A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mccleary family of Scotland.
Reg. 6867 · Scottish, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. on a chev. ar. betw. a ship in full sail or, placed betw. a cross crosslet fitchée and a palm tree eradicated fessways in chief of the second, and in base the figure of Commerce of the third, three roses gu”
WigtownKildrochit · Wigtown, c. 1840
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Map of Scotland showing where the Mccleary arms are recorded
The Mccleary arms were recorded in Wigtown, c. 1840.
Wigtown was Scotland's south-western corner, farming country facing Ireland. Its lairds held small estates for generations, and long unbroken holding is what fills a register of arms.
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 Scotland in this period.
Victoria
Sovereign of the period
Victoria
1837–1901
Reigning in Scotland when the Mccleary arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Wigtown.
Origin & History of the Mccleary Family in Scotland
The surname McCleary is a variation of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chéire, which translates to the son of the servant of Saint Ciarán. This name originated in the southwestern regions of Scotland and parts of Ireland, where families often identified themselves through their devotion to local saints. By the early 19th century, the family had established a firm presence in the town of Wigtown in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland. During the 1840s, members of the McCleary family were active participants in the local community, working in trades that supported the agricultural and maritime economy of the area. These early ancestors were part of a long tradition of Scottish families who moved between the coastal regions of Scotland and Ireland, maintaining strong cultural and social ties across the sea. Their presence in Wigtown during this period reflects the broader patterns of settlement and labor migration that defined life in the Scottish Lowlands during the Victorian era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mac Gille Chiar
Son of the servant of the dark or swarthy one.
This name
McclearyA Scottish patronymic surname indicating descent from a follower of a dark-haired or swarthy individual.
also spelled
McCleary
McClery
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Census Returns for Wigtownshire, 1841
Reaney, Percy Hide and Wilson, Richard Middlewood, A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
