Surname MacAlivery - Meaning and Origin
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MacAlivery: What does the surname MacAlivery mean?
The last name MacAlivery is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Iosa, which is an anglicized version of the Irish phrase meaning “son of the devotee of Jesus.” The name is a reference to the devotion that the original holder of the surname had to Jesus Christ, and is one of the oldest surnames in Scotland. The MacAlivery surname is associated with a prominent family throughout history who were staunch supporters of the Presbyterian church. Many branches of the clan trace their lineage back to the 15th century.
Due to the long-standing attachment to Christianity, the MacAlivery surname came to be associated with loyalty, sincerity, and faithfulness. The MacAlivery family were known to be peace-seeking people, and often were able to settle disputes in the court of law, mediate differences between clans, and bring justice to those in the region. The MacAlivery surname took on a reputation of strength and courage due to the family’s willingness to serve the public’s needs.
The MacAlivery surname is still common today, and can be found all across the world. But, one would be hard-pressed to find anyone from the clan who has forgotten their deep connection to Christianity and the values of loyalty, sincerity, and faithfulness that have been the hallmark of the MacAlivery family for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAlivery: Where does the name MacAlivery come from?
The MacAlivery surname is especially common in Scotland today among the Gaelic speaking people, and is most associated with the Scottish Highlands and Islands. MacAlivery is a sept of the Clan MacLeod, an old and powerful Highland clan from the Isle of Skye. There are many variants to the spelling of MacAlivery, ranging from McLavery, McClaverie, and MacLavey, to name a few.
The MacLeods were a powerful clan in the Hebrides and fought with the Vikings long ago. It is believed that the clan descended from Leod, a Norse leader who married a daughter of the chief of the island of Lewis. Even though the MacLeods originated and are most commonly associated with Scotland, many of their descendants are found all over the world, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
On the American continent, MacAlivery is most commonly found in the United States. In fact, some of the first MacAlivery record found on the United States’ east coast comes from Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. As many Scottish people migrated to the United States in the 1700s, many of them brought the MacAlivery name with them. As a result, many descendants of the MacAlivery name still live in the United States today.
However, recent DNA testing has revealed that the MacAlivery surname is most commonly found among Highland Scots and other people of Gaelic descent. The highest concentration of MacAlivery/McLavery/MacLavey descendants is still found in Scotland, particularly the Hebridean Islands, the Highlands, and in Northern Ireland.
Variations of the surname MacAlivery
The MacAlivery surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of MacAlivery are McAlevery and MacAlevy. These two variants are the primary alternate spellings for this surname.
Other variants of MacAlivery include MacAlvery, McAlvary, MacAlary, MacAllvery, MacAlvie, MacAlvee, MacAulay, McAulay, MacAlvey, and MacAulay. This is just a short list of the variants that exist, and there are many more.
There are also surnames that come from the same root as MacAlivery, such as MacAlister, MacElroy, McLaren, and McCauley. These names all share common origins with the MacAlivery surname, and can be descended from the same family or shared ancestral clan.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as MacAlivery are indicative of how widespread this name is, and how far reaching its Irish roots may be. The many versions of this name are testament to a large, well-established family whose descendants are spread across many countries and regions. It is a testament to both the strength and resiliency of this surname, as well as the life and culture of those who bare it.
Famous people with the name MacAlivery
- Ruth MacAlivery: a British actress known for her stage work in plays such as The Threepenny Opera and for her minor roles in movies such as The Iron Lady.
- Duncan MacAlivery: a British composer and multi-instrumentalist famous for his recent venture into the world of traditional and modern bagpipe music.
- Michael MacAlivery: a Scottish actor best known for his leading role in the BBC drama series Rebus and his theatrical performance in the stage adaptation of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
- William MacAlivery: a chef and restaurateur from Edinburgh, Scotland who is the owner of the popular Italian restaurant chain MacAlivery's.
- Stephen MacAlivery: a Scottish artist whose unique use of bold colours and abstract shapes has made him a celebrated artist in the United Kingdom.
- Neil MacAlivery: a Scottish sportsman and Olympic gold medallist in the pole vault category.
- Daisy MacAlivery: a popular British television presenter known for presenting such shows as Sunday Brunch and the popular BBC series Masterchef.
- Marianne MacAlivery: a renowned British sculptor and artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries around the world.
- Rory MacAlivery: a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter whose genre-bending sounds have gained recognition from the likes of Pitchfork, NME, and The Guardian.
- Eilidh MacAlivery: a Scottish radio presenter and actor known for her co-hosting role on the programme "The Breakfast Show" on BBC Radio Scotland.