Surname McGeer - Meaning and Origin

McGeer: What does the surname McGeer mean?

The last name McGeer is of Scottish or Irish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giorraig, meaning "son of the brave one." It may have originally been a nickname for someone noted for their bravery in battle. The McGeer surname is associated with Clan MacGregor and is one of the most common surnames in the US and Canada.

McGeer families can be traced back as far as the 16th century in Scotland, where members of the clan lived and worked mainly in southwestern Scotland, particularly Glasgow and the Isle of Mull. They were mainly small tenant farmers until the 18th century.

In the 19th century, many McGeer families immigrated to North America, mainly the United States and Canada. In the US, the number of McGeer families more than tripled between 1840 and 1880, indicating heavy immigration during the Industrial Revolution. In Canada, the first McGeer immigrants were recorded in the late 18th century.

In modern times, the McGeer surname is found in every corner of the world. It is most common in the US and Canada, and parts of the UK. There are many famous people who share the McGeer surname, including sportscaster Bill MacGeer, American baseball player John MacGeer, Canadian television host Gary MacGeer, astronaut Robert MacGeer, and painter Robert N. MacGeer.

McGeer: Where does the name McGeer come from?

The last name McGeer is most commonly found in Canada and the United States. In Canada, McGeer is primarily found in Ontario, followed by British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, with smaller numbers in other provinces and territories.

In the United States, McGeer is most commonly found in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Other states with a strong McGeer presence include Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio, among others.

Based on ancestry and genealogy records, the origins of the McGeer surname can be traced to Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Much of the migration of McGeers to the Americas happened during the 19th century, often during the Great Famine of Ireland and the Highland Potato Famine in Scotland.

The McGeer surname is a derivative of the Gaelic Mac Gheoir, which is derived from the word "geirr" meaning a spear. Therefore, the McGeer name can be translated into "son of the spearman" or "son of the soldier."

Today, the McGeer last name is not particularly common outside of North America; however, it can be found in other countries such as England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa, with increasingly small numbers in each country.

Variations of the surname McGeer

The surname McGeer is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Pherghaideir. Variants of this surname include MacGeer, MacGirr, Megher, McGirr, Macgheer, and MacGir. All of these variants are derived from the same root surname, and it is likely that these different spellings arose when individuals of this surname emigrated to different countries and anglicized their name to fit their new language and culture.

McGeer is also a Scottish variant spelling of the popular name McGhie. McGhie is derived from an Anglo-Saxon name and is possibly derived from the Old English given name “Macg” – mac meaning son, and ghie meaning “to be” or “from birth.” Variants of the McGhie surname include MacGhie, McGhie, MacGhee, McGhee, MacGehee, and MacGehe. All of these variants of the same root surname.

The Irish variant of McGeer is also found in Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand as well. There is also a Dutch variant, Macger, which is found in the Netherlands.

Individuals with the same origin of the surname McGeer may use a number of different spellings and surnames of the same origin. While the main spelling of the surname is McGeer, there are a number of other spellings of the same origin both in Ireland and in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These spellings include MacGeer, MacGirr, Megher, McGirr, Macgheer, MacGhie, MacGhee, McGhee, MacGehee, MacGehe, and Macger. No matter the spelling, all of these variants hold the same root origin.

Famous people with the name McGeer

• Pat McGeer: Pat McGeer was a Canadian neurologist and academic. He is a professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, and held a position in the UBC Department of Psychiatry since 1965. He has published numerous books and papers on neurological and psychiatric illnesses.
• Gordon McGeer: Gordon McGeer was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as Attorney General of British Columbia from 1937 to 1938, and as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1939.
• Mary McGeer: Mary McGeer is a Canadian educator, author, and businesswoman. She is the founder and CEO of Trailfinders, a Canada-based travel company. She has also been the president and founder of the McGeer Media Group, as well as an adjunct professor at Royal Roads University.
• Alex McGeer: Alex McGeer is a Canadian-born actor, producer, and director. He has had roles in numerous television shows and films, and he has also produced and directed many of his own short films.
• Fred McGeer: Fred McGeer was a Canadian physicist, engineering, and inventor. He is best known for his contributions to the field of underwater acoustics. He was a founding member of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers and held several patents in the field of acoustics.
• Jack McGeer: Jack McGeer is a former manager and executive in Major League Baseball. He was the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985, and was also a coordinator and consultant for several other Major League teams.
• Pauline McGeer: Pauline McGeer was a Canadian artist. She was a founding member of the Painters Eleven, the Toronto-based group of abstract artists. Her work was characterized by a distinctive use of shapes and lines and vibrant colors.

Other surnames

McGeeMcGeehan