McAllister
A Scottish and Irish surname meaning “son of Alistair,” a Gaelic form of Alexander.
The #1,197 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 10,450 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McAllister comes from Gaelic Mac Alasdair, meaning “son of Alasdair” or “son of Alexander.” Alasdair is the Gaelic form of the Greek name Alexandros, usually understood as “defender of men.” Older surname books sometimes explain the name directly through Alister/Alistair as a Gaelic version of Alexander, which is the same basic derivation.
History
The name is well established in Scotland and also appears in Ireland, especially in Ulster. Historical surname books record several spellings, including McAlister, McCallister, and MacAllister, reflecting the same Gaelic patronymic. In the United States, McAllister became one of the better-known anglicized forms of the name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Alasdair and Alexander are so closely linked, McAllister and Alexander ultimately share a distant linguistic root.
From the historical record
“tract on the river Moy. MCALLISTER or MCCALLISTER. The son of Aiister, the Gaelic, for Alexander. CaUester, in the Welsh, signifies a flint, figuratively, an invincible man. G-allmter, in Cor. Br., expresses might, power. McAKDREW The son of Andrew. OF FAMILY NAMES. 193 McARDLE or McCardle. (Gaelic.) From Mac, son…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names