Surname Mair - Meaning and Origin
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A Cultural and Historical Exploration: Unraveling the Origins and History of Surname - Mair
Revelations from my iGENEA DNA test weave an intricate tapestry of ancestry tied to my surname - Mair. Tracing its roots back to 13th century Scotland, to the Celtic traditions and individuals who left their mark in history, the results offer profound insights into my personal connection with the global human narrative.
A. Mair
read moreMair: What does the surname Mair mean?
The surname Mair is one of many similar names used by a variety of different cultures and linguistic backgrounds, which makes its exact meaning difficult to pinpoint.
The name may have derives from an old Gaelic word "mara" which means "great," or from the Welsh word "mawr," meaning "large," or from the ancient Germanic word "magi," which describes a person of authority. It may have also derived from the Latin "maior," which means “greater,” or from the mediaeval French word “maistre," which denotes a master of a craft or trade.
In Scotland and Ireland, the surname Mair is also found in forms such as Mahar and Mayers. It may also have been an Anglicisation of MacMahon, which is a surname originating in Ireland where the MacMahon clan held great authority.
Mair is an occupational surname which may have been associated with professions such as a mayor or an elder. It also could have denoted a person of status; being the owner of a manor, or responsible for public works in a town or parish. The name Mair has been particularly associated with the eastern counties of Scotland and with northeastern parts of England.
Mair is still found throughout Scotland and the English-speaking world, and it continues to carry the same connotations that it did centuries ago – a person of authority, a mayor, an elder, or one of stature.
Order DNA origin analysisMair: Where does the name Mair come from?
The last name Mair is a common surname today in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and even the United States. In Scotland, it is usually spelled as "Maire," but is pronounced the same. In Scotland, Mair is the 92nd most common surname, with about 6,000 individuals bearing it.
In England, the name is much more commonly pronounced "Mayr," and is the 360th most popular surname in the country, with over 22,000 individuals having it. In Northern Ireland, as well, it is the 755th most common surname, with about 1,500 individuals having it.
In the United States, Mair is the 1,229th most popular surname, with over 15,000 Americans bearing the name. The most common states for people with the surname are California, New York, and Massachusetts.
The Mair family can be traced as far back as the 1500s in Scotland, where the name is derived from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning "son of Mary". Over time, the name spread from Scotland to England, Ireland, and other parts of the world with British heritage.
Today, the surname Mair is still fairly widespread and has numerous spelling variations throughout the world, ranging from "Maire" in Scotland to "Mayr" in England and Germany. Despite differences in pronunciation and spelling, the essence of the name's ancestry remains the same.
Variations of the surname Mair
The surname Mair is of Scottish-Gaelic origin, primarily stemming from the Scottish regions of Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Dumfrieshire, and Kincardineshire. It is found with many variants, spelling variations, and other surnames that are all of the same origin.
These variants and spellings include but are not limited to: Mairs, Maire, Mayre, Mayres, MacMaer, Mac Mair, MacMaire, MacMayre, MacMairie, MacMairey. There are also variants with the addition of certain prefixes, such as A'maers, a Maer, A'maire, A'mayre, Aemair, Aemaire, O'Mairs, O'Mayres, MacCamaer, and MacCore.
The additional surnames of the same origin also include: Air, Ayre, Aamot, Amot, Armot, Maer, Mairhead, Mairy, Megahey, Meggers, Macarthur, and Macmarshal.
The most prominent family origins of the Mair surname have continued to be in the Scottish region, as well as Northumberland in England, with other smaller branches of the same family established in Barbados, Jamaica, Australia, and the United States of America.
Throughout history, Mairs have held prominent positions in their communities, and played a role in the development of Scotland as a nation. From theology to military leaders, this surname has been associated with name holders throughout Scotland for hundreds of years.
Famous people with the name Mair
- Amanda Mair: Swedish singer-songwriter.
- Amelia Mair: Former Scotland cricketer.
- Anne Mair: Norwegian alpine skier.
- Antony Mair: Former Scotland cricketer.
- Dorothea Mair: German artist.
- Eleanor Mair: An artist from South Africa.
- Harry Mair: Former British figure skater.
- Jonas Mårtensson Mair: Former Sweden football player.
- Joanna Mair: Woman Grandmaster of Chess in 1985.
- John Mair: Scottish theologian.
- Justin Mair: Actor from Canada.
- Karl Mair: Austrian professional cyclist.
- Karl Mair-Küchelstorfer: Austrian sculptor.
- Philipp Mair Partsch: Austrian painter.
- Robert Mair: A British engineering professor.
- Samuel Mair: Operative Mason in the early 20th century.
- Sharon Mair: Dancer in UK and a choreographer.
- Susanna Mair: Estonian figure skater.
- Vanessa Mair: Scottish slalom canoe racer.
- William Mair: Scottish surgeon who lived in the 19th century.