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Ancestral Lineage

Origins of

the Surname

Variations of

the Surname

Armorial Bearings, Symbols and Mottoes

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Direct ancestors

Additional information about the persons in our database  as   well  as   a   complete

listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on this LINK.

Descendant Register

Generation 1

PATRICK¹ MORELAND was born before 1682. He died in 1717 in Charles County, Maryland. He married Mary Moreland (nee)? before 1702 in Charles County, Maryland. She was born before 1686. She died on Jan 1747/48 in Charles County, Maryland.

Patrick Moreland and Mary Moreland (nee)? had the following children:

·        JOHN MORELAND SR. was born about 1702 in Charles County, Maryland. He died between Mar 1761-1762 in Charles County, Maryland. He married ANN MORELAND (NEE?). She died in 1789 in Charles County, Maryland.

·        PHILIP MORELAND was born in 1704 in Charles County, Maryland. He died in 1773 in Charles Co., Maryland. He married LYDIA MORELAND (NEE?). She was born in Charles County, Maryland. She died after 1788 in Charles County, Maryland.

·        MARY MORELAND was born about 1706 in Charles County, Maryland.

·        PATRICK MORELAND was born about 1707 in Charles County, Maryland.

·        WILLIAM MORELAND was born in 1708 in Charles County, Maryland. He died in 1777 in Charles County, Maryland. He married Catherine Hunt about 1737 in Charles County, Maryland. She was born in Charles County, Maryland.

·       JACOB MORELAND I was born about 1710 in Charles County, Maryland. He died after 1767 in Charles County, Maryland. He married Catherine Moreland (nee?) about 1746 in Charles County, Maryland. She was born before 1730. She died after 1767 in Charles County, Maryland.

Generation 2

JACOB² MORELAND I (Patrick¹) was born about 1710 in Charles County, Maryland. He died after 1767 in Charles County, Maryland. He married Catherine Moreland (nee?) about 1746 in Charles County, Maryland. She was born before 1730. She died after 1767 in Charles County, Maryland.

Jacob Moreland I and Catherine Moreland (nee?) had the following children:

·          SARAH MORELAND was born before 1746 in Charles County, Maryland. She died before 1775 in Charles County, Maryland. She married Charles Davis on 11 May 1762 in Trinity Parish, Charles Co., Maryland. He was born in 1737 in Newport East Hundred, Charles Co., Maryland. He died in 1807 in Henry County, Virginia.

·          WALTER MORELAND was born about 1748 in Charles Co., Maryland. He died in Dec 1787 in Prince George's Co., Maryland. He married Tabitha Dent after 1762 in Charles County, Maryland. She was born about 1742 in Charles County, Maryland. She died after 1788 in Charles County, Maryland.

·          JACOB MORELAND II was born about 1750 in Charles County, Maryland. He died on 11 Mar 1808 in York District, South Carolina. He married Celia Moreland (nee?) about 1774 in Charles County, Maryland?. She was born about 1752 in Charles County, Maryland?. She died about 1813 in York County, South Carolina.

Generation 3

JACOB³ MORELAND II (Jacob² I, Patrick¹) was born about 1750 in Charles County, Maryland. He died on 11 Mar 1808 in York District, South Carolina. He married Celia Moreland (nee?) about 1774 in Charles County, Maryland ?. She was born about 1752 in Charles County, Maryland ?. She died about 1813 in York County, South Carolina?.

Jacob Moreland II and Celia Moreland (nee?) had the following children:

·      GEORGE⁴ MORELAND was born in 1775 in Port Tobacco Parish, East Hundred, Charles Co., Maryland. He died after 30 Aug 1853 in Maries County, Missouri. He married HANNAH MORELAND (NEE?).

·      MARY ELEANOR MORELAND was born on 19 Nov 1777 in Port Tobacco Parish, East Hundred, (Charles Co.), Maryland. She died on 30 Nov 1862. She married Hillary Montgomery about 1798 in York District, South Carolina. He was born on 24 May 1776. He died on 20 Nov 1852 in McConnells, York Co., South Carolina.

