About us
In the middle to late 1600's Scots-Irish families named Greer and Grier began immigrating to the North American colonies through the ports of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia from Northern Ireland and Scotland. A considerable number went to Canada.
As new land was opened, Greers/Griers began moving south and west into Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas. Some migrated further north and west from Pennsylvania and into the midwest.
In later years, families with these names also went to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Grierson and related names are recognised as a sept of the Scottish name McGregor. Beginning in 1603 the McGregor name was proscribed by the King and many were forced to change their names or face certain death. Many used Grierson, Greg, Greig, Greer and Grier, etc. as aliases, thus there may be two spellings for the same name. As far as can be ascertained, those MacGregors using Grier(son)(Greer) etc, reverted to MacGregor when proscription was lifted.
However, there is no DNA evidence that links Grierson/Greer to any branch of MacGregor. Indeed, in terms of extant records, Grierson is older than MacGregor. There is one Greer member who descends from the same line that MacGregors do, but their connection far predates any use of surnames, probably by 1000 years.
In this project we are looking at the Greer/Grier(son) surnames. Since leaving Scotland and Northern Ireland, Griers and Greers have risen to positions of worldwide importance including the military, the courts and business. The Greer/Grier(son) lines deserve individual examination.
Some Greer and Grier ancestors fought with General George Washington in the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. In more modern times, in WWI and WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq.
The supposed connection with the McGregor line will continue to be an ongoing project. After joining the Greer/Grier Project, you may also join the McGregor Project at no additional charge and belong to both projects simultaneously.
As new land was opened, Greers/Griers began moving south and west into Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas. Some migrated further north and west from Pennsylvania and into the midwest.
In later years, families with these names also went to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Grierson and related names are recognised as a sept of the Scottish name McGregor. Beginning in 1603 the McGregor name was proscribed by the King and many were forced to change their names or face certain death. Many used Grierson, Greg, Greig, Greer and Grier, etc. as aliases, thus there may be two spellings for the same name. As far as can be ascertained, those MacGregors using Grier(son)(Greer) etc, reverted to MacGregor when proscription was lifted.
However, there is no DNA evidence that links Grierson/Greer to any branch of MacGregor. Indeed, in terms of extant records, Grierson is older than MacGregor. There is one Greer member who descends from the same line that MacGregors do, but their connection far predates any use of surnames, probably by 1000 years.
In this project we are looking at the Greer/Grier(son) surnames. Since leaving Scotland and Northern Ireland, Griers and Greers have risen to positions of worldwide importance including the military, the courts and business. The Greer/Grier(son) lines deserve individual examination.
Some Greer and Grier ancestors fought with General George Washington in the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. In more modern times, in WWI and WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq.
The supposed connection with the McGregor line will continue to be an ongoing project. After joining the Greer/Grier Project, you may also join the McGregor Project at no additional charge and belong to both projects simultaneously.