''MacLeòid'' or MhicLeòid (in the genitive case) is a masculine surname in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

. The name translates into

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

as "son of '' Leòd''". The feminine form of MhicLeòid is ''NicLeòid'', which translates into English as "daughter of ''Leòd''". These surnames originated as a patronyms. However, they no longer refer to the actual name of the bearer's father. There are numerous Anglicised forms of ''MacLeòid''.

Etymology

The

''MacLeòid'' originated as a patronym, in the form of ''mac Leòid'', which translates into

as "son of ''Leòd''". Today, however, the surname ''MacLeòid'' does not refer to the actual name of the bearer's father. The name ''Leòd'' is a Scottish Gaelic derivative of the

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlemen ...

personal name ''Ljótr''. This Old Norse personal name is composed of an element which translates into English as "ugly".

Feminine form

''MacLeòid'' is a masculine surname. The Scottish Gaelic form of this surname for females is ''NicLeòid''. This feminine name is composed of the prefix ''Nic-'' which is an

abbreviated An abbreviation (from Latin ''brevis'', meaning ''short'') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word ''abbrevia ...

form of the Scottish Gaelic ''nighean'' which translates into English as "daughter". Like the masculine form of the surname, ''NicLeòid'' no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father.

Anglicised forms

Anglicised forms of ''MacLeòid'', in use today, include ''

MacLeod MacLeod, McLeod and Macleod ( ) which cited: are surnames in the English language. Generally, the names are considered to be Anglicised forms of the Scottish Gaelic ', meaning "son of '". One of the earliest occurrences of the surname is of Gi ...

'', '' McCloud'', '' McLeod'', '' McLoud''. which cited: for the surnames "MacLeod", "McLeod", and "McLoud". Anglicised forms of ''Mac Leóid'' include ''MacLeod'', ''MacCleod'', and '' MacCloud''. According to late 19th-century Irish genealogist John O'Hart, the English ''MacLeod'' is also an Anglicised form of the Irish '' Mac Giolla Mochadha'', which is etymologically unrelated to ''MacLeòid'' and ''Mac Leóid''.

Families

An early record of the surname is of Gillandres ''MacLeod'', in 1227. Gillandres was likely a member of a noted clerical family that descended from

Leod Leod (Scottish Gaelic: Leòd; Old Norse: Ljótr) ( 1200 – 1280) was the eponymous ancestor and founder of Clan MacLeod and Clan MacLeod of Lewis. Almost nothing is known about him and he does not appear in any contemporary records. Tradition ...

, a 12th-century 'abbot' of Brechin. The surname ''MacLeòid'', and its various Anglicised forms, have also been borne by members of Clan MacLeod, a once powerful

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised ...

, seated on the west coast of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. The leading branches of the clan are the MacLeods of MacLeod. who are seated on Skye; and the MacLeods of Lewis, who were historically seated on

Lewis Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname Music * Lewis (musician), Canadian singer * "Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohead ...

. The MacLeods of Clan MacLeod derive their surname from

, a shadowy figure who does not appear in contemporary records, but is thought to have lived in the 13th century. The first members of the family to appear in contemporary records are Malcolm MacLeod and Torquil MacLeod, who are recorded in a

royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but s ...

in about the year 1343.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macleoid Clan Macleod Scottish Gaelic masculine surnames Scottish surnames Patronymic surnames