Surname McLery - Meaning and Origin
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McLery: What does the surname McLery mean?
The surname McLery derives from the Irish and Scottish surname MacLairi, which is a combination of the Gaelic words “mac” meaning “son” and “Laurence”. This indicates that the original bearers of this name were the descendants of a man named Laurence. McLery is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, where it is one of the more prominent surnames. The McLerys of Clan MacLerie were believed to have originated from the area of Glen Masan in Argyll.
The McLerys were believed to be one of the oldest clans in Scotland. They were well known for their loyalty and devotion to the High Kings of Scotland and were renowned for their fighting prowess. The McLerys were key participants in many of Scotland's clan feuds and were responsible for protecting their lands from rival clans.
The McLerys also had a reputation for being fiercely independent, which made them well respected by their peers. They also had a strong sense of family loyalty, which has been passed down through generations of McLerys to the present day.
So, McLery is a proud and proud surname that carries with it a long history of loyalty, courage and strength. The McLerys of today are able to look back on their ancestors with pride for the way they lived their lives and the values they held dear.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLery: Where does the name McLery come from?
The surname McLery is a primarily Scottish surname originating with a family from the province of Galloway in Southwest Scotland. McLery is thought to be a derivative of the old Scots Gaelic MacGille Liath, meaning "the son of the gray haired one". McLery is a fairly rare surname today, with most present-day bearers living in Scotland or other parts of the U.K. According to public records, there are less than 1,000 people with the McLery surname, spreading across 11 countries and primarily residing in Scotland and England. The majority of the population bearing the McLery surname is concentrated in the counties of Hampshire and Kent in England, and East Lothian and Lanarkshire in Scotland.
Outside of the U.K., the surname McLery has had some presence in the United States for over 150 years. Most prominently, members of the McLery family have resided in Buffalo, New York, with a McLery Street located in the city’s East Side. In New Zealand, the McLery family has a strong presence in and around the city of Auckland.
In more recent times, the McLery surname can be found scattered across Europe—from Norway to Austria—as well as across other regions, including Mexico, Canada, China, and India.
Variations of the surname McLery
McLery is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Labhraidh which means “son of Labhraidh” or “of the Labhraidh tribe”. The spelling of the surname can vary depending on the geographical location and the dialect of the region. The most common variants of this surname include MacLardy, MacClardy, McLardy, McClery, MacLeery and MacLeury.
The surname McLery can also take on different spellings in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic. In Ireland it has various spellings such as Mac Giolla Labhrai, Mac Giolla leathrai and Mac Glóthrai. Meanwhile in Scotland its variants are MacGlothery, MacGlothaigh, MacGloiterrie, and McGlotherie.
McLery is also a variation of other surnames like Clery, Butler, Labry and Lary. The surname commonly appears as McLeroy, McLeroy, McLoro, McLorey, McCleroy, McCleroy and McClorey. Other spellings include MacClery, MacClarey, MacLeery, MacLery and Maklary.
The surnames Butler and Labry are derived from similar origins. Butler is an Anglicised version of Mac an Bhiatair, meaning “son of the Butler” and Labry is a variation of Mac Labhradh meaning “son of Labhradh”. The surnames Lary, MacLery and McLery are all related as they are variations of Mac Labhraidh.
Overall, the surname McLery has many different variations, spellings and similar surnames. These variants arose because of the regional dialects and spellings of the Gaelic language.
Famous people with the name McLery
- William McLeroy: American professor of religion, historian, and sociology
- Kim Mclery: Welsh actress and singer
- Jenny Mclery: American country music singer, songwriter, and actress
- Danny McLeary: American country musician
- Rob McLeroy: American actor, comedian, screenwriter and director
- Sean McLeary: Irish comedian and television presenter
- Rob McLeroy: American actor, stand-up comedian, and television producer
- Pat McLeroy: American musician, songwriter, and record producer
- Molly McLeary: Australian editor and filmmaker
- Miranda McLeary: American teacher, singer, and former Miss Tennessee