·     SARAH "SALLY" MORELAND was born about 1780 in Charles County, Maryland. She married WILLIAM RUSSELL.

Generation 4

GEORGE⁴ MORELAND (Jacob³ II, Jacob² I, Patrick¹) was born in 1775 in Port Tobacco Parish, East Hundred, Charles Co., Maryland. He died after 30 Aug 1853 in Maries County, Missouri. He married HANNAH MORELAND (NEE?).

George Moreland and Hannah Moreland (nee?) had the following children:

·         SARAH⁵ MORELAND.  She died before 1850. She married Silas Bankson McCann on Nov 1834 in St. Clair Co., Illinois.

·         FIRST NM. UNK.? MORELAND.  She married JOHN JAMES.

·         ELIAS MORELAND was born about 1797 in Wilkes County, Georgia. He died before Sep 1858 in Phelps County, Missouri. He married Miriam Sewell on 14 Nov 1820 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. She was born about 1800 in Virginia. She died before 1870.

·         THOMAS MORELAND was born about 1801 in Wilkes County, Georgia. He died after 1873 in Maries County, Missouri. He married (1) PEGGY JAMES on 17 Jul 1822 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. She was born in South Carolina. She died in Maries County, Missouri. He married (2) ELIZABETH SPENCER on 23 Jul 1846 in Crawford County, Missouri. She was born on 22 Sep 1823 in Jefferson Co., Tennessee.

·         JOHN MORELAND was born about 1809 in Georgia or South Carolina. He died about 1836 in Cherokee Nation ?. He married Sarah Bennett, daughter of John Bennett and Rosanna Lineberry about 1831 in Tennessee. She was born between 1813 and 1815 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She died after 1893.

·         WILLIAM MORELAND was born about 1811 in York District, South Carolina. He married Mary "Polly" Bennett, daughter of John Bennett and Rosanna Lineberry in 1833 in Tennessee. She was born between 1817 and 1819 in Guilford County, North Carolina.

·         ANNA MORELAND was born about 1817. She married Green L. Renfro on 08 Oct 1840 in Crawford Co., Missouri. He was born about 1815.

·         ANDREW MORELAND was born about 1818 in Tennessee. He died about 1881 in Maries County, Missouri. He married (1) ELEANOR NOBLETT on 08 Aug 1839 in Gasconade County, Missouri. He married (2) MARY GEISLER on 30 Jan 1845 in Crawford County, Missouri. She was born about 1827. He married (3) SARAH J. BRIGGS on 17 Oct 1867 in Phelps Co., Missouri.

·         NANCY MORELAND was born on 19 Jan 1820 in Jefferson Co. Tennessee. She died on 23 Nov 1907 in Maries Co., Missouri. She married (1) JAMES BAILEY on 06 Mar 1842 in Crawford Co., Missouri. She married (2) JOSEPH HUSBAND about 1861. He was born in Oct 1838. He died on 10 Sep 1916.

·         DAUGHTER? MORELAND.  She married JOHN JAMES.

Generation 5

JOHN⁵ MORELAND (George⁴, Jacob³ II, Jacob² I, Patrick¹) was born about 1809 in Georgia or South Carolina. He died about 1836 in Cherokee Nation?. He married Sarah Bennett, daughter of John Bennett and Rosanna Lineberry about 1831 in Tennessee. She was born between 1813 and 1815 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She died after 1893.

John Moreland and Sarah Bennett had the following child:

·         JOHN P.⁶ MORELAND was born on 08 Dec 1832 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He died on 28 Jun 1917 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. He married Lydia Ann Brown, daughter of Robert Brown and Jemima Walker on 24 Apr 1853 in Crawford County, Missouri. She was born in May 1834 in Paris Twp., Edgar County, Illinois. She died on 15 Mar 1913 in Voorhees Twp., Stevens Co., Kansas.

