Surname MacLise - Meaning and Origin
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MacLise: What does the surname MacLise mean?
The last name MacLise is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Easpuig" which translates to "son of the devotee of Saint Espic." The MacLise family originated in the Argyll and Bute district of Scotland, where their clan is a part of the larger MacDonald family and have been found in Scotland for centuries.
The most famous MacLise is Duncan MacLise, a prominent 19th century artist. Duncan MacLise was born in Scotland in 1822 and trained as an artist in Rome and Paris. He is best known for his work in romanticism and painting classical scenes of Scotland and of course, his work with his good friend William MacGonagall, considered to be Scotland’s worst ever poet.
The MacLise family crest is a black shield with a red lion rampant in the center, representative of the strength and courage of the MacLise Clan. Since its beginnings, the family has spread far and wide to places such as North America, Australia, and Europe.
The name MacLise stands for strength, courage, and a love for Scotland, as evidenced by their long-standing presence in the region and the art of their famous ancestor. The MacLise family will continue to remain connected to Scotland through its traditions and those of Duncan MacLise, the artist of the family.
Order DNA origin analysisMacLise: Where does the name MacLise come from?
The last name MacLise is found mainly in Scotland today, as it is a Scottish surname. It is most often found in the Highlands and Islands, north and west of Edinburgh. It is believed to be a variation of the Gaelic MacLise, meaning "son of Lise".
The highland clan MacLise was first recorded in 1263, in the area of Inverness, in the north of Scotland. The last name may have derived from the parishes of Lochly and Lochbroom in the Lochan District. Those areas still contain many MacLise families.
The MacLise family is said to've been descended from John Maclise, an ancient Scots Chief and the founder of the Clan MacLise. Some branches of the MacLise family eventually migrated south and east and can be found in England and Ireland.
In more recent times, the last name Maclise has spread further as people have moved to new places for work or study. It can be found now in places such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and is particularly common in the United Kingdom.
Overall, the MacLise last name still continues to be most commonly found in Scotland, where it originated centuries ago, and in the places of the early dispersals of the family.
Variations of the surname MacLise
MacLise is an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname MacGilleiosa meaning ‘son of the servant of Jesus’. There are a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant of MacLise is McLees. It is also anglicised from the same Gaelic root. The spelling is based on phonetic spelling, using the letter "e" instead of "i" as a marker of the broader vowel sound in the word. As such, you may come across McLees, MacLees, McLeese, and MacLeese.
You may also find McLise and Levy as derivations of this name, both of which are based on the same Gaelic root. McLise is an abbreviation of MacLise and Levy is an Anglicised spelling of McLise. The Levy surname is believed to be a result of 19th century emigration from Scotland to the US and other parts of the world.
A handful of other surnames are also believed to be derivatives of MacLise, including MacLeish, McLeish, McLeash, McLeashaw, and MacLeashaw.
In short, the variants, spellings, and surnames of MacLise are McLees, MacLees, McLeese, and MacLeese; McLise and Levy; and MacLeish, McLeish, McLeash, McLeashaw, and MacLeashaw.
Famous people with the name MacLise
- Angus MacLise: experimental composer, percussionist and poet.
- Allan MacLise: former politician in the province of British Columbia, Canada.
- Doug MacLise: long-serving Alabama state legislator and senator.
- Gordon MacLise: former Montreal Canadians hockey player.
- Tim MacLise: former CFL running back and Grey Cup champion.
- Sean MacLise: former lead vocalist for the band War Babies.
- James MacLise: professional comedian and actor.
- Jeannine MacLise: former United Nations official, appointed as the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador.
- Lise MacLise: painter and printmaker.
- Leo MacLise: Canadian-American film and television composer.