Surname MacElhair - Meaning and Origin
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MacElhair: What does the surname MacElhair mean?
The surname MacElhair is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic prefix Mac, meaning "son, or descendant of," and the Latin personal name Elhaire or Eligius, which means "elect one." It is thought to have been first used in the Scottish Highlands as a surname during the 12th or 13th century.
The MacElhair family was an ancient and prominent Lowland Scottish clan located in Fife, Scotland. The original stronghold of their power was the old Castle of Elhair located amongst the Aberdour Hills on the Southern Coast of Fife.
The clan members held a hereditary tenure (right to ownership) of several lands in and around the Highland area, which had been obtained through marriage into various Highland clans.
In modern times, the prominent members of the clan now reside mostly in Canada, America, England, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The name MacElhair is still a fairly common name in Scotland, with many people in the surrounding areas having the surname MacElhair.
Although the meaning of MacElhair is forgotten and its origin largely unknown, the MacElhair family has definitely provided an interesting trail and history to follow.
Order DNA origin analysisMacElhair: Where does the name MacElhair come from?
The last name MacElhair is most commonly found in Novograd, Belarus, and its surrounding area. It appears to be relatively uncommon in other parts of the world.
In Belarus, Novograd is located in the Grodno region, which is part of the former Russian Empire. Its population is mainly made up of Slavic people, with a large percentage of Jews. Historical records indicate that the MacElhair surname was first used here by the descendants of a Scottish family who immigrated there in the 18th century.
Today, MacElhair is still a popular name in Novograd and its surrounding areas. Most MacElhairs are found in and around the city, though there are a few in other parts of the Grodno region as well. It's likely that some have moved to other areas of Belarus over time, though that's not been documented systematically.
If you'd like to find out more about where this surname is found today, your best bet would be to check local directories and family records, as well as any available genetic studies. You may also be able to find people with the same name in other countries. However, there's no guarantee that they're related to the original MacElhairs who settled in Novograd.
Variations of the surname MacElhair
The surname MacElhair is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Chomhaill, which originated in the County Donegal area of Ulster in Ireland. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include MacAlister, MacIlhargy, MacGlasher, McLeric, MacGlinton, MacLauchlan, and MacLawson.
The surname MacAlister is an anglicized form of the Gaelic MacAlasdair, a patronymic surname formed from the forename Alasdair or Alexander. It is derived from the Gaelic mac, meaning “son of”, and the personal name Alasdair, of which the modern forms are Alasdair and Alexander.
The surname MacIlhargy is a variant of the MacAlister surname, and is also derived from the Gaelic MacAlasdair surname. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chaluim, which means “son of the follower of Calum”.
The surname MacGlasher is an anglicized variation of the Gaelic name Mac Glaisne, which means “son of the one who is full of mirth”.
The surname McLeric is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chriost, which means “son of the follower of Christ”.
The surname MacGlinton is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Glintean, which is derived from the adjective glinteanach and means “brave”.
The surname MacLauchlan is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Laochail, which means “son of the hero”.
The surname MacLawson is an anglicized variation of the Gaelic Mac Lusain or Mac Luasaigh, which is derived from the forename Luasuigh or Lewis.
Famous people with the name MacElhair
- Alexander MacElhair: Actor, comedian, and pantomime dame
- Edith MaCelhair: Activist, suffragist, and former president of the National Council of Women of Canada
- Richard MacElhair: Professional baseball player
- Margaret MacElhair: Artist and author
- James MacElhair: Actor, best known for his leading role in the musical film The Music Man
- Leighton MacElhair: Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter
- John MacElhair: Acclaimed Canadian artist known for his large-scale site-specific sculptures
- John W. MacElhair: First president of the Association of American Universities
- Deborah MacElhair: Las Vegas resident and recognized figure of the Las Vegas Strip
- Dan MacElhair: Professional basketball player