Generation 6

JOHN P.⁶ MORELAND (John⁵, George⁴, Jacob³ II, Jacob² I, Patrick¹) was born on 08 Dec 1832 in McMinn County, Tennessee. He died on 28 Jun 1917 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. He married Lydia Ann Brown, daughter of Robert Brown and Jemima Walker on 24 Apr 1853 in Crawford County, Missouri. She was born in May 1834 in Paris Twp., Edgar County, Illinois. She died on 15 Mar 1913 in Voorhees Twp., Stevens Co., Kansas.

John P. Moreland and Lydia Ann Brown had the following children:

·         WILLIAM ROBERT⁷ MORELAND was born in 1855 in Maries County, Missouri. He died between 1920-1930 in Logan Twp. Beaver Co., Oklahoma?. He married (1) FRANCES P ARTHINA TIPTON on 04 Sep 1884 in Phelps County, Missouri. She was born on 13 May 1862 in Missouri. She died on 16 Mar 1946 in Santa Clara County, California. He married (2) JOSEPHINE K INSEY, daughter of Stephen Kinsey and Elizabeth LaFollette on 18 Apr 1880 in Maries County, Missouri. She was born on 23 Nov 1858 in Missouri. She died on 04 Oct 1881 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri.

·         JEREMIAH E. MORELAND was born on 30 Aug 1858 in Lanes Prairie, Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. He died on 20 Nov 1901 in Woodward County, Oklahoma. He married (1) MARY ETTA PINNELL, daughter of William Lewis Pinnell and Mary Vinnell Johnson on 31 Jan 1883 in Lanes Prairie, Maries Co., Missouri. She was born on 26 Apr 1863 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. She died on 16 Mar 1929 in Tulare County, California. He married (2) LAURA A. KINSEY, daughter of Stephen Kinsey and Elizabeth LaFollette on 16 May 1880 in Maries County, Missouri. She was born on 10 Nov 1860 in Missouri. She died on 29 Mar 1882 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri.

·         RHODA ELIZA MORELAND was born in Nov 1860 in Maries County, Missouri. She died about 1918 in Claremore, Rogers Co., Oklahoma. She married Elijah Jones, son of Russell Jones in 1878 in Missouri. He was born about 1858 in Missouri. He died after 1930 in Claremore, Rogers Co., Oklahoma.

·         JOHN GILBERT MORELAND was born on 31 Oct 1866 in Maries County, Missouri. He died on 12 Feb 1883 in Jefferson Twp., Maries County, Missouri.

Generation 7

JEREMIAH E.⁷ MORELAND (John P.⁶, John⁵, George⁴, Jacob³ II, Jacob² I, Patrick¹) was born on 30 Aug 1858 in Lanes Prairie, Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. He died on 20 Nov 1901 in Woodward County, Oklahoma. He married (1) MARY ETTA PINNELL, daughter of William Lewis Pinnell and Mary Vinnell Johnson on 31 Jan 1883 in Lanes Prairie, Maries Co., Missouri. She was born on 26 Apr 1863 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. She died on 16 Mar 1929 in Tulare County, California. He married (2) LAURA A. KINSEY, daughter of Stephen Kinsey and Elizabeth LaFollette on 16 May 1880 in Maries County, Missouri. She was born on 10 Nov 1860 in Missouri. She died on 29 Mar 1882 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri.

Jeremiah E. Moreland and Mary Etta Pinnell had the following children:

·         PEARL⁸ MORELAND was born on 07 Dec 1879 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. She died on 07 Oct 1909 in Woodward County, Oklahoma. She married Wesley A. Thomason about 1899 in Oklahoma. He was born in Mar 1870 in Arkansas. He died in Denver, Colorado.

·         IRA CECIL MORELAND was born on 25 Feb 1884 in Lanes Prairie, Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. He died on 10 Jan 1908 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California.

