Surname MacAleary - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacAleary: What does the surname MacAleary mean?
The last name MacAleary is of Scottish and Irish origin, and is derived from the Gaelic words ‘Mac Giolla Iosa’ (meaning ‘son of the servant of Jesus’). It is believed that the name comes from several different clans in the Scottish and Irish Highlands whose members had a reputation for piety and service to the church.
The MacAleary’s came to prominence during the 16th and 17th centuries when their reputation and influence grew as religious orders, such as the Order of Saint Columba, grew in a similar manner. During this time, many members of the family served as ministers, scholars, and even Saint Columba himself was reportedly a MacAleary.
The MacAleary’s continued to serve as leaders in the Catholic Church throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and today, the name has spread and evolved to encompass many different variations, including MacAlister and McAlister.
The MacAleary’s were known for their piety and faith, as well as their loyalty, and today people who bear the name can be proud of the legacy of service to the church that their ancestors left behind.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAleary: Where does the name MacAleary come from?
The surname MacAleary is very common throughout Ireland, particularly in the regions of Munster (southwest Ireland). It is also one of the most widespread Irish surnames across the world, with people bearing this name found in countries like the United States, Canada, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand. MacAleary is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Riabhaigh, which means “son of the devotee of Riabhach”.
In the United States, the majority of people with the MacAleary surname are believed to have descended from Irish immigrants who arrived in the 1700s and 1800s. This is evident in the states which have the most MacAleary surname holders: Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida.
In Canada, people with the MacAleary surname are also believed to be the descendants of Irish immigrants. Ontario is particularly known to have high concentrations of people bearing the MacAleary surname.
The surname is also found in smaller numbers in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. However, the usage of the surname appears to be waning in some of these countries. For example, Scotland, which was once home to a significant number of MacAleary surname holders, now records only a handful of people with this surname.
In conclusion, the presence of the MacAleary surname is most strongly linked to its Irish roots, with the United States, Canada, and Ireland being the countries with the greatest amount of people bearing this name.
Variations of the surname MacAleary
The surname MacAleary has many variants and surnames of the same origin. Some are listed below.
MacAleerey - can also be spelled MacAlary. It is a variant of MacAleary.
MacAlleary - another variant of MacAleary.
MacAlroy - this is a variant of MacAleary, which is primarily used in Scotland.
Macleary - this is a variant of MacAleary and is used mainly in northern Ireland.
MacLeeray - a variant of MacAleary most commonly used in Ireland.
McAllary - can also be spelled McAlary. It is a variant of MacAleary.
McAleary - this is a variant of MacAleary. It is often used in Ireland.
McAlleary - another variant of MacAleary.
McEllary - this is a variant of MacAleary.
McEleary - this is a variant of MacAleary.
MacAlleery - can also be spelled MacAleery. It is a variant of MacAleary.
McEllery - this is a variant of MacAleary.
MacElroy - this is a variant of MacAleary.
McElroy - this is a variant of MacAleary.
All of these surnames are derived from the same origin as MacAleary and are closely related. MacAleary and its variants are common surnames in Ireland and Scotland, but they can also be found amongst people from the other parts of the world, especially those with Irish or Scottish ancestry.
Famous people with the name MacAleary
- Rod MacAleary: Canadian newspaper columnist, author and radio broadcaster.
- Claire MacAleary: British barrister and a prominent figure in the legal profession.
- Roddy MacAleary: British Singer/Songwriter.
- Eric MacAleary: Canadian entrepreneur, founder and owner of a property development firm.
- David MacAleary: British actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows.
- Mary MacAleary: Irish novelist, short story writer and poet.
- Aidan MacAleary: Irish professional golfer and former Ryder Cup player.
- Fergus MacAleary: Scottish actor and film producer.
- James MacAleary: American actor best known for his work on the X-Men films.
- Sarah MacAleary: Canadian Olympian and professional skateboarder.