MacAlasdair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
MacAlasdair |
|
|---|---|
 The Irish Mac Alastair in Gaelic script |
|
| Meaning | "son" + "of Alasdair" |
| Language of origin | Scottish Gaelic |
| Popularity | Behind the Name |
| Wikipedia articles | All pages beginning with MacAlasdair |
The name MacAlasdair is a male surname from Scottish Gaelic. It means "son of Alasdair" in English. The female version of this name is NicAlasdair. This means "daughter of Alasdair".
These names started as patronyms. This means they were based on the father's name. But today, they don't usually refer to the actual father's name. Many English versions of MacAlasdair exist.
The Irish form of MacAlasdair is Mac Alasdair. Other similar Irish names are Mac Alastair, Mac Alastruim, and Mac Alsandair. For unmarried females, the Irish names are Nic Alasdair, Nic Alastair, Nic Alastruim, and Nic Alsandair. For married females, they are Bean Mhic Alasdair, Bean Mhic Alastair, Bean Mhic Alastruim, and Bean Mhic Alsandair. These can also be shortened to Mhic Alasdair, Mhic Alastair, Mhic Alastruim, and Mhic Alsandair.
Both Irish and Scottish Gaelic names have many Anglicised forms. This means they have been changed to sound more like English names. The Scottish Gaelic name was used by a famous Scottish clan. This clan lived on the southwest coast of Scotland. The Irish names were used by people from Scotland who moved to the north of Ireland.
Contents
What Does MacAlasdair Mean?
The Scottish Gaelic name MacAlasdair began as a patronym. It came from mac Alasdair, which means "son of Alasdair" in English. Today, the surname MacAlasdair does not mean the person's father is actually named Alasdair.
The name Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic version of the English name Alexander. Alexander comes from the Latin form of the Greek word Alexandros. This Greek name has two parts. The first part, alexein, means "to defend." The second part, aner, means "man" or "warrior."
Alexander has been a very popular name in Scotland since the Middle Ages. Three Scottish kings had this name. The name came to Scotland through Margaret. She was born in Hungary and married Malcolm III, King of Scots. One of their sons became Alexander I, King of Scots.
One of the first times we see a form of MacAlasdair was in 1455. Records show "Ranald Makalestyr" got land in Arran. He was also called "Ranald Alexandri" and "Reginald McAlestir."
Female Forms of the Name
MacAlasdair is a male surname. The Scottish Gaelic form for females is NicAlasdair. This female name uses the prefix Nic-. This is a short form of the Scottish Gaelic word nighean, which means "daughter" in English.
Just like the male form, NicAlasdair no longer means the person's father is actually named Alasdair.
Similar Irish Names
The Scottish Gaelic name MacAlasdair has a similar form in Irish: Mac Alasdair. This also means "son of Alasdar." Like the Scottish form, it doesn't mean the person's father is named Alasdar. The name Alasdar is an Irish form of Alexander.
For unmarried females, the Irish form is Nic Alasdair. This is a shorter way of saying "daughter of Mac Alasdair." For married females, the form is Bean Mhic Alasdair, meaning "wife of Mac Alasdair." This can also be shortened to Mhic Alasdair.
Other similar Irish surnames include:
- Mac Alastair: This means "son of Alastar." Alastar is another Irish version of Alexander. Female forms include Nic Alastair, Bean Mhic Alastair, and Mhic Alastair.
- Mac Alastruim: This means "son of Alastrom." Alastrom is also an Irish version of Alexander. Female forms include Nic Alastair, Bean Mhic Alastair, and Mhic Alastair.
- Mac Alsandair: This means "son of Alsandar." Female forms include Nic Alsandair, Bean Mhic Alsandair, and Mhic Alsandair.
English Versions of the Name
Many English versions of MacAlasdair are used today. These include:
- Alexander
- Callister
- Macalaster
- Macalester
- Macalister
- Macallaster
- MacAllister
- Maccalister
- McAllister
English versions of Mac Alasdair include:
- Alister
- MacAlester
- MacAlister
- MacAllister
- MacCalister
- MacCallister
English versions of Mac Alastair include:
- Callister
- MacAlister
- MacAllister
- MacCallister
- MacEllister
- MacAlester
- MacClester
- MacLester
- Lester
English versions of Mac Alastruim include:
- MacElistrum
- MacElestrim
- MacEllistram
English versions of Mac Alsandair include:
- Alexander
- MacAlshander
- MacAlshender
- MacAlshinder
- MacCalshander
- MacElshander
- MacKalshander
Families with the Name
The surname MacAlasdair and its English forms have been used by members of Clan MacAlister. This is a well-known Scottish clan that lived on the southwest coast of Scotland. These MacAlasdairs are part of Clan Donald (Scottish Gaelic Clann Dhòmhnaill).
There was some confusion about who the clan's first ancestor was. Some thought it was Alasdair Òg, a son of Aonghas Mòr. But now, it is believed the clan's ancestor is Alasdair Mòr (who died in 1299). He was a younger son of Dòmhnall, the ancestor of Clan Donald.
People with the Irish name Mac Alastair and its English forms include descendants of Clan Donald. These families settled in what is now County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
People with the Irish name Mac Alastruim and its English forms include a family in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. This family has been in Kerry for hundreds of years. The name Mac Alsandair and its English forms are also believed to be from Scotland originally.
Famous People with the Surname
- Goraidh Mac Eachann MacAlasdair (16th century), a Scottish Chief of Clan MacAlister
- Eachann Mac Goraidh MacAlasdair (17th century), a Scottish Chief of Clan MacAlister