·         GUY HURST MORELAND was born on 16 Aug 1886 in Kansas. He died on 14 Nov 1935 in California, USA. He married Mabelle W. Moreland (nee?) about 1918 in California ?. She was born on 29 Sep 1886 in California, USA. She died on 03 Oct 1974 in Stanislaus County, California.

·         JOHN EARL MORELAND was born on 15 Nov 1890 in Galena, Cherokee, Kansas, USA. He died on 12 Jun 1968 in Kern County, California. He married Mattie Martha James on 28 Aug 1912 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California. She was born on 01 Jan 1895 in California, USA. She died on 29 May 1971 in Kern County, California.

·         LUCY MAY MORELAND was born on 24 May 1896 in Woodward County, Oklahoma. She died on 04 Apr 1900 in Woodward County, Oklahoma.

·         JERRE' FLOYD MORELAND was born on 25 Jun 1899 in Woodward County, Oklahoma. He died on 30 May 1971 in Hightstown, Mercer Co., New Jersey. He married (1) ELLA PEARL SCRUGGS, daughter of John Eldridge Scruggs and Minnie V. McVicker on 17 Feb 1923 in <Methodist Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA>. She was born on 12 Dec 1901 in Poplar, Tulare Co., California. She died on 24 Oct 1957 in Burlington County, New Jersey. He married (2) LILLIAN CAINE, daughter of Edward W. Caine and Belle E. Caine (nee?) about 1960. She was born on 28 Oct 1898. She died in Nov 1976 in Mercer Co., New Jersey.

Jeremiah E. Moreland and Laura A. Kinsey had the following child:

·         EMMETT C. MORELAND was born on 21 Jun 1881 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri. He died on 26 Dec 1881 in Jefferson Twp., Maries Co., Missouri.

Generation 8

JERRE' FLOYD⁸ MORELAND (Jeremiah E.⁷, John P.⁶, John⁵, George⁴, Jacob³ II, Jacob² I, Patrick¹) was born on 25 Jun 1899 in Woodward County, Oklahoma. He died on 30 May 1971 in Hightstown, Mercer Co., New Jersey. He married (1) ELLA PEARL SCRUGGS, daughter of John Eldridge Scruggs and Minnie V. McVicker on 17 Feb 1923 in <Methodist Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA>. She was born on 12 Dec 1901 in Poplar, Tulare Co., California. She died on 24 Oct 1957 in Burlington County, New Jersey. He married (2) LILLIAN CAINE, daughter of Edward W. Caine and Belle E. Caine (nee?) about 1960. She was born on 28 Oct 1898. She died in Nov 1976 in Mercer Co., New Jersey.

Jerre' Floyd Moreland and Ella Pearl Scruggs had the following children:

·        JUNE ELEANOR⁹ MORELAND was born on 25 Jun 1923 in Boulder, Boulder Co., Colorado. She died on 04 Sep 2001 in Colorado Springs, El Paso Co., Colorado. She married (1) FREDERICK GEORGE SILER on 05 Jul 1945 in Florence, Burlington Co., New Jersey. He was born on 22 Aug 1924 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania. He died on 31 Mar 1991 in New Symrna Beach, Volusia Co., Florida. She married (2) THOMAS QUIGLEY PEIFFER on 19 Jun 1954 in Collingswood, Camden Co., New Jersey. He was born on 17 Apr 1922 in Bordentown, Burlington Co., New Jersey. He died on 24 Sep 1967 in Washington Twp., Gloucester Co., New Jersey.

·        LIVING MORELAND

·       LIVING MORELAND

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Origins of the surname

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About

Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France during the late part of the 11^th century.     With the passing of generations and the movement of families from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today.  Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives.  Thus people rarely changed their surname.  Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription. 

