Surname Maclae - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Maclae: What does the surname Maclae mean?
The last name Maclae is a Scottish surname that has been around since at least the 10th century. It's believed to be of Pictish origin, and is derived from the Gaelic maolardh meaning village chief. This refers to a powerful landowner or nobleman who was the head of a small territory.
The spelling of the name changed over the centuries; it appears as Maclae, Maclay, and McClay in various records. The name has been associated with the Barony of Balmaclellan in Galloway since at least the 13th century, when records show a Donal MacClae as being a tenant.
The Maclae family has a strong tradition of military service. During World War II, several members of the family fought with the Royal Navy. They also served in the British army in the 19th century, in the Falkland Islands and India.
Today, the name Maclae is still prevalent in Scotland, particularly around the Galloway region. However, the name is increasingly common in other areas of the United Kingdom; in 2012 it was the 790th most commonly used surname in England and Wales. The name is also found in other parts of the world due to migration and emigration, particularly to the United States and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMaclae: Where does the name Maclae come from?
The last name MacLae is a surname of Scottish origin. Historically, it is most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in the Argyll area of the Western Isles. The name is an anglicized form of the Gaelic MacLabhuinn, a patronymic form of the Gaelic given name, Labann or Labhuinn, derived from the Old Norse personal name, Laufey, meaning ‘creek’ or ‘bay’. It is possible that the surname was derived from the place name of a particular bay or creek.
Today, the surname MacLae is still most commonly associated with Scotland, and is especially concentrated in the Western Isles. According to records from 2019, the name was in the top 1,000 surnames for Scotland, with a particular high concentration in the Western Isles. This is likely due to the large number of traditional Gaelic-speaking areas on the Western Isles.
As well as Scotland, the surname MacLae is also found in a number of other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the United States. Canada especially has a significant population of MacLae families that can be traced back to Scottish roots, with many having origins in the Argyll area of Scotland.
Although the popularity of the surname has declined in recent years, it is still a relatively common name in certain regions of the world with strong Scottish connections, particularly in the Western Isles of Scotland.
Variations of the surname Maclae
Maclae is a surname with multiple variants, spellings, and associated surnames. Variants of the surname Maclae may include MacLea, MacLeay, MacClay, MacLae, and MacLea. Spelling variations of the surname may include MacLea, MacLeay, MacClae, McClay, McLae, McLay, M'Clay, McClea, McCleay, etc.
Associated surnames for the Maclae family include Clack, McTear, Claw, McLean, McLay, and Walker, to name a few. All of these surnames have some form of the original Maclae surname. In addition, many a variant form of the Maclae surname share common root ending in "lay" or "lee" which means "Son of".
The origin of the Maclae surname is uncertain. It is believed to be an anglicization of the Gaelic language
In addition, another possible origin of the Maclae surname is from Mac an Laoch or Mack the Champion in the Scottish language. The legend of Mack the Champion is believed to have existed during the 10th-12th centuries and was a supposed early ancestor of the Maclae surname.
Some of the earliest recorded mentions of the Maclae surname include a Scottish man, John Maclae who was recorded in 1296 as King Edward I’s rolls of Scotland, and a retainer of the Clan MacLea, Malcolm MacLea in 1467, listed in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland.
In summary, the Maclae surname has many variants, spellings, and associated surnames. Its origin is uncertain and is believed to either be anglicized from Gaelic or be derived from the 12th-century Scotsman Mack the Champion. Early recorded mentions of the Maclae surname date back to at least 1296.
Famous people with the name Maclae
- Angus MacLae: Scottish actor
- Dickson MacLae: Scottish actor
- Fiona MacLae: British Actress
- Richard MacLae: Scottish actor
- Isaac MacLae: Scottish actor
- David MacLae: British actor
- Neil MacLae: Scottish rugby player
- Gordon MacLae: British actor
- Joanna MacLae: British singer, radio presenter
- Jonathan MacLae: British actor