Surname MacAllister - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacAllister: What does the surname MacAllister mean?
The surname MacAllister is of Scottish origin and derived from the Gaelic name "MacAlasdair", which means "son of Alasdair". The name Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic variant of Alexander, which in turn is derived from the Greek name Alexandros. Alexandros consists of two parts: "Alexo", which means "to defend", and "aner" or "andros", which means "man". Therefore, the surname MacAllister can imply 'son of the defending man'. The Clan MacAlister is a recognized Scottish clan, whose ancestors were among the powerful Clan Donald that descended from King Somerled of the Isles in the 12th century. During the Middle Ages, patronymic names were often created by adding prefixes such as 'Mac' (meaning 'son of') to the father’s given name, hence the formation of the surname MacAllister. It's frequent in countries with historical Scottish connections, especially in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Like many surnames, spelling variations exist such as McAllister and MacAlister.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAllister: Where does the name MacAllister come from?
The last name MacAllister has its origins in Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Alasdair", which is the Gaelic form of the first name Alexander. "Mac" in Gaelic means "son of", so MacAllister essentially means "son of Alexander". The MacAllister family was a part of the Clan Donald, one of the largest Highland clans, originating from the western part of Scotland. The MacAllisters were the Lords of Loup and were instrumental in several historical Scottish battles.
Today, the last name MacAllister is most common in Scotland and other areas with a high population of people of Scottish descent such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While less common, the name can be found in various parts of the UK and in scattered communities worldwide. MacAllister is often Anglicized further to McAllister, especially in America, making it more widespread.
Variations of the surname MacAllister
The surname MacAllister is of Scottish origin and is derived from the personal name Alexander. It means "son of Alexander." Alexander, in ancient times, was a popular name due to the fame of Alexander the Great, and it was later popularized in Scotland by Queen Margaret (wife of King Malcolm III), who named one of their sons after the historical figure.
Variants of the surname MacAllister include McAllister, McAlister, MacAlister, McCallister, MacAlester, and McAlester, among others. Surnames that start with either 'Mac' or 'Mc' typically denote 'son of,' so these are all essentially different ways of saying 'son of Alexander.'
It's also worth noting that many of these variations can be spelled with or without the capitalization following 'Mac' or 'Mc.' So, for example, you might see 'macallister' or 'mcallister.'
Spellings may have varied over the years and with movements of people for reasons such as migration, resulting in further variations. These variants of the surname all essentially have the same origin, which is the personal name Alexander, but have been adapted over time and in different areas.
Famous people with the name MacAllister
- Rod MacAllister: A famous American football player who was inducted into the Motlow College Foundation Bucks Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Hal MacAllister: An American actor known for his roles in cinema during the 1930s and 1940s, most notably in the film "The Outlaw" (1943).
- Kathy MacAllister Jandali Brotman: An American actress, recognized for her work on "The Julie Andrews Hour" (1972-73).
- John MacAllister: A high-profile businessman who played a significant role in the development of automotive retailing and distribution in the UK.
- Don MacAllister: An English footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers and was part of the team that won the Second Division championship in 1978.
- Jamie MacAllister: A Scottish professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs like Aberdeen and Yeovil Town, and is currently an assistant coach at Bristol City.
- George Newbern MacAllister: An American actor known for his voice-over work for popular characters like Superman in the animated series, "Justice League".