Source(s) & Meaning(s) of the Surname

Most of the modern family names throughout Europe have originated from with of the following circumstances: patronym or matronym, names based on the name of one's father, mother or ancestor, (Johnson, Wilson). Each is a means of conveying lineage; occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); habitational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

History of the Surname

     Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th century. They were not in use in England or Scotland, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and were first found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans who had adopted the custom just prior to this time.    Soon thereafter it became a mark of a generally higher socio-economic status and thus seen as disgraceful for a well-bred man to have only one name.  It was not until the middle of the 14^th century that surnames became general practice among all people in the British Isles.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents.   The Soundex Indexing System was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname.  Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research. 

Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?

Click LINK button to view our Surname Locator and Resources page.

Amorial bearings, symcbols and mottoes

In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.  In the British Isles the College of Arms, (founded in 1483), is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.

Gallery of Images

Descriptions of the

Armorial Bearings

Motto(es) of

this Surname

More About Hearldic Bearings

Image gallery

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

The associated armorial bearings for this surname and close variant spellings are recorded in Burke’s General Armorie and Reitstap’s Armorial General.  The additional information, presented below, is offered with regard to the armorial bearings depicted above:

FIGURE 1: Burke ascribes these armorial bearings as being bestowed upon Sir Samuel Moreland the 1st Baronet of Sulhamstead Banister in the County of Berkshire from 1660–1695.  The title became extinct on the death of the second Baronet in 1716.  The arms show a golden leopard's head having a fleur-de-lis passing through it .  The crest features a lions head between two wings.

FIGURE 2: Burke attributes this coat of arms to a Moreland.  The shield is black and contains a guarding lion in the chief and in the base is a golden leopard's head having a fleur-de-lis passing through it.  The crest exhibits a ship in full sail.

FIGURE 3: This coat-of-arms is identified by Burke as belonging to a Moreland or Mereland.  It shows a blue shield that contains a golden griffin rising up.

MOTTO(ES)  

     A motto is a word or sentence usually written upon a scroll and generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest.    Many ancient mottoes were war-cries such as the Douglas motto of “Forward.”    Many mottoes refer to the name of the bearer, for example “cole regem” for Coleridge.   In general most mottoes convey a sentiment, hope, or determination, such as the Cotter motto “Dum spiro spero” where the meaning is “While I have breath I hope“.     Mottoes are often used by several successive generations, but may be changed at any time by the grantee. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English.  Exceptions are seen in Scotland where they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, often in the language of the principality.   

The following listed motto is attributed to Sir Scrope Bernard-Morland, 4th Baronet of Nettleham in Lincolnshire, England:  “Bear and forbear”. 

Heraldic bearings

The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. 

Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a  coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Searching for more information about heraldry? Click on the button at the  right to take a look at our webpage featuring links to websites having images

of a wide variety of arms, crests, and badges.  They may also feature additional heraldry resources as noted in the accompanying descriptions.

Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees.  It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

Locations of

Direct Ancestors

Locational Distribution

of  this Surname

Where In the World

are my Ancestors?

Locatiof Direct Ancestors

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

California

Los Angeles,   Tulare

Maryland

Charles

Missouri

Crawford,   Maries

New Jersey

Burlington,   Mercer

Oklahoma

Woodward

Tennessee

McMinn

South Carolina

York

Kansas

Stevens

Use this LINK to find out more

about the locations listed above.

Locational distributionstors

     Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research.  We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis.  This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist.

          The information presented below shows where the MORELAND surname is distributed within the United States as well as in the British Isles, the country of origin of this family.      Statistics show that there are approximately 36 persons per million of population with this surname, within the British Isles, and 64 persons per million within the U.S.A.  New Zealand is found to be the country in the world where this surname is also highly clustered having almost 38 persons per million of population.  The top region of the world where this surname is the most highly clustered is the Hauraki District, New Zealand, and Belfast, Northern Ireland is the top city where this surname is found.

United States of America

Key

European Country of Origin

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname.  You can get

greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Wjere are my ancestors Ancestors

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources 

that will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about where their ancestors lived.

Migration routes

       Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled.  Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking.  The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

      During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.

 Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Moreland, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.  Some of these immigrants were: Thomas Moreland who in 1621 at age 19 landed in Virginia; Christopher Moreland who came to Maryland in 1635, and Eleanor Morland with her husband settled in Virginia in 1774.  A listing of additional persons with the Moreland surname who came to Virginia and Maryland during the 17^th and  early 18^th century may be found at: Immigration Records.

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

MORELAND MIGRATIONS c.1795 – c.1920

On The Upper Road

 To South Carolina

 and Georgia: c.1795

On to Georgia:

1797 - 1809

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Over the Appalachians Into Tennessee: c.1813-33

Crossing the Mississippi River to Missouri: c.1833-35

To Open Land

 in Oklahoma:

c.1885 – c.1899

Over the Rocky Mountains to California: 1915-1920

On The Upper Road To South Carolina and Georgia: c.1795

Around 1795 Jacob and Celia Moreland along with his son George, daughters Mary and Sarah left their home and families in Charles County, Maryland to seek a better life in the uplands of South Carolina.    To leave Charles County they had to travel across the Potomac River into Virginia and get on the Upper Road at Fredericksburg a distance of about 30 to 40 miles. In colonial times the Upper Road was one of the most important north-to-south travel and trade routes that closely followed much of the Native-American Occaneechi Path also known as the Trading Path.  Use of this route started, around 1740 as an alternative route to the Fall Line Road.    The Upper Road was favored by Colonists as it had been preferred by their predecessors, the Algonquin and Iroquois Indians because of numerous springs along its route, milder temperatures east of the mountains and relatively safe fords across major rivers and streams.  By the 1750’s the Upper Road had stretched south through North Carolina where it tracked to the west through Hillsborough, Salisbury and Charlotte. At Charlotte the Moreland family would leave the Upper Road and travel about 30 miles south to where they eventually settled in York County (District). 

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The entire journey from Fredericksburg to York County South Carolina is a distance of almost 400 miles.

On to Georgia:  1797 - 1809

     After reaching the York District George and Hannah Moreland advanced on to Wilkes County, Georgia where he first appears in 1797.  This journey would encompass about 150 miles of travel.  Their most probable route out of York County would be along the road to Chester, SC now US Route 321.  From Chester they may have taken the road that is present day State Route 72 through the then established communities of Whitmire, Clinton, and Greenwood.  From Greenwood they would most likely have taken the road to McCormick, now US Route 221. From McCormick the best route into Georgia would have been the road to through that ran through Lincolnton to Washington, Georgia, now US Route 378.   

     George's Wilkes County years do not appear to have been particularly prosperous for him. The Wilkes County Tax Digests show that George did not own any land during this time. It is also known that he drew blanks in the Georgia Land Lotteries of 1803 and 1805.   George was to remain Wilkes County until around 1809 when he removed back to the York District of South Carolina.   He probably moved to his widowed mother's farm as his father, Jacob had died previously

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in 1808.  George's sister, Sarah (or Sally) also made her home in Wilkes County as well she having married William Russell, son of John Russell, of that county.  

Over the Appalachians Into Tennessee: c.1813-1833

     Around 1813 George Moreland and his family left the York District and moved on to Jefferson County, Tennessee.  It is speculated that he left South Carolina after the death of his mother, Celia.

     From York County they would probably take the road to the community of, "Gaffney's Cross Roads", now Gaffney, SC, where only 9 years earlier, Michael Gaffney had established a tavern and lodging house.  The location was perfect for growth because of the two major roads which met here, one from the mountains of North Carolina to Charleston and the other from Charlotte into Georgia.

     From Asheville, then known as Buncombe Court House, here they would travel through the wilderness and over the Blue Ridge Mountains near Saluda, NC.  Here they would follow a road later to be known as the Buncombe Turnpike to the town of Buncombe Court House, North Carolina.  The town was formed only twenty years earlier at the junction of two Native-American trails and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the confluence of the Swannanoa River and the French Broad River.  From here they would travel on a road from North Carolina to Tennessee, via Warm Springs, following the right bank of the French Broad River to Hot Springs. 

