Surname Alexanders - Meaning and Origin

Alexanders: What does the surname Alexanders mean?

The last name Alexanders is derived from the Greek personal name Alexander, which is likely connected to the Greek verb alexein meaning “to ward off or defend”. Thus the nameAlexander means “defender or protector of mankind.”

The name Alexander was quite common throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and the name has spread to many countries around the world over the centuries.

In some cases, the last name Alexanders may be a corrupted form of another name. For example, in Scottish and Irish families, the last name Alexanders evolved from the personal name MacAlester which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Alastair meaning “son of Alastair.”

It is also possible for the last name Alexanders to be derived from a place name. For instance, the Scottish surname Alexander is probably derived from the places of Alexandria in England, Alexandria in Slemish, or Alexandria in Berwickshire.

In Scotland, Anglicized forms of the name can also be found with the prefix Mac which means “son of.” Thus, MacAlaster and MacAlestre, meaning “son of Alastair,” could be the Anglicized forms of the last name Alexanders.

The Alexanders family is a proud one with a long, complicated, and often misunderstood history. While the origins of the name are uncertain, the meaning is deeply rooted in the history of many cultures. With a meaning of “defender or protector of mankind,” the last name Alexanders is likely to remain a strong and influential name for many generations to come.

Alexanders: Where does the name Alexanders come from?

The last name Alexanders is most commonly found in the United States today, particularly throughout the Midwest and South. In 2020, US Census data estimated approximately 100,000 individuals named Alexanders in the United States, with significant concentrations in cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. The surname is popular nationwide, however, with many individuals outside the Midwest and South sporting the last name.

Alexanders is also likely to be found in other parts of the world. Historically, the last name is thought to be of German descent, although its exact origins are difficult to determine. Today, the surname is spread amongst people with German heritage across the globe, from Europe to South Africa and even Australia. As such, it is not uncommon to find Alexanders in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, France, Norway, or Czechoslovakia.

While the exact origins of the Alexanders last name remain unknown, the popularity of the name worldwide is easy to see. Those of us proudly carrying the name have much to be proud of, as the long standing legacy of the name has been enriched by its many individuals around the world.

Variations of the surname Alexanders

The surname Alexanders is of a patronymic origin, derived from the given name Alexander. This surname is thought to have originated in western Europe and has a variety of related spellings and surnames of the same origin.

In Scotland, the traditional spelling of the surname is Alexander. This spelling is also common in Ireland and England. Variations of this surname include MacAllister, MacDonald, MacAlexander, MacAlister and MacAlastair. In Wales, the equivalent surnames are Alexender and Alexander.

In Germany, the surname is usually spelled as Alexanders, and in the Netherlands it is spelled as Aleksander. Both of these variations are common in both countries and in their respective colonies. Variations of this surname include Jan Alexander.

In Eastern Europe, the surname may be found spelled Alaxander, Aleksandrov, Aleksandrowicz, Aleksandrovski and Aleksandru. In Slavic languages, the surname may be spelled as Aleksandrovich, Aleksandrovna, Aleksandrovskij, Aleksandryuk and Aleksandruk.

In Scandinavia, the traditional spelling of the surname is Aleksander. Variations of this spelling include Alander, Alenander and Alsenander. In Finland, the equivalent surname is Aleksandersson.

Each of these variations and spellings of Alexanders represent distinct lines of the surname originating in different countries and were likely established to assist authorities in identifying citizens during the pre-industrial era.

Famous people with the name Alexanders

• Alexander Ovechkin- Professional ice hockey player
• Alexander Skarsgård- Actor
• Alexander Wang- Fashion designer
• Alexander Graham Bell- Inventor and scientist
• Alexander the Great- Macedonian King who conquered much of the world in the 4th century BC
• Alexander Hamilton- Founding Father of the US and revolutionary figure
• Alexander McQueen- Fashion designer
• Alexander Calder- Sculptor and artist
• Alexander O’Neal- Singer
• Alexander Popov- Olympic swimmer
• Alexander Zverev- Professional tennis player
• Alexander Rossi- Formula One racing driver
• Alexander Zubkov- Bobsledder
• Alexander O Neal- Musician
• Alexander Payne- Film Director
• Alexander Zonjic- Jazz musician
• Alexander Smolny- Russian Poet
• Alexander Spit- Rapper and producer
• Alexander Dreymon- Actor
• Alexander Siddig- Actor

Other surnames

AlexanderAlexandrescuAlexandru