| ![Show Contents]() Alastair History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of AlastairWhat does the name Alastair mean? This name comes from the given name Alexander, which was in turn originally derived from the Greek name, which means defender of men. In the late 11th century, Queen Margaret introduced the name into Scotland by naming one of her sons Alexander; she had heard the name in the Hungarian Court where she was raised. From Scotland, the name came to Ireland, where MacAlasandair became the Irish form. 1 Early Origins of the Alastair familyThe surname Alastair was first found in Down and Antrim, where the family claim descent from Colla Uais. 2 One of the first records of the family was William Alysaundre or Alesander (died after 1313), an Irish judge and Crown official in the reigns of King Edward I of England and his son Edward II. He is thought to have been born in Dublin and was appointed High Sheriff of Kildare in 1299. He was Deputy Justiciar of Ireland in 1313. Early History of the Alastair familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alastair research. Another 462 words (33 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1230, 1295, 1431, 1475, 1570, 1602, 1605, 1610, 1614, 1615, 1640, 1689, 1755, 1765 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Alastair History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Alastair Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Alexander, Alistair, MacAlexander, McAlexander, Alisandre, Alischoner, Alsinder, Alastair, MacAlexter, Callestar, Aleckander, Alexandri, Alisdair, Alaisder, Alestare, Alistare and many more. Early Notables of the Alastair familyAnother 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Alastair Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Alastair family to IrelandSome of the Alastair family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Alastair familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, who colonized Nova Scotia, in Antigonish, Pictou, the Carolinas, Virginia and Upper Canada. Richard H. Alexander, traveled from Ontario in a group called the ".
| Contemporary Notables of the name Alastair (post 1700) | + |
- John Alastair Cameron PC (b. 1938), Lord Abernethy, Scottish lawyer, and a former Senator of the College of Justice
- Peter Alastair Care (b. 1953), English film and video producer, known for his work with R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Roy Orbison, Depeche Mode and New Order
- Jon Alastair Craig (1941-2015), New Zealand architect, lead architect for the new terminal development at Wellington International Airport
- Kevin Alastair Kyle (b. 1981), Scottish footballer
- Major General Hugh Alastair Borradaile, Vice Adjunct General in the British War Office
- Robert Alastair Addie (1960-2003), British actor
- Alastair Neil Robertson Niven OBE LVO Hon FRSL (1944-2025), English literary scholar and author, wrote books on D. H. Lawrence, Raja Rao, and Mulk Raj Anand, and over the years served as Director General of The Africa Centre, Director of Literature at the Arts Council of Great Britain and of the British Council, a principal of Cumberland Lodge, and president of English PEN
- Alastair Aiken (b. 1993), British YouTuber known as Ali-A
- Alastair Down (1956-2024), British horse racing journalist and broadcaster
- Alastair McKimm, American editor and producer, known for Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later (2023), Saint Laurent: Summer 2019 (2018) and Fendi: Resort 2023 at NYFW (2022)
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Per mare, per terras
Motto Translation: By sea, by land.
- MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
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