     In Tennessee the first proper settlement they would

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encounter was Newport, the seat to Cocke County.  From here they would travel another 15 to 20 miles into their destination of Jefferson County.   George Moreland bought a 297-acre tract of land located in the district south of the French Broad and Holston Rivers, on Muddy Creek. 

     By 1825 George bought property from the State of Tennessee in McMinn County.  The lands of McMinn County fell to the state as a result of a treaty with the Cherokee Indians. He acquired 160 acres and held this tract for 8 years.  George would have travel to McMinn County via the road created from the Great Indian War and Trading Path, which is now U.S. Route 11.  

Crossing the Mississippi River to Missouri: c.1833-35

  In 1833 George moved west out of McMinn County.  It is believed that the family of John Bennett accompanied them on this journey.  It is clear that the Moreland and Bennett families were connected by the marriage of two of Bennett’s daughters to sons of George Moreland.  Sarah to John c. 1831 and Mary to William in 1833.  

     The two families left McMinn County and travelled northwest to the town of Crossville, Tennessee, a distance of about 50 miles.  From here they would move west along the Nashville Road for a little over 100 miles to Nashville, and then another 45 miles to Clarksville, located on the Cumberland River.   It is most probable that at this point they would take advantage of much easier and faster travel on the Cumberland River, to its source at the Tennessee River. From here it would be a short distant to where the Tennessee meet the Ohio River.  Then down stream on the Ohio until it meets the Mississippi River near Cairo, Illinois.  From Cairo the party would have the more difficult task of navigating their vessel or vessels up stream against the prevailing current to St. Louis.  The total distance of this water route would be about 400 miles.

     At this point the party moved east a short distance of about 15 miles to settle at Lebanon, in St. Clair County Illinois.  It is quite probable that the Morelands lived at this location until about 1836.  George and Hannah's third son John Moreland, our 3^rd great-grandfather,  died about 1836 or 1837, soon after coming to Missouri. There is some family tradition that holds that Indians killed John and his father-in-law, Mr. Bennett, in the Cherokee Nation. After John's death his widow Sarah (Bennett) Moreland married James Collins March 19, 1838 in Crawford Co., Missouri.

     By 1838 George Moreland had eventually travelled west out of St. Louis to an area that is now in Maries County, Missouri.  He settled in Johnson Township of Crawford County. Johnson Civil Township makes up most of the area of township 39.  In 1855, Johnson

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Township fell into the southeastern most part of the newly created Maries County, where it is situated today.  He acquired land on the Little Bourbeuse River in section 4, township 39, range 7 west of the meridian. Everett Marshall King, in his book History of Maries County, states that George's "only known home in this county was on the Bourbeuse, later owned (and mostly entered) by his son Andy, and now owned and lived on by Emmett Duncan. An Indian trail crossed the creek on this land, and later on one of the many forks of the Potosi road also crossed there. Its easy access probably led to its having been settled early."

     Some of George and Hannah's children also removed to the Moreland Settlement in Missouri. Sons, Elias, Thomas, and William came with their families. Andrew, Anna and Nancy, all still single, also came. Daughter, Sarah, who married Silas McCann November 2, 1834 in St. Clair County, Illinois, does not appear to have joined her family in Missouri. Over the next few years many of the Moreland's McMinn County, Tennessee neighbors and relatives migrated to Johnson Township. Among them were members of the Southard, James, John, and Robison families.

To Open Land in Oklahoma: c.1885 – c.1899

     Sometime around 1885 Jeremiah E. Moreland, son of John P. Moreland, along with his wife Mary Etta Pinnell moved a distance of 200 miles from Maries County, to Kansas. It is believed that they lived at Galena located in Cherokee County, Kansas.  They probably followed a wagon trail that would become the famous U.S. Route 66 some forty years later.   Galena began as a boomtown for miners because of lead deposits discovered there in 1877.  By the time the Jeremiah Moreland had arrived the town probably has 15 to 20 thousand inhabitants.

