McAllister Family Crest, Coat of Arms & McAllister Name Origin

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Origin of the Name McAllister

The origin of the name McAllister was found in the allfamilycrests.com archives. Variants of McAllister include McAlaster, McAlester, McAllaster and McCalister. Alister Mor, Lord of the Isles and Kintyre in Scotland in 1284, was the first of the name. He opposed Bruce and was imprisoned in Dundoald Castle, and died there. His estates were given to his brother, Angus Mor. As Lord of the Isles, the dynasty was overthrown by James IV, and the MacAlisters became a distinct clan at Ardpatrick. Their descendants were called Vic-Ian-Dhu. The MacAlisters fought on the side of Montrose at Inverlochy in 1645. Argyll dissuaded Hector, their Chief, from being present. Hector's son, Godfrey, married a daughter of Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie. Their son, Alexander MacAlister of Loup, fought for Dundee at Killiecrankie in 1689. His brother, Charles, married a daughter of Lamont of that Ilk. The present Chief is the MacAlister of the Loup and Kennox. The name McAllister was introduced into Ulster Province in Ireland during the fourteenth century.