Surname MacAleese - Meaning and Origin
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MacAleese: What does the surname MacAleese mean?
The surname MacAleese is an Anglicised form of the Irish Mac Giolla Easbuig, meaning "son of the servant of Easbuig". Easbuig (or Hesperus) is a given name derived from an old Celtic deity of the same name. The surname and its variant forms are most likely of Irish origin, and is chiefly found in the Province of Ulster.
MacAleese is a common name found throughout Ireland and is also found in Britain and the USA, though it remains most popular in Ulster. Historically, the name was most strongly associated with County Antrim in the east of Ulster, where it was once interpreted as a clan name linked with the powerful MacDonnell family. Today, many MacAleeses of Irish descent trace their lineage to this area, and are of Protestant stock.
The blossoming of Irish-American identity in the 19th century led many MacAleeses to travel from Ireland to the US, where the name was steadily adopted by Irish migrants. This contributed to the popularisation of the MacAleese name and its variations, such as MacAlees, Mcleece, and McElise, across the States.
Interesting to note is the romanticised interpretation of the name, with many claiming it to mean “hospitable prince of the sea” or “constellation of the sea”. Credit for this likely goes to the famous Irish composer John MacDonnell, whose 1891 composition “MacAleese’s Lament” reinterpreted the name into a poetic title.
Today, MacAleeses can be found all over the world, carrying with them a rich legacy of Irish heritage, culture, and pride.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAleese: Where does the name MacAleese come from?
The last name MacAleese is most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland today. It is a Gaelic surname derived from the Gaelic Irish Mac Giolla Iosa, meaning 'son of the devotee of Jesus'. A MacAleese clan can be found in County Donegal and historically the name has origins in Uladh and Connacht in modern-day Ireland.
The MacAleese were primarily based in County Kerry in Ireland in the 17th century during the Cromwelian period in Ireland. Since then, the name has spread across the Irish Sea to Scotland and Northern Ireland, where it is quite common in Belfast and Glasgow.
In Scotland, the MacAleese clan settled in Portpatrick or Portregan, where they became wealthy shipping merchants and were granted large sections of land in the 15th century. The name is still found there, and in the cities of Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen speckled throughout the country.
In Northern Ireland, the name is most prominent in Belfast. It is likely the MacAleeses that settled there were of Scottish descent, or part of the diaspora of Scottish people and Protestants from Scotland who immigrated to Ulster during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century.
Outside of Scotland and Northern Ireland, members of the MacAleese clan can be found across the world in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname MacAleese
MacAleese is pronounced Mac -Ah-LEASE. The spelling for this surname is very variable and can also be seen written as Mac Giolla Íosa, McAleese, MacLaise, MacLeese, MacLise, McLaise and McLise. It is an Irish surname, coming from the first name 'Gilla Iosa' which translates 'servant of Jesus' in English.
MacAleese is an anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Íosa, which originated in County Londonderry or County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. It was formed from the given name Gil + the diminutive suffix Íosa and means "son/devotee of Jesus". It is commonly used in Derry and Donegal, as well as in Scotland and other countries.
It is one of the many Mac surnames in Ireland; the prefix "Mac" usually denoting "son of" or "descendant of" when used before a personal name. For example, the MacAleese oral tradition suggests that the Mac Giolla Íosa family descended from a medieval warrior named Giarrat Jr. (pronounced Garreth) who was believed to be an ancestor of all who bear the name in Ireland.
The variant MacAleese was also used in Scotland, but overwhelmingly its use is concentrated in the Irish counties of Donegal and Derry and is derived from common Christian given names with warrior-like connotations. It can also be found as surnames throughout other parts of the world, reflecting its Irish diasporic backgrounds and the settling of Irish immigrant families in new lands.
Famous people with the name MacAleese
- John MacAleese: British Army officer and television executive who served in the British Army Parachute Regiment and Royal Ulster Constabulary.
- Roger MacAleese: Canadian lawyer and politician who served as Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut Justice.
- Katie MacAleese: Photographer, author, and professor at the Emily Carr University of Art & Design in Vancouver.
- Pól MacAleese: Irish politician who served as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1982-1987.
- Cormac MacAleese: Northern Irish actor best known for playing the child of a drug lord in War on Everyone.
- Jimmy MacAleese: Scottish football player and manager who played for Celtic during the 1960s.
- Ray MacAleese: Sports commentator and podcast host for the NHL Network in Canada.
- Danny MacAleese: Irish singer-songwriter and composer best known for the "Driftwood" single.
- Mike MacAleese: Singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Sean MacAleese: Canadian podcast host focused on inspiring conversation with global music industry leaders.