan has since borne a wild man chained under the escutcheon of their arms.

In the Highlands the Robertsons are known as the Clan Donnachai, pronounced Donachie, and it is sometimes asserted that the clan is not derived from the Macdonalds, but from Duncan, eldest son of Malcolm III., and it was from some Robert in the reign of James II. that they got the name Robertson. 2

Early Origins of the McRoberts family

The surname McRoberts was first found in Atholl. King Duncan's younger son, Maelmore, sired Madadh, Earl of Atholl, and his grandson, Earl Henry, was father to Conan who held vast territories in this area. Conan of Glenerochie was the first Chief of the Robertsons and gave his name to the Clan Connchaidh or Duncan. His successor, Duncan, the 5th Chief, led the Clan in the army of King Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314 against the English. For this service, and his subsequent staunch support of the Scottish Crown, his grandson Robert of Struan was granted the lands and barony in 1451.

Early History of the McRoberts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McRoberts research. Another 403 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1561, 1587, 1645, 1653, 1668, 1680, 1686, 1689, 1703, 1705, 1715, 1723, 1727, 1745, 1746, 1749, 1783, 1784 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McRoberts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McRoberts Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents McRoberts has been spelled Robertson, MacConachie, Maconachie, MacConaghy, MacConchie, MacConckey, MacConkey, MacDonnachie, MacDonachie, MacDunnachie, MacInroy, MacLagan, Mac Raibeirt (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McRoberts family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Thomas Robertson (fl. 1520-1561), schoolmaster and dean of Durham, was born at or near Wakefield in Yorkshire early in the sixteenth century. William Robertson (d. 1686?), Scottish lexicographer, was a graduate of Edinburgh, and is probably the William Robertson who was laureated by Duncan Forester in April 1645. From 1653 to 1680...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McRoberts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McRoberts Ranking

In the United States, the name McRoberts is the 8,809^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the McRoberts family to Ireland

Some of the McRoberts family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McRoberts migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name McRoberts were among those contributors:

McRoberts Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew McRoberts, aged 21, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 4
Brice McRoberts, who landed in New York in 1822 4
John M McRoberts, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 4
Alexander McRoberts, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 4
James McRoberts, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1855 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McRoberts migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McRoberts Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas McRoberts, aged 33, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 5
Mary McRoberts, aged 23, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 5
Mary Ann McRoberts, aged 7, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 5
Agnes McRoberts, aged 21, a nurse, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rakaia" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name McRoberts (post 1700) +

Bob McRoberts, American former halfback in the National Football League
Samuel McRoberts (1799-1843), United States Senator
Justin McRoberts (b. 1971), American singer and songwriter
Joshua "Josh" Scott McRoberts (b. 1987), American professional NBA basketball player
W. B. McRoberts, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Lewis County, 1911-14, 1925-28 6
Thomas McRoberts, American politician, Member of Minnesota State Senate 13th District, 1861 6
Samuel McRoberts (1799-1843), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Attorney for Illinois, 1829-31; Member of Illinois State Senate, 1829-31; U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1841-43 6
Josiah McRoberts, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Illinois Democratic State Committee, 1852-56 6
James W. McRoberts Jr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1972 6
Hugh McRoberts, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1900 6
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The McRoberts 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: Virtutis gloria merces
Motto Translation: Glory is the reward of valour.

Citations +

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)
Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html