Contents [hide]

McAleer History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

McAleer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McAleer

What does the name McAleer mean?

The old Scottish-Dalriadan name McAleer is derived from the Gaelic word Mac-Giolla-Uidhir, which literally means son of the pale youth or son of Odhar's servant. 1

Early Origins of the McAleer family

The surname McAleer was first found in Ayrshire and Galloway, where John McLur and Robert McLure were first listed as followers of the Earl of Casilis in 1526. A few years later in 1532, Tomas Maklure was sergeant of Assize in Carrick. Interestingly, the earliest evidence of a Clan piper was Robert MacLure who was piper to the chief of the Buchanans in 1600. 1

Early History of the McAleer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAleer research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1660, 1720, 1723, 1729, 1807, 1857, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McAleer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAleer Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of McAleer include MacClure, MacLure, MacCloor, McLeur, McCloor and others.

Early Notables of the McAleer family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was J. Cluer, an engraver and publisher of music, who carried on business in Bow Churchyard, London, in the middle of the first...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McAleer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAleer Ranking

In the United States, the name McAleer is the 10,457^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the McAleer family to Ireland

Some of the McAleer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 139 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAleer migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The McAleer were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

McAleer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel McAleer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1856 3
Michael McAleer, aged 25, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1870 3
Samuel McAleer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 3

McAleer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McAleer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret McAleer, aged 32, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
James McAleer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
Joseph McAleer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
Charles McAleer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Robert Burns" in 1834
Patrick McAleer, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Susan" in 1838
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McAleer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McAleer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Owen McAleer, (b. 1810), aged 31, Irish settler from County Fermanagh, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 4
Mrs. Ann McAleer, (b. 1813), aged 28, Irish settler from County Fermanagh, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 5
Mr. James McAleer, (b. 1835), aged 6, Irish settler from County Fermanagh, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 6
Mr. Casmick McAleer, (b. 1836), aged 5, Irish settler from County Fermanagh, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 7
Mr. John McAleer, (b. 1839), aged 1 year 9 months, Irish settler from County Fermanagh, Ireland departing on 8th July 1841 from Greenock, Scotland aboard the ship "New York Packet" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd October 1841 8

McAleer migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McAleer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Mcaleer, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 9
Mrs. Ellen Mcaleer née Burke, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 9
Joseph McAleer, aged 33, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
James McAleer, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oamaru" in 1878
Mr. James McAleer, (b. 1855), aged 22, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th January 1878, for Bluff 9

Contemporary Notables of the name McAleer (post 1700) +

Owen McAleer (1858-1944), American served as the 25th Mayor of Los Angeles, California
William McAleer (1838-1912), American Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives
James Robert "Loafer" McAleer (1864-1931), American center fielder, manager, and stockholder in Major League Baseball
William McAleer (1838-1912), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 2nd District, 1887-90; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 3rd District, 1891-95, 1897-1901 10
Owen C. McAleer (1858-1944), American Republican politician, Mayor of Los Angeles, California, 1904-06 10
Hugh McAleer, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Burlington, 1902 10
H. J. McAleer, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1888 10
Hugh McAleer (d. 1941), Irish nationalist politician
Kevin McAleer (b. 1956), Irish professional stand-up comedian
Phelim McAleer (b. 1967), Irish journalist and documentary filmmaker

Historic Events for the McAleer family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. James Mcaleer, English Trimmer from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 11

The McAleer Motto +

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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=132
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=133
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=134
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=135
Ship Voyages to New South Wales (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4782/New%20York%20Packet_23%20Oct%201841/4_478200095.jpg&No=136
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/