Surname MacLee - Meaning and Origin
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MacLee: What does the surname MacLee mean?
The last name MacLee is a Scottish and Irish patronymic surname derived from the given name Leod. Leod is a medieval Scots name derived from the earlier Gaelic name Laoidhigh, meaning 'hero'. The surname MacLee appears to date from the 14th century, when the surname would have been used to identify individuals as 'sons of Leod'.
Today, there is no single meaning associated with the surname MacLee as it is composed of ancient Gaelic and Scots languages that have since gone out of use. However, many who bear the surname MacLee today are thought to be descendants of the ancient Celtic people who lived in Scotland and Ireland until the 18th century.
For many of these descendants, the name MacLee would have signified a sense of familial identity and sense of belonging to the Clan MacLeod, the ancient Scottish clan that claimed Leod as their progenitor. The MacLeods were powerful landowners and warriors in the Hebrides and were renowned for their courage and strength.
The name also appears to have been used by many to signify a sort of rebel spirit, as it is thought to come from the phrase MacLeod Leöd, which translates to “strong rebel”. In modern times, this spirit of independence lives on among the many who carry the surname MacLee today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacLee: Where does the name MacLee come from?
The last name MacLee is predominantly found in both Ireland and Scotland, more specifically the Highlands of Scotland. The larger concentration of the last name lies within the Northern half of the country. It is not considered a top surname in either of these countries.
MacLee is a variant of the last name MacLachlan. The surname is believed to have originated from the Scottish-Gaelic MacLochlainn meaning “son of Lachlan”. The same name is also found in various Gaelic spellings such as MacLaughlan, MacLauren, and MacLachlan.
MacLee and MacLachlan are popular throughout Ireland and Scotland today. The last name can also be found all around the world as people have emigrated to other countries. More widely, however, it is most commonly found in parts of the United Kingdom along with Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Over the past century MacLee and similar surnames have become less common due to migration and the fact that many people adopted the name through marriage. As a result it is not a top surname in any of the countries mentioned but is still used by members of the Irish, Scottish, and other Celtic communities around the world.
Variations of the surname MacLee
The surname MacLee is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac an Leigh, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Leigh". The variations and spelling of this surname are typically the same throughout the many countries where the name is present.
The most common variants of the MacLee surname include MacLea, MacLeay, MacLehose, MacLeese, MacLeith, MacLegg, MacLachlan, and MacLellan. It may also be written as MacLae, MacLey, MacLeyhose, MacLese, MacLeth, MacLegg, MacLacklan, or MacLellan.
Other spelling variations of the MacLee surname, include McLea, McLeay, McLehose, McLeese, McLeyhose, McLeith, McLechlan, McLellan, McLae, McLey, McLeyhose, McLese, McLeth, McLechlan, McLellan, MacLiss, McClees, McLiss, McLease, McCleese, MacLees, McClees, and MacLeesse.
The MacLee surname is also found in many other countries, with variant spellings being used in these different locations. These variants include MacLane, McLain, MacLain, McLane, McLane, McLain, MacLiane, MacLain, McLaine, MacLainne, MacLiesne, and Mcliesne.
The different variants of this surname are used to identify a family line with the same origin. Despite the many variations, the root of the surname remains the same. Thus, the MacLee surname is derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Leigh, which is originally derived from the personal name "Leigh".
Famous people with the name MacLee
- Blaine MacLee, American actor
- Brian MacLee, Canadian ice hockey executive
- Camilla MacLee, British actress
- Colin MacLee, Scottish actor
- Don MacLee, Canadian artist
- Eric MacLee, American actor
- Graham MacLee, Scottish actor
- Hugh MacLee, Scottish actor
- Jack MacLee, Australian painter
- John MacLee, Canadian actor
- Josie MacLee, Canadian artist
- Landon MacLee, American actor
- Macy MacLee, British singer
- Richard MacLee, American actor
- Shannon MacLee, American model
- Stuart MacLee, Scottish actor
- Tom MacLee, American actor
- William MacLee, Canadian artist