Surname Mac Nestor - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Nestor: What does the surname Mac Nestor mean?
The last name Mac Nestor is most likely an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac an tSaoir, which translates to "son of the carpenter". This surname is derived from the Old Norse word saur, which once referred to a professional carpenter or building contractor. The prefix Mac/Mc simply means "son of" in Gaelic.
The Mac Nestor family originated in ancient Argyllshire, Scotland. It is thought to be one of the clans or families that inhabited the area since before the 12th century. Those who bear the name were likely descended from a notable ancestor, most likely the head of the family.
The Mac Nestor family is associated with the MacDonalds, the Stewarts, and the MacPhees; these other families form an extended kinship-based social group known as a Tribe or Clan. Even though the Mac Nestor clan is not large, it still manages to be represented in Scotland and in other parts of the world.
This proud family has managed to produce an impressive list of accomplished individuals throughout all aspects of life. From members of the British military, to accomplished athletes, to theatre groups in London, to writers, the Mac Nestor name has been carried on successfully for countless generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Nestor: Where does the name Mac Nestor come from?
The last name Mac Nestor is common today mainly throughout the British Isles. It is largely spread throughout Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but there are also some pockets of the name throughout England, with most of these clusters concentrated in Northern England. The name is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Nealastair – meaning ‘son of the servant of the one of Storr’.
The name contributes to a number of different variants, including Nestor, McNestor, MacNestor, MacNester and many more. It is still quite distinct in the British Isles and can be found in many historical records of old families and census documents.
The name Mac Nestor can also be found in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States, Canada and Australia. Over the last few centuries, people bearing this name have emigrated from Scotland for various reasons and helped to spread the name to these other countries.
Today, the name is still quite common in the British Isles, with thousands of people throughout the country bearing this name. By looking at records and through genealogy, it can be easy to identify various Mac Nestor families that originated in Scotland but are now spread throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Mac Nestor
The surname Mac Nestor is derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Easaor”, meaning "son of the carpenter". This is the surname's original spelling, however, there are many different variants, spellings, and even surnames of the same origin. Some commonly seen variants of Mac Nestor include MacKneastor, McNestor, Nastor, Nestor, and Nestorovich.
MacKneastor is the most common variant of Mac Nestor and is reviewed as an Anglicized form of Mac an Easaor. This is a spelling variant often seen in Scotland, though it can still be found in other areas as well.
McNestor is the second most common variant of Mac Nestor, and is simply an abbreviation of MacKneastor. This spelling variant is closely related to the original Gaelic spelling and often seen in Ireland.
Nastor is another variant of Mac Nestor and is the earliest spelling variant in recorded history. Originally recorded in Scotland in 1349, this spelling variant is a phonetic approximation of the Gaelic spelling.
Nestor is the fourth spelling variant of Mac Nestor. This variant is likely derived from the Church Latin name Nestorius, meaning ‘to give’. As a result, this variant is often seen with a religious connotation.
Nestorovich is a Slavic spelling variant of the surname. Derived from the Russian surname Nestorov, this variant is not as common as the other varieties of Mac Nestor, as it is only found in Slavic countries.
Overall, the surname Mac Nestor has many different variants, spellings, and even surnames of the same origin. These variants include MacKneastor, McNestor, Nastor, Nestor, and Nestorovich, each with their own related histories and spellings.
Famous people with the name Mac Nestor
- Mark MacNestor: Canadian former professional ice hockey player
- Catherine MacNestor: American actress
- Kevin MacNestor: American actor
- David MacNestor: Australian rugby player
- Patricio MacNestor: Mexican film director, musician, and producer
- Deon MacNestor: Award-winning South African actor
- Kelly MacNestor: Australian Paralympic athlete
- Billy MacNestor: New Zealand track and field athlete
- David MacNestor: Canadian film, television, and radio actor
- Anna MacNestor: British playwright
- Shaquille MacNestor: American professional basketball player
- Jonathan MacNestor: American theatre, film, and television director
- Rebecca MacNestor: American actress
- Rob MacNestor: Canadian composer and sound editor
- Christopher MacNestor: Australian musician and artist