This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gregory.' This fontal name is now rarely used, but our directories prove a widespread popularity in the 13th and 14th centuries; v. Greg, Greig, Grigg, Gregson, &c. 'In the West it was borne (the name Gregory) by that greatest and best of papal watchmen to whom the English Church looks back as the original awakener of her faith' (Yonge).

'Ac Gregory was a good man.': Piers.

No wonder it won great favour in pre-Reformation days, for apart from the great Pope Gregory, a succession of Gregorys sat on the papal chair.

Gregory Grimbawd, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Elyas fil. Gregor, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Peter Gregory, Bedfordshire, ibid.

Richard fil. Gregorii, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Gregorius othe Castell, Close Rolls, 9 Richard II.

Gregory Bodsankorthe, Close Rolls, 10 Richard if.'

I only furnish a few instances. The Hundred Rolls prove a general liking for the name, and thousands of people to-day owe their surnames to the then reigning feeling in its favour.

Generally considered to be a shortened form of Macgregor, but in latter half of seventeenth century was commonly equated with Grierson. Gilbert Grier was witness in Dumfriesshire, 1542 (Anderson). George Grier was appointed minister in Aberdeen, 1598 (SCM., V, p. 125), and the name is recorded in Edinbergh, 1599 (Edinb. Marr.). William Greir was retoured heir of William Greir in Dalgoner in the 40/ land of Dalgoner, 1617 (Retours, Dumfries, 95). George Greir is in Ayr, 1656 (Ayr, p. 198), and Gilbert Greir of Chappell in record in 1676 is mentioned in following year as Gilbert Greirsone of Shappell (Retours, Dumfries, 284,287). James Grier or Grierson was schoolmaster in Dumfries, 1675; Rosina Greir is in parish of Rerrick, 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. IX, p. 573), and Fergus Grier or Greirsone was an aged prisoner in the Canongate Tolbooth, Edinbergh, 1686 (ibid., 3. ser. XII, p. 207—208). Groir 1667.

From the Greek personal name Γρμγόριοζ, through Latin Gregorius 'watchman.' Several early Scots bishops bore this name, appropriate for the overseer of a church. Gregorius Duncheldensis, episcopus, c. 1150 (REG., 11); Gregorius episcopus de Ros, 1171—84 (REM., 3); Gregorius Moraviensis episcopus, 1150 (RD., 1). Gregory of Rutherford was a charter witness in reign of William the Lion (Melros). William filius Gregorii, provost of Crail, 1330 (ER., I, p. 265). Thomas Gregory was accused of deforcing in 1569 (RPC., I, p. 685). John Gegorie was minister of Drumoak in 1633 (SCM., III, p. 94), and Master Alexander Gregorie was retoured heir of Master John Gregorie, sometime minister of Dilmaik, his father, in 1651 (Retours, Aberdeen, 308). Greigory 1737.

Most people of this name in Ireland spell it as above, though occasionally the variant Grier is used: these and also Grierson are basically the same, being anglicized forms of the Scottish MacGregor, which is found unchanged in Co. Derry. Greer is very numerous in Co. Antrim now and it occurs many times in the hearth money rolls for that county (1669) and to some extent also in the rolls of other Ulster counties. The principal families of the name came to Ireland in the seventeenth century, the earliest in the Plantation of Ulster and others a generation later. Derry-born Samuel McCurdy Greer (1810-1880), who ended as county court judge of Cavan and Leitrim, was co-founder of the Tenant League in 1850 with Charles Govan Duffy.

A shortened form of Gregor, q.v.

This is a variant of the Scottish MacGregor, numerous in north Ulster since the time of the Plantation of Ulster. SIF 83

(Scottish) A contraction of MacGregor, q.v.

The well-known personal name has not only become a surname, but has given rise to various others, especially Gregorson, Gregg, Gregson, Griggs, Grigson, Greig, Grix, and possibly Grocock. These forms are mostly Scotch, and Grier and Grierson, not to mention Mac-Gregor, are entirely so.

Originally MacGregor. The name was assumed by some members of the clan on being outlawed.

A corruption of Gregor. Gilbert McGregor, second son of Maleom, Laird of McGregor, who settled at Nithesdale, Dumfries Co., Scotland, in 1374, left issue, who assumed the short appellation of Greer. Welsh, Grewr, a herdsman.

From the Greek Γρήγος, watchful. It may be derived from Gregor, as some of the Clan M'Gregor changed their name to Gregory, when the clan was proscribed and outlawed.

From the Dutch, Greijr, Greier; a personal name.

Derbyshire is the great home of the Gregorys, who, however, are also established in different parts of the country, Northamptonshire ranking next to Derbyshire in this respect, but they are rare or absent in the east of England and in the northernmost counties. In Derbyshire they have been established for many centuries; the Eyam family of Gregory carry their descent back to the times of Edward II. (W.). A Warwickshire family of the name begin their pedigree with John Gregory, lord of the manors of Fresely and Asfordby, Leicestershire, in the 13th century (L.); and about that time the name was also to be found in Bedfordshire and Bucks (H. R.).