| ![Show Contents]() Alastair History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
This name comes from the given name Alexander, which was in turn originally derived from the Greek name, which means defender of men. In the late 11th century, Queen Margaret introduced the name into Scotland by naming one of her sons Alexander; she had heard the name in the Hungarian Court where she was raised. From Scotland, the name came to Ireland, where MacAlasandair became the Irish form. 1 Early Origins of the Alastair familyThe surname Alastair was first found in Down and Antrim, where the family claim descent from Colla Uais. 2 One of the first records of the family was William Alysaundre or Alesander (died after 1313), an Irish judge and Crown official in the reigns of King Edward I of England and his son Edward II. He is thought to have been born in Dublin and was appointed High Sheriff of Kildare in 1299. He was Deputy Justiciar of Ireland in 1313. Early History of the Alastair familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alastair research. Another 462 words (33 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1230, 1295, 1431, 1475, 1570, 1602, 1605, 1610, 1614, 1615, 1640, 1689, 1755, 1765 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Alastair History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Alastair Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Alexander, Alistair, MacAlexander, McAlexander, Alisandre, Alischoner, Alsinder, Alastair, MacAlexter, Callestar, Aleckander, Alexandri, Alisdair, Alaisder, Alestare, Alistare and many more. Early Notables of the Alastair familyAnother 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Alastair Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Alastair family to Ireland
Some of the Alastair family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Alastair familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Sir William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, who colonized Nova Scotia, in Antigonish, Pictou, the Carolinas, Virginia and Upper Canada. Richard H. Alexander, traveled from Ontario in a group called the ".
| Contemporary Notables of the name Alastair (post 1700) | + |
- Peter Alastair Care (b. 1953), English film and video producer, known for his work with R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Roy Orbison, Depeche Mode and New Order
- Jon Alastair Craig (1941-2015), New Zealand architect, lead architect for the new terminal development at Wellington International Airport
- Kevin Alastair Kyle (b. 1981), Scottish footballer
- Major General Hugh Alastair Borradaile, Vice Adjunct General in the British War Office
- Robert Alastair Addie (1960-2003), British actor
- Alastair Harold Kurt Smail (b. 1964), English judge and former first-class cricketer
- Alastair Robin McGlashan (d. 2012), British Anglican priest, a Jungian analyst, Tamil scholar
- Alastair David Shaw Fowler CBE FBA (1930-2022), Scottish literary critic, editor, and an authority on Edmund Spenser, Renaissance literature, genre theory, and numerology
- Alastair Little (1950-2022), British chef, cookbook author and restaurateur, known in the 1980s for his eponymous Soho restaurant and frequent appearances on British television
- Alastair J. Minnis (b. 1948), Northern Irish literary critic and historian
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: Per mare, per terras
Motto Translation: By sea, by land.
- MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
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Ireland
Scotland
England
