McClure History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

McClure comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland’s west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the Gaelic word Mac-Giolla-Uidhir, which literally means son of the pale youth or son of Odhar’s servant. 1

Early Origins of the McClure family

The surname McClure was first found in Ayrshire and Galloway, where John McLur and Robert McLure were first listed as followers of the Earl of Casilis in 1526. A few years later in 1532, Tomas Maklure was sergeant of Assize in Carrick. Interestingly, the earliest evidence of a Clan piper was Robert MacLure who was piper to the chief of the Buchanans in 1600. 1