Map of England showing where the Mcateer arms are recorded
The Mcateer arms were recorded in Gloucester, c. 1620.
Gloucestershire had good farmland, a cloth trade in its valleys and a river carrying goods to Bristol. All three made money, and money bought the estates that brought arms with them.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Mcateer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Gloucester.
Origin & History of the Mcateer Family in England
The surname Mcateer is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac an t-Saoir, which translates literally to son of the craftsman or son of the carpenter. This name originated in Ireland and was historically associated with families who held skilled trades or served as master builders for local clans. By the early 17th century, members of the family had begun to migrate across the Irish Sea to England. Records confirm that individuals bearing this name were present in the port city of Gloucester by 1620. These early settlers likely arrived as part of the growing movement of laborers and tradespeople seeking new economic opportunities in English urban centers during the reign of King James I. Their presence in a major trade hub like Gloucester suggests that the family maintained their historical reputation for skilled craftsmanship while adapting to life in a new country.
Mcateer Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac an tSaoir
Son of the craftsman or carpenter.
This name
McateerDerived from a Gaelic occupational surname denoting descent from a skilled artisan or woodworker.
also spelled
Mastre
Maister
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 1985
Gloucestershire Archives. Gloucester City Records: Quarter Sessions and Parish Registers. 1620
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