McClay

McClay is a Scottish surname and a surname of ancient Gael royals. It is a Highland’s adaption of the Irish Mac Duinnshléibhe (anglicized Donlevy) where the Scots aspirated the “D” and then dropped the final “e” from the Irish language form of the name. When eastern Ireland’s Ulidia (kingdom) fell to the English in 1177, many of its MacDonlevy (dynasty) royals, also, known as the MacNulty, sought asylum in the then still Celts Highlands of Scotland. Their MacDonlevy surname evolved there first to Maconlea, also, MacConloy, McCloy and, then, to MacALeavy, MacAlea, MacLea, MacLay, McClay and, even, Leevy, Levy (surname) and Leavy. Some sources contend that the surname McClay, like the surname MacKinley, arises instead from a Gaelic language nickname given the MacDonlevy in both the Scottish Highlands and elsewhere. That nickname is Mac an Leigh, translating to English as leech, but meaning a physician. Leeching (medical) was in Gaelic Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere for millennium a pervasive medical therapy. The MacDonlevy were also one of Ireland’s ancient hereditary medical families. Notable people with the surname include: