Surname McKleroy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKleroy: What does the surname McKleroy mean?
The last name McKleroy is of Scottish origin. It is thought to have derived from the Gaelic language and is likely based on the Olde Scottish Gaelic word mac an t-siabhruich, meaning “son of the leper”. As such, it is considered to be a patronymic family name.
The traditional spelling of the name is McLeroy, but since the 19th century the 'Mc' spelling has been becoming more common. Reekle or Meckle are alternative spellings as well.
Historically, the McKleroy name was associated with the Clan MacLeroy, which was one of the clans of the Scottish borderland and their territory. The name is often associated with the first records of the family, when Adam de la McLeroy was noted as living in Balmaclellan in 1200.
McKleroy families were involved in various occupations throughout Scotland's history, including farming, artisanry, and trade. The name is the traditional name of MacLeroys, a Scottish Highland clan, and is most commonly found in Scotland and the lowlands.
The McKleroy name has also been found in other parts of the world, particularly the United States, where it has spread as settlers moved to the new world. The name has spread even further since then, with people bearing this name now living in countries around the globe.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKleroy: Where does the name McKleroy come from?
The last name McKleroy is most commonly found in the United States today, particularly in the South. While the name is not particularly common, it is quite old and can trace its roots back to medieval Scotland. The name was first found in the region of Kincardineshire, Scotland, where the first recorded source of the surname was a John McKleroy, who was living in 1464.
The McKleroy surname is very commonly found in the southeastern United States. American families bearing this name tend to be concentrated in States such as Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana. It is likely that the majority of McKleroys in the United States descended from Scottish, Irish, or English settlers during the colonial period.
In recent years, the name has spread to other parts of the United States. There is, however, a greater concentration of the family name in the southern states. In addition, the McKleroy name can be found in Canada, particularly in Ontario and the Maritimes provinces.
In addition to the United States, the McKleroy name also has scattered records in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It is likely that all of these branches of the McKleroy family ultimately stemmed from the Scottish clan of the same name. As a result, the name has propagated throughout different parts of the world.
Variations of the surname McKleroy
The variants, spellings and surnames of McKleroy are MacLeroy, MacLeur, MacLeod, MacClery, McKlerran, Makleroy, McElfrey and MacRobert. All these surnames originate from Clan MacLeod, which is a Highland Scottish clan. This clan is associated with the Hebridean islands of Lewis, Harris, Skye and Raasay.
The spelling of the name McKleroy can be translated to mean “son of Leroy”. The name Leroy is derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which means “man from Laurentum”, a town in Italy. The name Laurentum was thought to be founded by Latin colonists in the 8th century BC, and the name McKleroy is thought to have first been associated with the Scots in the 16th century.
The variant MacLeroy is thought to have been derived from the Gaelic form of the name, which is MacLeòir. The name can also be found spelled as MacLeur, MacLeod and MacClery. Each Scottish clan related to the McKleroy name may have distinct variations of spelling, with some families in Northern Scotland opting for the spelling MacLeod, whereas some families in the Lowlands opting for the spelling of MacClery.
The surname Makleroy is also associated with the name McKleroy, and is thought to be derived from the Old English ‘mace’, which translates to ‘son of’. The other surnames derived from the name McKleroy, such as McElfrey and MacRobert, are thought to also have originated from the Gaelic form of the name, MacLeòir.
Famous people with the name McKleroy
- Marcus McKleroy: a professional basketball player who currently plays in the German Basketball League.
- James McKleroy: vocalist of the country rock band The Great Divide.
- Andria Marbaise McKleroy: cast member on Bravo's reality-television show The Real Housewives of Dallas.
- Richard McKleroy: former professional football player in the NFL.
- Tom McKleroy: operatic baritone prominent in the early to mid-20th century.
- Henry McKleroy: Confederate Army officer and U.S. congressman.
- Kapri McKleroy: best-selling author and speaker, also known as the “Millionaire Speaker.”
- Samantha McKleroy: American actress, best known for her appearances in films and TV shows such as All That Jazz and Pair of Aces.
- Cora McKleroy: Los Angeles-based stylist to the stars.
- Jeff McKleroy: Grammy-nominated composer, producer, and songwriter.