      It is most likely that they lived in Galena, Kansas up to 1893 or 1894.  It appears that Jeremiah moved his family to the area around Muskogee County in eastern Oklahoma and resided there for a few years around 1897 and 1898.   When Jeremiah travelled west from Muskogee he would have probably taken a road that travelled along the Cimarron River or the North Canadian River to Woodward a distance of about 330 miles.

     We know that by 1899 he was living in a part of the 226-mile tract known as the Cherokee Strip near the town of Woodward, Oklahoma.  As such there is no disputing the fact that the appearance of the Moreland family in this part of Oklahoma followed very closely upon the heels of the settlers who participated in the Land Rush.  Jeremiah E. lived the rest of his days in Woodward Co. Oklahoma. The family resided in Tangier Township located just west of the town of Woodward.   Jeremiah E. died, in 1901 at age 43 and is buried in the Tangier/Resthaven Cemetery in Woodward County, Oklahoma.

Maries County, MO to Galena, KS, c. 1885

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Galena, KS to Woodward, OK, c.1893-99

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Over the Rocky Mountains to California: 1915-1920

Mary Pinnell Moreland, widow of Jeremiah E. Moreland married a second time in 1905 to her neighbor Edwin T. Loyd.       By 1909 all of her children had either died or left for California leaving only Mary and her youngest son Jerre’ F. Moreland.  Her only means of support at this time were her son-in-law Wesley Thomason and husband Edwin Loyd. Around 1915, Mary and her son, and most likely the left Woodward County moved on to Denver, Colorado.  They surely made this trip on the railroad.  It appears that Mary divorced Edwin Loyd.  Where upon she and son Jerre’ moved on west to California to be near her brother William B. Pinnell and his family who were living in the Tule River Township area of Tulare County.  Her sons Guy and John Earl were also living in this area of California at this time.  By 1920 Mary Etta Pinnell and her son Jeremiah “Jerre” Floyd Moreland were settled in the Tulare County

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community of Porterville.  With this move the Moreland family’s 125 year odyssey from the eastern coast of the United States to the western coast was finished.

The Development of an Historical Migration Route

It is understood that in many if not all cases we do not know exactly what routes our ancestors took as they migrated throughout the United States.   As such certain assumptions have been utilized to re-create the migration path presented above.  With regard to 18^th and 19^th century land routes we assume that they travelled along few trails and roads that were in existence at the time.  Research shows that a great many of these old paths and trails are today designated as U.S. Highway Routes.  For example, a major east-west route of migration known as the National Road is now U.S. Route 40, and a primary north-south migration route of the 18^th century followed the Great Indian War and Trading Path is now U.S. Route 11.  In some situations the re-created migration route may travel along state routes that connect or run through the seat of a county as that populated place is probably the oldest settlement in the area. The use of water as a migration route is also likely.  For example, during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries many families travelled west on the Ohio River as they moved on the new lands in Missouri or the Old Northwest Territory.  As such when applicable water routes have been included as the possible migration route.   

Source documents

The documents contained within this “Source Documents Archives” have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.   We have source documents related to the following persons within our database with this surname.

·      Emmett C. Moreland

·      George Moreland

·      Guy H. Moreland

·      Harold I. Moreland

·      Ira C. Moreland

·      Jacob Moreland

·      Jeremiah E. Moreland

·      Jerre F. Moreland

·      John E. Moreland

·      John G. Moreland

·      John P. Moreland

·      Josephine Kinsey  Moreland

·      Laura Kinsey Moreland

·      Lillian CAINE Moreland

·      Patrick Moreland

·      Pearl MORELAND Thomason

·      Pearl SCRUGGS Moreland

·      Rhoda E. MORELAND Jones

·      William B. Moreland

·      William R. Moreland

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You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive that does not cite a copyright.  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this web-page.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE:  Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing  Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

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