The surnames Landers, Klein and McAlister?

Question

I'm doing research, and am desperate to know the countries in which these surnames originated. I'm totally stuckl on "Landers", but I have a rough idea that "Klein" originated in Germany, but is of Jewish extraction, and that "McAlister" is originally an Irish name, but most moved to Scotland.

Am I right, and could you please help me with "Landers".

Thanks very much.

Answer 1

Landers:

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name from Middle High German lant, German Land ‘land’, ‘territory’ (see Land 1), used originally to denote either someone who was a native of the area in which he lived, in contrast to a newcomer (see Neumann), or someone who lived in the countryside as opposed to a town.

Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from either of two places called Landau (see Landau), Lande in Yiddish.

Dutch: from a Germanic personal name formed with land ‘land’ + hardu ‘strong’.

English: variant of Lavender.

Americanized form (translation) of French Terrien, found in New England

Klein:

German, Dutch (also de Klein(e)) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German, Dutch, German klein ‘small’, or Yiddish kleyn. This was a nickname for a person of small stature, but is also often found as a distinguishing name for a junior male, usually a son, in names such as Kleinhans and Kleinpeter. This name is common and widespread throughout central and eastern Europe.

McAlister:

Scottish and northern Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Alasdair ‘son of Alasdair’, the Gaelic form of the personal name Alexander.

Answer 2

In my family tree I have a Landers from Ireland

Answer 3

Surname: Landers

Recorded in the spellings of Launder, Lander, Landor, Lavender, Larnder, and the patronymic Landers, this is an English surname. It is occupational and job descriptive for an official who superintended the laundry usually to a royal or noble household or perhaps a monastery. This person was in effect the steward of the linen, being responsible for the washing, repair, and renewal of soft furnishings. The history of the city of York written in 1785, but referring to a period in the Middle Ages about the year 1300 states that 'David le Lardiner holds one serjeantry and keeper of the Forest Gaol, and is also seizer of cattle which are taken for indebtedness to the king'. Not quite so wealthy was but clearly of status was Beatrice Ap Rice, laundress to the future Queen Mary 1st of England in 1550. She was always referred to as Mistress Launder in the registers. Occupational surnames were amongst the first to be created, but the did not usually become hereditary until a son or perhaps a daughter with some occupations, followed the father into the same line of business. In this case the early development and recording taken from surviving registers includes Jon Lardner who married Hannah Moore in London in 1693, whilst in 1701, John Lardner (Apothecary) was baptised at St. Dionis Backchurch, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ywon Le Lardaner. which was dated 1289, in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. during the reign of King Edward 1, known as the Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307.

Surname: Mcalister

This most interesting surname, with variant spellings Mac Alester, Mac Alister, Mac Allaster, Mac Allister, etc., derives from the Gaelic "Mac Alasdair", which translates as "son of (Mac) Alexander". Alexander comes from the Greek personal name "Alexandros", defender of men, from the Greek elements "Alexein", to defend, and "aner", man (andros) and nowhere is the name so thoroughly national as in Scotland, where it was introduced by Queen Margaret, wife of King Malcolm Canmore (1057-1093), from the Hungarian Court, where she was raised. It owed its popularity in the Middle Ages to the Macedonian conqueror, Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.). One Alexander Makalester appears in the Black Isle in 1500. Lydia, daughter of Oliver and Lydia McAllester, was christened on February 16th 1746, at St. Anne Soho, Westminster, London, and their son, Charles, was christened at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, on May 24th 1748. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ranald Makalestyr, obtained a lease of lands in Arran, which was dated 1455, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, 1264 - 1600. during the reign of King James 11, "Ruler of Scotland", 1437 - 1460.

Surname: Klein

This is one of the most famous of all surnames of Germanic origins. It is a nickname, and is recorded in some fifty spellings ranging from Klein, Kleyn, and Cline, to De Cleyne, Kleinermann, and Klejna, and with many compounds such as Kleinbaum and Kleinhandler. However spelt the origination is pre 7th century a.d., and the derivation is from the words klein or kleyne meaning "small". In ancient times before the introduction of surnames in about the 12th century, nicknames, particulary those of endearment were very popular. In this case the word was probably applied to the youngest member of a family, although it could also have applied to one of small stature or even the reverse! Pre-medieval humour was both robust and personalised, so "Klein" may on occasion have been a nickname for a large person! The surname is one of the first ever recorded anywhere, and early examples taken from the authentic German charters and registers of the period, confirm its popularity. These include Walthem der Kleine of Kassel in the year 1209, Kounrad Claineman of Oberschwaben in 1283, Conrad Klainer of Friedingen in 1424, and Johan Klainhain of Konstanz in 1469. The first known recording of the surname anywhere in the world is probably that of Herolt der Kleine from Wurzburg, Germany, in the charters of that city for the year 1185.

Edit :

The apparent origin of a surname is no guarantee that the bearer's ancestry necessarily originated in the same place,

it can only be used as a possible guide and the necessary paper research must be followed through.

Answer 4

look at the clan McAllister website.

McAlister is my matrialinial name and I know with certainty that SW Scotland is the place to look for McAlisters, including their ancestral castle.

Answer 5

I first though Landers was English, but it turns out to be Scottish, anyways my source has more back information if you need it.