Surname McLeary - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McLeary: What does the surname McLeary mean?
The last name McLeary is of Scottish origin. It is derived from MacGille Riabhaich, meaning “servant of the brindled lad,” which itself was a personal nickname that possibly referred to a person with brindled hair or skin. The name was Anglicized to McLeary in Ireland and elsewhere. The Scottish clan McLerie, from which this surname descended, was originally settled around Loch Awe in Argyllshire. The McLeary surname has variations that include McLeery, McCreary, McLeorie and others. Over time, bearers of this surname have migrated to various countries including Ireland, England, and America. Despite its journey through time and across national borders, the McLeary surname retains its roots in the history, heritage, and culture of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLeary: Where does the name McLeary come from?
The McLeary surname is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the old Gaelic Mac Giolla Iosa or Mac Giolla Arascaigh, which respectively means "the son of the devotee of Jesus" and "the son of the devotee of the Arasgaigh". Family emigration from Ireland to English-speaking countries during the 19th century caused the name to spread more widely. It blends in the common Irish patronymic prefix "mac", indicating "son of", with the personal byname.
As of today, this surname is most common in the United States, specifically in Pennsylvania. Other regions with notable populations include England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. However, it's important to note that the surname has different spelling variations such as MacClery, MacLeary, MacCleary, and others. Despite its geographic distribution, McLeary remains quite rare, and not many people in the world carry this surname. Some famous people with this surname include football player Marc McLeary and artist Meghan McLeary.
Variations of the surname McLeary
The surname McLeary is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Mac Ille Riabhaich", meaning the son of the brindled lad. Many surnames have been re-spelt or translated over the years, so the same original surname may appear in different forms today.
Variants and similar spellings of McLeary can include McLerie, McLeray, McLary, Mclure, McLeery, McLeary, McLarry, McLury, and McLorie. It's also common to drop the 'Mc' or 'Mac', thus possible related surnames could be Lery, Leray, Larry, Lary, Lure, Lorie, and Lury. In fact, some versions may not even begin with 'M', such as Cleary or Clery.
Adding 'son' onto the end is common in surnames, and so Learyson, McLearson, or Learson might also be versions. Anglicized spellings, based on phonetic translations, can also alter the appearance of the name significantly. For example, McLerie might be changed to McCleary, MacLearie, or MacLeerie.
The surname McLeary can also be seen in various formats based on region, such as Mac Giolla Riabhaigh in Ireland. Remember that naming traditions and spelling conventions vary markedly across different periods and locations, so the same surname can have multiple variations.
Famous people with the name McLeary
- Melissa McLeary, American actress.
- Norman McLeary, American jazz pianist, composer, and orchestra leader.
- Darryl McLeary, American professional basketball player.
- Rob McLeary, Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Dory McLeary, American business executive and philanthropist.
- Neil “Ned” McLeary, Irish-American politician.
- Ray McLeary, American baseball coach.
- Tim McLeary, American animator, illustrator, and television producer.
- David McLeary, American entrepreneur and business executive.
- Charlotte McLeary, British Olympic swimmer.
- Shelly McLeary, American sculptor and mixed-media artist.
- Herb McLeary, American football player.
- Tammy McLeary, Canadian award-winning children's author and illustrator.
- Christine McLeary, award-winning Canadian Broadway music director.
- Stephen McLeary, Canadian radio presenter and music curator.
- Ahmed McLeary, Australian singer-songwriter and producer.
- Jeff McLeary, Canadian actor, writer, and director.
- Mark McLeary, American musician.
- Tyler McLeary, American country singer-songwriter.
- Mike McLeary, American businessman and entrepreneur.