McBride History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

My Mothers Maiden name is Mcbride and her father my Grandfather always dreamt of going to Ireland. This is one of the significant reason why we chose Ireland for our Wedding destination. We did not want to pick between whose family would travel when discussing to do the wedding in Canada or the USA, so this way everyone has to travel. (Trust me Shawn’s idea of having it in Ireland is much cheaper than my picks which were Antarctica and South Africa.)

There are many Irish surnames being used today in forms that are quite different than their original, ancient forms. McBride originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Giolla Bhrighde, which denotes a devotee of St. Brigid.

Early Origins of the McBride family

The surname McBride was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel, where the they are descended from the son of the servant (follower, devotee) of St. Brigit, the virgin Abbess of Kildare who died 525 A.D. The surname was first listed as eranaghs of Raymunterdoney in Donegal, a parish which includes Tory Island. The parish comprises 12,017 statute acres, but more than two-thirds is mountainous. Records show the name was principally found at Gweedore in the seventeenth century.

Early History of the McBride family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McBride research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1440, 1650, 1659, 1718, 1726, 1730, 1778 and 1800 are included under the topic Early McBride History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McBride Spelling Variations

The Middle Ages saw a great number of spelling variations for surnames common to the Irish landscape. One reason for these variations is the fact that surnames were not rigidly fixed by this period because the general population had to rely on local official's understanding of how their name should be spelt, hence spellings in records often changed through a person's lifetime. The following variations for the name McBride were encountered in the archives: MacBride, Kilbride, Gilbride and others.

Early Notables of the McBride family

Prominent amongst the family at this time was

David McBride (1726-1778), physician and inventor

McBride World Ranking

In the United States, the name McBride is the 433rd most popular surname with an estimated 64,662 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name McBride is ranked the 817th most popular surname with an estimated 6,558 people with that name. [2] And in Australia, the name McBride is the 954th popular surname with an estimated 4,165 people with that name. [3] New Zealand ranks McBride as 624th with 1,146 people. [4] The United Kingdom ranks McBride as 695th with 9,615 people. [5]

McBride migration to the United States+

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name McBride to North America:

McBride Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edmund McBride, who arrived in New England in 1731 [6]
Alexander McBride, who was recorded in Charlestown, South Carolina in 1767
Duncan McBride, who, along with his wife Marion and their nine children, who arrived in New York city in 1775
Duncan McBride, aged 46, who landed in New York in 1775 [6]
Jenny McBride, aged 4, who arrived in North Carolina in 1775 [6]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McBride Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry McBride, who arrived in America in 1801 [6]
Samuel McBride, aged 28, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 [6]
Sarah McBride, aged 10, who arrived in New Castle, Del in 1804 [6]
William McBride, aged 22, who landed in New Castle, Del in 1804 [6]
George McBride, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1807 [6]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McBride migration to Canada+

McBride Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Anthony McBride, who was listed as a Scottish settler in Ontario, Canada in 1821
Mary McBride, who was recorded at the customs house of New Brunswick in 1833
Mary McBride, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Patrick McBride, aged 18, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Biddy McBride, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, IrelandHistoric Events for the McBride family+

Empress of Ireland

Mr. William Frederick McBride (d. 1914), British Trimmer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking [15]

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Patrick Joseph Mcbride, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [16]
Mr. Hugh Mcbride, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [16]

HMS Repulse

Mr. John Mcbride (b. 1919), English Stoker 1st Class from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [17]