| ![Show Contents]() McLeish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland The Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the McLeish family. Their name comes from a devotion to Christianity. The Gaelic form of the name is M'A'Lios, which is a shortened form of Mac Giolla Iosa, meaning on of the servant of Jesus. 1 Cleish Castle is a 16th-century tower house in Kinross-shire, Scotland, west of the hamlet of Cleish. Early Origins of the McLeish familyThe surname McLeish was first found in Dumfriesshire where "Mychael M'Cleish or M'CIeisch was tenant of the Brewland cum le stallage' in Dumfriesshire in 1376." 2 "Thomas M'Cleche was a voter in parish of Qwilton (Coylton), 1514, and Michaile M'Cleys, witness in Carrik, 1514. Duncan M'Cleish was servant to Dwgall M'Dugall in Deweldik, 1588, another Duncan M'Cleiche was admitted burgess of Glasgow, 1589, and a third Duncan M'Cleishe, burgess freeman in 1627." 2 Early History of the McLeish familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLeish research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1613, 1638, 1665, 1686, 1745, 1797, 1803, 1806, 1811, 1844, 1870 and 1872 are included under the topic Early McLeish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McLeish Spelling VariationsMedieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McLeish has been written as MacLeish, MacCleish, MacLise, MacLish, MacGillies, MacGleish, MacGillis, MacLeash and many more. Early Notables of the McLeish familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was - Daniel MacLise (1806-1870), historical painter, was the son of Alexander McLeish, McLish, McClisse, or McLise, a Scottish highlander, once a private soldier in the Elgin fencibles, but at the time of...
 McLeish migration to the United States | + |
Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name McLeish or a variant listed above:
McLeish Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Anne McLeish, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1833
| McLeish migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: McLeish Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Alexander McLeish, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
| McLeish migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: McLeish Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Thomas McLeish, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
- George McLeish, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Dauntless" in 1840 4
- Miss. Mary McLeish, British Convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 10 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 9th March 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
- Mr. Peter McLeish, English convict who was convicted in Warminster, Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 6
- John McLeish, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"
| McLeish 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: McLeish Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- D. McLeish, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 7
- Mr. Peter McLeish, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 18th November 1863 7
- Miss Elizabeth McLeish, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 18th November 1863 7
- Mr. David McLeish, (b. 1832), aged 42, Scottish baker, from Fife travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 7
- Mrs. Janet McLeish, (b. 1839), aged 35, Scottish settler, from Fife travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 7
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name McLeish (post 1700) | + |
- Hugh McLeish (b. 1948), Scottish former professional footballer
- Alexander "Alex" McLeish (b. 1959), Scottish former professional footballer
- Henry McLeish (b. 1948), Scottish politician, member of the British Parliament
- Thomas Charles Buckland McLeish FRS FRSC FInstP (1962-2023), British theoretical physicist, known for increasing our understanding of the properties of soft matter
- John McLeish, Australian politician and businessman in Toowoomba, Queensland in the 19th century
- Adam McLeish, British snowboarder at the 2010 Winter Olympics
- Iona McLeish, London Theatre Award-winning British theatre designer and author
- David McLeish (b. 1950), former Australian rules footballer
- Susan "Sue" Marie McLeish (b. 1954), New Zealand retired field hockey player, member of the national team at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Cindy McLeish (b. 1962), Australian politician, Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Seymour (2010-)
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McLeish migration to the United States 
McLeish migration to Canada 
McLeish migration to Australia 
McLeish migration to New Zealand 
