Surname MacAndrew - Meaning and Origin

MacAndrew: What does the surname MacAndrew mean?

The surname MacAndrew is an anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacAindriú, which is a patronymic name meaning "son of Andrew." It originated from the Gaelic personal name Aindrias, which is derived from the Greek name Andreas. The form MacAndrew became established in the 1600s, and is derived from a contraction of the Gaelic MacAindriú.

The recorded versions of the surname in Scotland include MacAndrew, MacAndrews, MacAndros and MacAnry. It is particularly common in the Western Isles where the MacAndrews have been settled since the Middle Ages. As well as in Scotland, the name has spread to England, Ireland, Wales, Canada and the United States.

The MacAndrew family in Scotland were generally attached to a certain geographic area, and quite often to the samestreets or a village, where their surname became established. These families were connected to each other, and were known to support one another in times of triumph and hardship. As a result, the MacAndrew name has established a rich history in Scotland, as well as in other countries where members of the surname have immigrated.

Today, the MacAndrew surname is associated with a wide variety of people, from all walks of life, all over the world. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they are all connected by their ties to the same proud family name and common history.

MacAndrew: Where does the name MacAndrew come from?

The surname MacAndrew is most common in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Records of the name date back as far as the 12th century when it was used as a toponymic or regional name to denote someone from the area of Scotland called MacAndries. The name was originally derived from the Gaelic MaCrionaDr and means "son of Andrew".

In Scotland, especially in the Highlands, the surname has remained popular for centuries and is still one of the more widespread family names in the present day. It can still be found in numerous clans throughout the country.

MacAndrews can also be found scattered across England, Wales, and Ireland, with the highest populations found in London and Edinburgh. The name also still has a noticeable presence in North America, where many MACAndrews emigrated in the 1600s and 1700s. In particular, there are concentrations in Canada, especially Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Alberta, and the United States, where the name is sturdy in New York, California, and Pennsylvania.

Variations of the surname MacAndrew

The surname MacAndrew is derived from the Gaelic given name Aindrea (or Aindreas). It is an anglicized form of the popular Scottish surname MacAndrew. This name can have several variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as MacAndro, MacAndrews, MacAndrus, MacAndreas, MacAnrer, MacAndruse, MacAndrhys, MacAndrur, MacAndris and MacAndroff.

Variations of the MacAndrew surname have appeared in Caithness, most notably in the form of MacAndro. This name is likely derived from the Gaelic ‘Mac Aindra’, which itself comes from a combination of the prefix “Mac” (meaning ‘son of’) and the name Aindreas (meaning ‘Manly’). This version of the MacAndrew surname has been used in Caithness since the 15th century.

In addition, the surname MacAndrew can also be found in the form of MacAndrews in counties such as Renfrew and Ayr, and as MacAndrus in Northwest Scotland. There are also variants such as MacAnrer, which is derived from the Gaelic ‘Mac Aindriu’, and MacAndroff, a variant of ‘Mac Andrus’.

The spelling of MacAndrew has evolved with time, and the surname can also be found in other variants such as MacAndreas, MacAndruse and MacAndrhys. Similarly, the Scottish clan MacAndrew, has over the years taken on the surnames of MacAndrus and MacAndroff.

All these variations and spellings of the MacAndrew surname share the same origin and trace back to the Scottish Gaelic given name Aindrea and the prefix “Mac” (meaning ‘son of’).

Famous people with the name MacAndrew

• David MacAndrew: An Australian rugby league player who played from 1982 to 1989 for the Parramatta Eels, Newtown Jets, Balmain Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
• Professor Francis James MacAndrew: An influentila English Physiologist who studied at Oxford University. He conducted research in human physiology, electrocardiology and electrotherapeutics and was well known for his use of electrocardiography in diagnosis.
• Iain MacAndrew: A Scottish footballer who played from 1991 to 1998 for Abergavenny Thursdays and Cliftonville FC.
• Robert MacAndrew: MacAndrew was a successful Scottish philanthropist who donated money to a number of causes, including the University of Glasgow’s MacAndrew scholarship.
• Sir John MacAndrew: A prominent Scottish industrialist, merchant and politician. He was the chairman of two large steamship lines, the Steam Packet Company and the Caledonian Steam Packet Company. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the British House of Commons.
• Harry MacAndrew: Scottish footballer, best known for his time at Preston North End and making 33 appearances for them in the 1938-39 season.
• Mary MacAndrew: An influential American pianist and composer who studied at the Music Conservatory of Chicago. She was known for her Piano Rags, which were compositions based on old folk melodies and blues.
• Norman McAndrew: Canadian amateur radio operator, known within the radio amateur community by his call sign VE3TCP. He was also a pioneer of internet radio.
• Neil MacAndrew: Scottish Cyclist, best known for his participation in the round-Britain cycle race in 2006.
• Hugh MacAndrew:shot putter who represented Scotland at the Commonwealth games in 1966. He held the Scottish shot-put record in 1965.

Other surnames

MacAndro