History of the Grewar Name
History
The name Gruer, Grewar, and Gruar originates from Scotland and within that country, prior to the 19th Century, the nucleus of Gruers originate from the area around Braemar and Glenisla. Derivatives of the name are also found such as Crewer and Cruer and Cruar. These are derived from MacCrewer and MacCruer. There is a chance that the MacCruers and MacCrewers of the west of Scotland are a version of MacCruiter.
The name is said to originate from the Scots Gaelic MacGrudaire, or "Son of the Brewer" and began to change from MacGrudaire to Grewar from a comparatively early period compared with other Highland Surnames. Thus, we find other names derived from MacGrudaire, such as: MacGruder, MacGrouther, MacGrewar, McCruer, McCrewer, MacGrewar and MacGruer. Two names which are often confused as a derivative of MacGrudaire are MacCruiter and MacGrew. The former means "Son of the Harper or Musician" and has no link to MacGrudaire or any of its associated names. The same applies to MacGrew which is a completely separate surname.
Four main genealogical branches of the MacGrudaire related names exist:
- The MacCrewars, MacGrewars and MacCruers from the Parish of Kilmadock, Menteith, Callander, Dunblane, Stirling, Glen Orchy and Loch Katrine and surrounding area.
- The MacGrouthers of GlenArtney, Perthshire, Comrie and surrounding area.
- The Gruers / Grewars of Braemar and Glenisla, Eastern Perthshire, Angus and Deeside and Surrounding area.
- The MacGruers of the North, from Foyers and Boleskine, Invernesshire and Surrounding area.
Monega path to Braemar
The name is found elsewhere in Scotland (Such as Edinburgh and Glasgow), from the 16th and 17th Centuries in varying degrees of Concentration, but in the majority of cases, most bearers of the name originate from one of these four main centres, when analysed from the records available. In relation to branch 1, prior to 1850, some of these MacGrewars became Grewars and they are found as far west and south as Loch Lomond, Glasgow and as far north as Dull in Perthshire. The MacGrouthers in branch 2 are found in Glen Artney, Comrie and surrounding area. The Grewars and Gruers of branch 3 are found further into eastern Perthshire, Angus and Aberdeenshire. Branch 4 are found as far North as Inverness and as Far East as Aberdeen. Once again some of these MacGruers later became Gruers.
Despite each of the above names deriving from MacGrudaire there is probably little if any blood connection between the bearers of each of the different derivative names. With the exception of the MacGruers of the north, where the name derives from a Bun Sloinne or Sept name of the original founder of their Clan, the Grewars, MacGruers and MacGrouthers derive their name from a trade name. In ancient times Scotland would have had Brewers all over the country and from a very early period. Brewing in Scotland can be traced back to 5000BC, evidence of Brewing activity was found dating from this period on the Island of Jura off the west coast of Scotland where fermented fragments of ale were found.
It is more likely that different branches originate from when a particular name "stuck" in a particular generation and all descendents of the first bearer of the name are descended from the original ancestor. Thus, we find the MacGrouthers particularly numerous around Glen Artney, Perthshire, but the name Grewar is almost unknown in this area, but particularly common around Braemar and Glenisla. Most, if not all MacGrouthers who originate from Glen Artney are likely to be related by blood as would the Grewars of Glenisla and Braemar. The MacGrouthers and the Grewars most probably do not, however, share a blood relationship. Further DNA testing in this area will provide a fascinating conclusion to this question.
If someone identifies a connection with a MacGrudaire related surname, such as Grewar, and this connection occurred in comparatively recent times (within the last few hundred years), it may be possible to establish this link through genealogical research, if the link is further back it will probably not be possible to prove this through records alone and the only option be to submit for DNA genealogical testing in order to establish a link with a particular branch, where this is possible.
Gruers of Braemar and Glenisla
The Grewar Society is concerned primarily with branch 2 which link Grewars and Gruers back to Glenisla and Braemar and surrounding area. It is however, accepted that any research into the origins of the name, must be conducted with the other branches in mind and that links, perhaps currently unknown, may yet be established between each of these.
