MacLeòid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
MacLeòid |
|
---|---|
Meaning | "son" or "daughter" "of Leòd". The "eòi" in "Leòid" is a Gaelic/Old Norse triphthong and is not carried through in the English. |
Language of origin | Scottish Gaelic |
Popularity | Behind the Name |
Wikipedia articles | All pages beginning with MacLeòid |
The name MacLeòid is a Scottish Gaelic surname. It means "son of Leòd" in English. If you are a girl, the feminine form is NicLeòid, meaning "daughter of Leòd". These names started as a way to show who your father was. Today, they are just family names. Many English versions of MacLeòid exist.
Contents
What Does MacLeòid Mean?
The Scottish Gaelic name MacLeòid began as mac Leòid. This means "son of Leòd" in English. Long ago, it would tell people who your father was. Now, it is simply a family name. The name Leòd comes from an old Norse name, Ljótr. This old Norse name means "ugly".
The Name for Girls: NicLeòid
MacLeòid is a surname for boys and men. For girls and women, the Scottish Gaelic form is NicLeòid. This name starts with Nic-, which is a short way of saying nighean. Nighean means "daughter" in English. Just like the boy's name, NicLeòid no longer points to the actual father's name.
English Versions of MacLeòid
Many English versions of MacLeòid are used today. Some common ones include MacLeod, McCloud, McLeod, and McLoud. Other forms like MacCleod and MacCloud are also seen. Sometimes, the English name MacLeod can also come from an Irish name, Mac Giolla Mochadha. However, this Irish name has a different history.
Famous Families with the Name
One of the earliest records of this surname is from 1227. It mentions a person named Gillandres MacLeod. He was likely part of a family of church leaders. This family came from Leod, an important religious figure from the 1100s.
The surname MacLeòid is also linked to Clan MacLeod. This was once a very strong Scottish family. They lived on the west coast of Scotland. The main parts of the clan were the MacLeods of MacLeod, who lived on the Skye island. There were also the MacLeods of Lewis, who lived on the Isle of Lewis.
The MacLeods of Clan MacLeod got their name from a person called Leod. He was a mysterious figure from the 1200s. The first members of this family to appear in official records were Malcolm MacLeod and Torquil MacLeod. They were mentioned in a royal document around the year 1343.