Baird Society of Atlantic Canada
|The Society was formed in 1983 to promote
the Clan in Atlantic Canada and to encourage Baird's in the region to
take pride in their heritage. Participation in Highland Games and
other Scottish activities in the region is encouraged and the clan or
family aspect of the activities is emphasized. The society is
registered under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia. The society has
since disbanded for now.
The Baird name in Scotland has two possible
derivatives. It may have come from the word "bard" or as the surname
of a Norman family that arrived in England with William the Conqueror
in 1066. Old spellings of the name were Bard, Barde, Beard, Byrd, and
Bayard. Only at the end of the 16th century did it become Baird.
this article by Hamish L. Baird
During the period between the 11th and 18th century there were
several significant families of Baird in various parts of Scotland.
Probably the best known is Sir David Baird, Bart., KCB (1757 - 1829)
hero of Seringapatam and later Commander of the British Army.
An interesting family from our point of view is that of Gilbert
Baird of Auchmedden who married the heiress of Ordinhnivas in 1578 and
had 32 sons and daughters. Three of their sons went to Ireland and in
the genealogical chapter in Col. W.T. Baird's book "Seventy Years of
New Brunswick Life", the author states that his father is descended
from one of these sons.
Col. Baird's father was probably the first Baird
settler in New Brunswick He accepted a position as a school teacher in
the 74th Regiment, quartered in Dublin, with the understanding that
after 7 years of service in America he would receive 200 acres. The
Regiment was stationed in Fredericton and in due course John Baird
received his land. Others of his family also obtained land and they
formed a community Bairdsville. From these families, are descended
many of the Baird's in New Brunswick.
Photo by Dylan N Baird
The Baird families in the Truro area of Nova Scotia are also
descended from immigrants from Ireland, although they may not be
directly related. In 1762 the British Government wanted settlement in
Nova Scotia and provided assistance to those who came. One of the
families among a group of settlers from Ireland was Thomas Baird.
Thomas was granted 740 acres of land in Londonderry Township, about 8
miles west of Truro. Other families can be found all over Nova Scotia
but predominately in Pictou County, Cumberland County, Cape Breton and
the urban area of Halifax.
In Newfoundland, Baird's have been active merchants and businessmen
since the 1840's. James and David Baird came to Newfoundland from
Saltcoats in Scotland and in 1853 formed a partnership, Baird
Brothers. Later James Baird became a limited liability company. He was
known as the "Hampden of Newfoundland" because of the actions he took
against Sir Baldwin Walker who was trying to suppress Mr. Baird's
lobster factories at St. George's Bay. He was appointed to the
Legislative Council in 1908.
Other families of Baird's can be found in St. John's and other parts
of the Province.
There are Baird's in Prince Edward Island however we know little
about their origin.
Reunions: to McClure -Baird
|Other links to pages relating to Clan
Baird on the Internet: (no specific endorsement or order)
to Clan Baird Australia
Pages of research on the Baird Clan geneology
Compilation of the North American Descendants of Robert Baird and Mary
Descendants Of James Baird & Jane McClure
in Quebec (Info wanted)
If you want your Clan Baird link, please contact
If you know of or wish to have an event listed, please send
specifics to Clan Event
- Halifax (Wanderer's Grounds),
- New Glasgow,
|At the CLAN BAIRD tent, you will find Baird geneological
information, small clan-related items for sale, interesting
information on Clan Baird history and the opportunity to meet/contact
other Baird's. A warm welcome awaits you at the Clan Baird tent. Bring
your family tree, update it or help us update our lists - which we
eventually hope to publish here on this site.