Surname McLeod - Meaning and Origin
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Unveiling McLeod Ancestry: An iGENEA DNA Test Journey
Unlocking my past with a simple DNA test felt like a journey through time—discovering the Viking roots hidden behind my McLeod name, the ancestral link to the mystic Hebrides, and the joy of understanding myself better. All kept within the strands of my lineage revealed by iGENEA.
T. McLeod
read moreMcLeod: What does the surname McLeod mean?
The last name McLeod is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word "MacLeòid," which means "son of Leod." Leod, in turn, is a personal name that comes from the Norse given name "Ljótr," meaning "ugly." However, it's important to clarify that in this context, "ugly" may not bear the typical negative connotations, but rather signify someone who is conspicuous or notable. This surname denotes lineage, marking the individual as the descendant of someone named Leod. Two main clans in Scotland bear this surname – Clan MacLeod of Lewis and Harris, and Clan MacLeod of Skye. Both of these clans claim descent from Leod, who lived in the 13th century. However, over the centuries, the name McLeod has been used by numerous independent families and individuals, making it widely scattered across Scotland and its diaspora worldwide, particularly in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Thus, McLeod is a common surname with deep historical and cultural connections.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLeod: Where does the name McLeod come from?
The surname McLeod has Scottish roots, originating from the Gaelic language. It is a patronymic name formed from the personal name "Leod," which itself came from the Old Norse name "Ljótr," meaning "ugly." The "Mc" prefix means "son of," hence "McLeod" is "son of Leod." The name is strongly associated with the Isle of Skye in the Highlands, where two branches of the Clan McLeod, Dunvegan and Harris, held extensive territories during the Middle Ages. In the modern age, the surname McLeod is quite widespread globally due to historical emigration, especially during the Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is most frequently found in countries of the British Commonwealth such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and of course Scotland. It's also significantly common in the United States. An interesting thing about the name’s population distribution is that there are more people with the McLeod surname in Canada today than in Scotland. Overall, it remains an emblematic surname of Scottish heritage.
Variations of the surname McLeod
The surname McLeod has several variants, spellings, and related surnames due to its Gaelic origins and pronunciation changes over time and under diverse cultural influences. Variants may include MacLeod, Macleod, Mac Leod, Mac-Leod, M'Leod, and Mcleod. These alternative spellings reflect how the name is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Leòid, which means "son of Leod," a personal name likely derived from the Old Norse name Ljótr, meaning "ugly".
It can be further confused or interchanged with similar surnames such as McCleod, McClure, MacCleod, MacLure, McLure, McClode, McCloud, and MacCloud.
In terms of related surnames; the surnames McElwee or McElveen are sometimes considered related because they may potentially stem from the same Gaelic clans as McLeod, although this is more speculative.
There is also considerable regional variation in Scotland itself, with the name appearing as MhicLeòid in the Gaelic-speaking areas of the western isles. The surname is associated historically with two main Scottish Highland clans, the Clan MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan, and the Clan MacLeod of Lewis and Raasay.
Famous people with the name McLeod
- McKenzie McLeod: singer and songwriter
- Ruth McLeod: artist and painter
- Mike McLeod: Olympic gold medal winner
- Brad McLeod: YouTube personality
- Bob McLeod: comic book artist and co-creator of the New Mutants
- Hugh McLeod: graphic artist and author
- Paul McLeod: actor
- John McLeod: former Governor General and diplomat
- David McLeod: Scottish footballer
- David McLeod: Canadian figure skater
- Janssen McLeod: American artist
- Scott McLeod: former professional snowboarder
- Gillian McLeod: Australian politician
- Michael McLeod: Canadian politician
- Sandy McLeod: British actor
- Robert McLeod: Premier of the Northwest Territories
- Colton McLeod: former professional basketball player
- Wanda McLeod: actress
- Nigel McLeod: film director
- Dick McLeod: former NHL hockey player