Surname Halliday - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling History: An Introspective Journey into My Halliday Roots and Identity through the iGENEA DNA Test
By contrasting my assumptions with the revelations of the iGENEA DNA test, I learned that my Halliday surname tells a rich, complex story of migration, cultural blending, survival, and evolution. This journey of genetic self-discovery was deeply transformative, changing my sense of self and my connection to the Halliday family legacy.
P. Halliday
read moreHalliday: What does the surname Halliday mean?
The last name Halliday is an anglicized form of the Scottish surname McAlister, which is derived from the Gaelic MacAlasdair, meaning "son of Alasdair". In the Middle Ages, the Clan MacAlister, along with the clans of MacDonnell and MacDougal, banded together to form a powerful confederation of clans known as the Siol Alpin - the Clan Alpin.
In the Anglicized form Halliday, the name is thought to have originated in Ulster, Ireland, where families of the name are known to this day. Halliday is a very common surname in Scotland, England, Ireland, and the United States.
Halliday is believed to be a habitational surname, deriving its origin from places such as Hollinhead or Hollinghead in Scotland, or from places such as Halliday in Cumbria, England. Several people have claimed to have traced the history of the Clan MacAlister to ancient Ireland.
The Halliday surname has travelled far and wide from its Irish or Scottish roots. Today, Halliday is a popular last name throughout Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and even parts of Australia. It's a name that carries with it a rich and varied history, since the name's origin began with the mighty Clan MacAlister.
Order DNA origin analysisHalliday: Where does the name Halliday come from?
The last name Halliday is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland. According to the England-based DNA testing company Living DNA, Halliday is the 35th most popular surname in the U.K., with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 holders of the name residing in that country today. In Scotland, Halliday is the 32nd most popular surname, and in Ireland, it’s 41st.
In the United States, Halliday isn’t as common (it ranks around 7,600th in popularity), but there are still estimated to be around 45,000 holders of that name living there today. It is most pervasive in the northeastern United States and in the Midwest, with the highest concentrations of the name located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.
Halliday is also present in Canada, where there are an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 people with the surname. The province of Ontario has the highest number of Hallidays, with a concentration found along the border with the U.S. In Australia, the name is the 470th most common in the country, with a notable presence in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
Overall, Halliday is quite widely spread throughout the English-speaking world, with an estimated 84,000 to 120,000 people bearing the name today.
Variations of the surname Halliday
The surname Halliday is a relatively common one and has multiple variants and spellings. One of the most common variants of the surname Halliday is Holliday. This spelling is particularly common in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.
In Scotland, the variant Herlowday or Herlowdee is quite common. This variant has Germanic origins and is derived from the Old German personal name Hariwalt. This name combined elements from two different words, "hari" which is an old word for "army", and "walt" which is a word for "rule".
Other variants of the Halliday surname are Haliday, Hailiday, and Haliday. These variants are most common in the United States and Canada and are often derived from Irish and Scottish Derivation.
In some cases, the surname Halliday may be spelled with an entirely different surname, such as Holaday, Haliday , or Ali-day. These variants often have Arabic origins, stemming from the personal name Alid.
The surname Halliday may also be spelt in a variety of uncommon ways such as Hoyday, Harliday, and Houlday. These specific spellings are generally quite rare and may be specific to certain regions of the United States or other countries.
In conclusion, the surname Halliday has a wide variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname Halliday are Holliday, Herlowday, Haliday, Hailiday, and Haliday. Other variants and spellings such as Holaday, Ali-day, Hoyday, Harliday, and Houlday are less common and may depend on the specific region where the name is used.
Famous people with the name Halliday
- Jaycee Halliday: Hollywood actress, starring in shows such as 90210 and Westworld.
- Laura Halliday: Award-winning author and journalist, most notably for her novel "Partners in Crime".
- Josiah Halliday: 20th century film director, infamous for the satirical comedy "Lights Out".
- Joan Halliday: International ballet dancer and choreographer, most famous for her lead role in "The Nutcracker" in the 1940s.
- James Halliday: Musician and singer, famed for his covers of classic rock and soul songs.
- Susan Halliday: Emmy-winning British television producer, best known for her adaptation of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
- Jack Halliday: Professional baseball player in the 1970s, now retired.
- Andrew Halliday: Grammy-nominated country singer and songwriter, known for his melancholic ballads.
- Michele Halliday: Pop singer and dancer, performing hits such as "Sugar Rush".
- Michael Halliday: Award-winning architect and sculptor, specializing in modern and eco-friendly designs.