Surname MacEllistrum - Meaning and Origin
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MacEllistrum: What does the surname MacEllistrum mean?
The last name MacEllistrum is a variant spelling of the surname MacAllister, which is an Anglicization of the Gaelic MacAlister, meaning “son of Alexander.” Alexander is thought to be derived from the Greek name Alexandros, meaning “defender of mankind.”
This surname is believed to have originated in Scotland where it was first recorded in the mid-to-late 13th century. The MacAllister family claimed to be descended from Loarn, the ancient crown prince of Dalriada, which is an ancient land located in what is now known as Argyll, Scotland. It was one of the seven Celtic kingdoms in the region.
The Clan MacAllister were a powerful and influential clan and held a considerable amount of land in parts of Scotland until the 19th century. Members of the clan were proud of their heritage and served as both officers and soldiers in the British military.
The modern MacAllisters, MacEllistrums, and other variant spellings are descendants of this noble family and their diverse global diaspora. Today, this surname is found in many parts of the world, including Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Canada, Australia, and the United States. The MacEllistrum name carries on the proud history of the ancient clan, and its members are part of this vast, shared legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisMacEllistrum: Where does the name MacEllistrum come from?
The MacEllistrum surname is a predominantly Scottish name found primarily in the northern and western regions of Scotland, in addition to the Northern Isles. Specifically, the name is concentrated in the localities of Skye and Harris, Orkney, Inverness-shire, and the counties of Argyll and Ross-shire. In Argyll and Ross-shire, the name is quite common in the Inveraray and Kilmarnock regions. The name is also commonly found in the former counties of Sutherland and Caithness.
Presently, the MacEllistrum family name is quite rare. In fact, the year 2018 saw the English Surname Atlas report the surname being at its lowest recorded spotting rate during the entire 19th and 20th centuries. In Scotland, this 20th century low was seen again in the 2016 census — the most recent census with data available — where a combined total of just 211 individuals make up the entire population of MacEllistrums.
Those who bear the MacEllistrum name may opt to trace their ancestry or history in order to understand more about the surname's origins. However, its origins are still a mystery, and researchers suspect that the name's likely origin lies with the Norse population of medieval Scotland. This hypothesis is further confirmed by its commonality in the Northern Isles, as, during the Middle Ages, these regions were heavily populated by the Norse.
In conclusion, it is possible to state that, while perhaps not as common as it was in the past, the MacEllistrum surname is still present in the Scottish landscape at large, and of particular note in the northern and western regions of Scotland.
Variations of the surname MacEllistrum
The MacEllistrum surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common form is the Anglicized version, MacEllistrum, from the Gaelic MacEalastruim. This name is derived from Mac Giolla Easpaig, which is derived from Mac Giolla Easpuic – son of the disciple of Bishop.
Variations of MacEllistrum include MacAllaster, MacAllistrum, MacAlastair, MacAlastruim, MacElistrum and MacEllester. The form MacEllister is also derived from Mac Giolla Easpaig, which is an anglicization of the Irish version of the name.
Other spellings and variations of the family name include McAllister, mcAllister, mccAllister, Macalister, MacAlister, MacAllester, Macallister, MacAllistair, MacAlloister, MacAllositer, MacAlostaigh, MacAlestar, MacEllestar, MacEllestrum, MacIlister, MacKellister, Macklester, M'Allister, m'Allister, and mccElistrum.
Surnames of the same origin as MacEllistrum include McCavery, McElvoy, Gibbons, McIlroy, McCarney, and McTiernan.
In conclusion, the MacEllistrum surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. There are Anglicized versions of the name, as well as Scottish and Irish forms. Other non-Gaelic spellings of the family name include MacAllester, MacAlloister, MacAlestar, MacEllestar, MacEllestrum, MacIlister, MacKellister, Macklester, and mccElistrum.
Famous people with the name MacEllistrum
- Michael MacEllistrum: Irish American actor
- Brontë MacEllistrum: English born singer and songwriter
- Saira MacEllistrum: Canadian actress and filmmaker
- Jan MacEllistrum: Scottish musician and composer
- Dunstan MacEllistrum: English-born actor and director
- Sean MacEllistrum: American singer and songwriter
- Kyle MacEllistrum: Australian singer
- Aaron MacEllistrum: Welsh actor and director
- Kameko MacEllistrum: Japanese-American activist
- Ewan MacEllistrum: Scots-American singer and producer