Surname MacAlesher - Meaning and Origin
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MacAlesher: What does the surname MacAlesher mean?
The last name MacAlesher is an Irish-Gaelic surname derived from the phrase "Mac an Alisir," which can be translated as "son of the ardent defender." It refers to an ancestor who was an ardent defender of a particular cause or territory. The MacAlesher surname likely originated in the northernmost tip of Ireland, which is known as Ulster.
Irish surnames of this nature usually embodied a particular trait or physical distinction. In this case, it was the ancestor's strength and courage in defending a cause or place. The MacAlesher clan was likely a part of the local population who banded together to ensure their safety and prosperity.
Throughout Irish history, the MacAlesher clan was known to be fierce warriors who were willing to defend their Clan and comrades at any cost. This trait continued on through the generations, and the name MacAlesher was eventually taken on by other Family Clans and spread throughout the country.
Today, the MacAlesher surname is still found in parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom. It is most commonly associated with Irish families of both Gaelic and Norman heritage. While being a part of the Irish heritage, it is still a source of pride for many of those who still bear the name.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAlesher: Where does the name MacAlesher come from?
The MacAlesher surname is commonly found today in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Australia.
The Scottish Borders is home to many people with the MacAlesher surname. This region of Scotland is said to be the origin of the clan MacAlesher which lends to the higher concentration of the surname in the area.
The USA is home to the second-highest number of MacAleshers, however, the numbers are considerably lower than Scotland. Irish immigrants coming to the US in the 19th century are the most likely cause for the spread of the surname. The Irish immigration continued into the 20th century which solidified the presence of the surname stateside.
In Canada, the surname is found mainly among the descendants of Irish Catholic immigrants who began to arrive in the 1800s.
The MacAlesher surname is also found in Australia and New Zealand, due to British settlers migrating to the former colonies in the 19th century, and Jewish immigrants escaping from Russia during the same period.
Ancestry.com provides records of the surname in all of these countries.
Overall, the MacAlesher surname is found among many countries in the world today, but the countries with the highest populations of the surname are Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
Variations of the surname MacAlesher
The surname MacAlesher has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
MacAlisher is the most common variant for MacAlesher and can be found in Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States. Other variants include MacAlesher, McCaleister, McCalister, MacCalester, MacCallister, McAlester, and McAlester. Depending on the origin of the family, some of these variants may be used interchangeably.
In Ireland, the surname is also spelled MacElshear, MacElesheer, MacIlesheer, and MacElesha. It is likely that these variants were derived from the original Irish surname Ó Maolsheachair, which translates to “son of the courageous one”.
In Scotland, the closest variants are Maccaullester and MacCallister. MacCallister was a more common spelling used in the Lowland areas, while Maccaullester was more commonplace in the Highlands.
In England, the surname is spelled MacAlisher and McAlister, and is closely related to the Scottish variants.
In Canada, the MacAlisher surname is most commonly found among Scottish settlers. The phonetic variants of McCallister and McAlester are also used.
Lastly, in the United States, the MacAlisher name is most commonly found among Irish immigrants. The phonetic variants of McCallister and McAlester are also widely used.
Overall, MacAlesher is a variant of the surname that has many spellings, surnames, and variants of the same origin. All of these variants of the surname can be traced back to the original Irish name of Ó Maolsheachair.
Famous people with the name MacAlesher
- Neil MacAlester: British actor and one of the stars of the 2019 movie “Cats”.
- David MacAlester: late Scottish humourist and author, has written several bestselling novels.
- Lili MacAlester: American businesswoman and philanthropist who founded the MacAlester Foundation.
- Hannah MacAlester: British actress, known for her roles in the TV series “Visiting Hours” and “EastEnders”.
- Dr. Crawford MacAlester: prominent Canadian physician, researcher and professor at McGill University.
- Tessa MacAlester- British screenwriter, best known for her work on the BBC miniseries “The Rubicon”.
- Alex MacAlester: American model, singer and social media influencer.
- William MacAlester: well-known Scottish composer and conductor, renowned for his work in classical and folk music.
- Albert MacAlester: American fashion designer, credited with creating the modern A-Line skirt and other iconic styles.
- Jacob MacAlester: Australian fashion designer and owner of the Jacob and Joanne fashion line.