McLees History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

As a native Irish surname, McLees is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Laoidhigh, which comes from the word "laoidh," which means "a poem;" or from Mac Giolla Iosa, which means "son of the devotee of Jesus." However, Lee is also a common indigenous name in England, many families of which have been established in Ireland since at least the 17th century. 1

Early Origins of the McLees family

The surname McLees was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), where they were prominent in the west being anciently associated as hereditary physicians to the O'Flahertys.

Families with the McLees or McAlees spellings were traditionally doctors or physicians.

By the 16th century different branches had developed in Galway, in Leix, and in Munster at Cork and Limerick. The name in Gaelic was O'Laidhigh.

Early History of the McLees family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLees research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1253, 1600, 1650 and 1734 are included under the topic Early McLees History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLees Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name McLees revealed many variations, including McAlea, McAlee, MacAlee, MacAlea, MacLee, McLee, MacLees, McLees, MacLeas, McLeas, O'Lees, O'Leas, Lee and many more.

Early Notables of the McLees family

More information is included under the topic Early McLees Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLees migration to the United States +

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the McLees family in North America:

McLees Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John McLees, who arrived in America in 1795 2

McLees Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George McLees, who landed in America in 1812 2
Mrs. McLees, aged 31, originally from London, England, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Majestic (1890)" from Liverpool & Queenstown 3

McLees Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James E MClees, aged 29, arrived in New York in 1908 aboard the ship "Philadelphia" from Southampton, England 3
Alice M. McLees, aged 23, originally from Weshaw, Scotland, arrived in New York in 1910 aboard the ship "Columbia" from Glasgow, Scotland 3
Archibald McLees, aged 30, arrived in New York in 1911 aboard the ship "Furnessia" from Glasgow, Scotland 3
James McLees, aged 31, arrived in New York in 1911 aboard the ship "Oceana" from Hamilton, Bermuda 3
Emma McLees, aged 26, arrived in New York in 1911 aboard the ship "Oceana" from Hamilton, Bermuda 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McLees (post 1700) +

David McLees, American two-time Grammy nominated producer, best known for his work on The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning (2002)
C. D. McLees, All-American basketball player at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the early 1900s
David McLees (1945-2020), born Alexander David McLees, a British architectural historian and a director in the Executive Committee of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (1998-2001)

The McLees 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: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result