McAllister Surname Meaning & Origin
What the McAllister last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the McAllister last name
Meaning of the McAllister last name: son of Alasdair (Alexander). McAllister is a Scottish surname from Gaelic Mac Alasdair, "son of Alasdair", the Gaelic form of Alexander. The family is a branch of Clan Donald from Kintyre, and many crossed to Antrim, taking the last name to Ulster. That Alasdair is said to be a great-grandson of Somerled.
Arms associated with the McAllister name
In Scottish heraldry, coats of arms associated with the McAllister name are personal, each with its own blazon.
Get your full McAllister family history
This is only a glimpse of the McAllister story. The full McAllister history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted McAllister coat of arms. Get the full McAllister report.
McAllister name FAQ
What does the McAllister name mean?
Son of Alasdair (Alexander). Common variants include MacAlister, McAlister.
Where does the McAllister surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada.
Is there a McAllister coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized McAllister coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).