Muir Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Muir last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Muir last name
Meaning of the Muir last name: moor, heath. Muir is a Scottish surname from Scots muir, "moor", for someone living on open heath. It is common in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, and the Mures of Rowallan were an old family. Naturalist John Muir, born in Dunbar, founded the Sierra Club and made this last name famous in America.
Arms associated with the Muir name
In Scottish heraldry, coats of arms associated with the Muir name are personal, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Muir family history
This is only a glimpse of the Muir story. The full Muir history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Muir coat of arms. Get the full Muir report.
Muir name FAQ
What does the Muir name mean?
Moor, heath. Common variants include Moore, Mure.
Where does the Muir surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Muir coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Muir coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).