Surname Mclea - Meaning and Origin
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Mclea: What does the surname Mclea mean?
The surname Mclea is of Scottish and Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic “MacGill Eathain” which means “Son of the servant of St. John”. The Scottish variant of the name is Maclea and the Irish variant is MacLae.
Towards the end of the 16th century, Macleas migrated to the North East of Scotland and were a sept of both the Clan Farquharson and Clan MacFarlane. The spelling of the name changed to Mclea when the Highland Clearances forced these clans into the Lowlands during the late 1700s.
The clan badge of Mclea is derived from the personal crest of Clan Farquharson; a red lion rampant on a silver background, accompanied by a motto which translates to “Man as he is born”.
In modern day Scotland, Mclea’s are commonly found in Aberdeenshire, Dundee, and Fife. It is believed that around 1000 people worldwide bare the surname and the majority of them are descendants of these original Scottish migrants.
Mclea is a proud symbol of Scotland’s rich and diverse heritage and is linked to its turbulent history, making it an important part of the tapestry of the country and its culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMclea: Where does the name Mclea come from?
The last name Mclea is most common in Scotland, Ireland, and Great Britain. The name is derived from the Gaelic form Mac Giolla Cathail, meaning “son of the devotee of St. Cathail”. Mclea is an old Scottish and Irish family name, and is most common in Scotland, Ireland, England, the United States, and especially Canada. The name is pronounced mac-LAY, and in some cases McLAE or McLAY.
The Mclea name is believed to have originated in ancient Scotland and Ireland as a clan name. The clan was known for being religious, loyal and brave. They primarily grew crops and built shelters in the lands of the Highlanders during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Today the Mclea name is still found in many countries, though it’s most common in Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada and the United States. In the US today, the most common states for the name Mclea are New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Despite its origin hundreds of years ago, the Mclea name is still widely used today. It’s a name steeped in Scottish and Irish history, loyalty and bravery. In generations past, being a member of the Mclea clan was an honorable thing, and today the same can still be said.
Variations of the surname Mclea
The surname Mclea is an anglicized version of the Irish name Mac an Léigh. It is an Irish surname used mainly in County Donegal and Ulster.
Variants of the surname Mclea include MacLea, McLea, McLeay, McLee, MacLae, MacLey, MacClay, McCarthy, McLay and MacLéa.
The Irish spelling of the surname is Mac an Léigh. The translation of the Irish version of the surname is “Son of the Reader” or “Son of the Scholar”. It can also be translated as “Son of the Leech” which is a reference to medicine from ancient times.
McLey is a variant of Mclea and is also spelled MacLey. It is thought to originate from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Dhé, meaning “son of the black-haired one”.
McClay is a variant of Mclea and is also spelled MacClay. This is a Scottish variant of the name MacLéa and is thought to originate from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Chleirich, meaning “son of the cleric”.
McCarthy is also a variant of Mclea. It is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin, and is derived from MacCarthaigh, meaning “Son of Cárthach”. Cárthach itself is derived from the Gaelic for “loving”, “devoted”, or “beloved”.
MacLae is another variant of Mclea and is also spelled MacLey. It is thought to have originated from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Aoidh, meaning “son of the eager one”.
MacLéa is also a variant of Mclea and is the Irish spelling of the name. It is the original Gaelic spelling of this surname and it translates to “Son of the Reader” or “Son of the Scholar”.
McLee is the final variant of Mclea and is also spelt McLay. It is thought to have originated from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Léith, which translates to “son of the gray-haired one”.
In conclusion, the surname Mclea has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is an anglicized version of the Irish name Mac an Léigh, and it is used mainly in County Donegal and Ulster. The variants and surnames of the same origin as Mclea include MacLea, McLea, McLeay, McLee, MacLae, MacLey, MacClay, McCarthy, McLay and MacLéa.
Famous people with the name Mclea
- Shane McLea: American actor and film producer who starred in ‘MacGyver’ and ‘The Matrix’.
- Kathy McLea: Retired Canadian swimmer who won two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1983.
- Cheryl McLea: New Zealand rugby union referee and former international player.
- Lawrie McLea: Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL from 1979 to 1989.
- Jessica McLea: American singer-songwriter and actress best known for her role as Jan in the Broadway musical ‘Dreamgirls’.
- Grant McLea: Canadian actor who has appeared in ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’, ‘Heartland’, and ‘The Good Doctor’.
- Ruth McLea: American theatre director who has worked on productions ranging from ‘The Crucible’ to ‘Hair’.
- Robbie McLea: South African rugby union player who plays fly-half for the Lions in the Currie Cup and the Super Rugby.
- Moriah McLea: Retired Canadian basketball player who played for the national team from 2000 to 2005.
- Fred McLea: New Zealand musician and songwriter who co-wrote the popular children's song ‘It's a Small World’.