Recorded in a range of spellings including MacJarrow, McGeorge, McJarrow, and McJerrow, this is a Scottish surname which is also recorded in Northern Ireland. The origins of the name are obscure, however it would seem that according to Black's "Surnames of Scotland", perhaps the leading authority on Scottish names that the origination is from the pre 10th century Gaelic personal name "Dewar". This is from the pre 10th century word "deoireach" meaning a pilgrim, which by the 14th century had been transposed into the word "jore", and hence the development of the later George, Jarrow and Jerrow. This seems possible, but it also has to be said that the name "George" meaning farmer, was a popular introduction into Europe during the famous Crusades of the 12th to the 14th century, and in our opinion could equally have provided at least some examples of the nameholders. What is certain is that the surname in Scotland in its various forms is well recorded from about the Elizabethan times with Robert McJarrow appearing in the records of Hoihous in 1607, Henry Makegeore, from whom the McGeorge's probably descend being recorded in 1662, and John McJorrie being prosecuted for "rebellion" in 1686.

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