Surname Airlie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Airlie: What does the surname Airlie mean?
The last name Airlie is of Scottish origin and can be found in the Binns and Airlie areas of Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic Averla, which is an old Gaelic word meaning “a fork in a river”. The name likely originated from an area of Scotland where multiple rivers converged and fork off in different directions. In some cases, the last name Airlie has been spelled as Airlley.
As the name moved from Scotland to other parts of the world, the meaning of the name took on different meanings. In Ireland, for example, Airlie is sometimes associated with the ancient kings of Ireland, the O’phelan.
Today, the last name Airlie is found in Scotland, Ireland, and other parts of the UK, as well as in North America and Australasia. The name has been adopted by members of the nobility and other families of distinction, and many of the lands that were once held by this family still bear their name or one of its variants.
In addition to its meaning of “a fork in a river”, the last name Airlie may also carry the connotations of family unity, stability, and strength. This is because of the loyalty and loyalty of its original members, stretching back centuries, which is still held in high regard today.
Order DNA origin analysisAirlie: Where does the name Airlie come from?
The last name Airlie is most commonly found today in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Airlie is an ancient Scottish clan and surname. The name is derived from the town of Arlie located in the Prong of Angus, Scotland. It is believed to have been first used by Sir Christopher Arly in the 12th century.
Today, the population of those with the last name Airlie has spread far and wide, due to the industrialization and migration of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The Airlie surname can now be found across Europe, Australia, and North America.
In the United States, the last name Airlie was ranked 17,087th in 2005 and was mainly found in the midwestern states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio. In Canada, the surname is much less common, with a population of only 43 recorded in the first national census of 1861.
Like many of Scotland’s ancient surnames, the Airlie Clan is still an active organization today. Clan chiefs still meet annually at the Airlie Castle in Scotland. The clan motto is "Guard Well". In addition, the family still uses a version of the Drummond stag as their crest.
The name Airlie has certainly come a long way since it first appeared in Scotland's ancient records. While not among the most common of last names today, those who bear it are proud to carry on a centuries long tradition.
Variations of the surname Airlie
The surname Airlie is believed to have originated from a place name in the county of Angus in the eastern region of Scotland. It is a Scottish surname usually spelled Airlie, Airley or Airey but has been found in additional variants such as Airel, Airly, Airely, Airle, Erly, Erley, Erlie, Erleigh and Earle.
Since the surname came from the early settlers to Scotland, its spelling changed over the centuries due to the Old English language not having a standardized alphabet.
The title of Lord Airlie has been passed down the generations throughout the Middle Ages, when a gentlemen by the name of William de Erlei was granted lands near Forfar in 1225. This means that various spellings of the surname are believed to have been created from the original ‘Erlei’ associated with the family over the centuries.
The most prominent spellings of the surname are Airlie, Airley, and Airey. These spellings are found most predominantly in Scotland but can also be located in other countries including Australia and the USA.
Surnames with a similar origin includes Airlie-Stewart, Airlie-Pool, Airley-Erskine, Airey-Jones, Airely-Walker, Erle-Smith and Erlee-Brown. All of these surnames are derived from the same place name or origin and may have slightly different spellings.
Ultimately, the surname Airlie is found in many different spellings throughout the world and has a long-standing and illustrious history.
Famous people with the name Airlie
- Margot Airlie, British actress
- Adam Airlie, Scottish footballer
- The Earl of Airlie, Chief of the Clan Ogilvie
- James Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, British peer and military figure
- Lord David Airlie, British peer
- The Lady Elizabeth Shakerley, Countess of Airlie
- Alexander Ogilvy, 14th Earl of Airlie, British peer
- Countess of Airlie, wife of the 13th Earl of Airlie
- Louise Airlie, Lady Ogilvy, British hostess
- Sir David Airlie, Scottish peer and businessperson