Some Collected Ancient Mentions of the Surname McLea or Similar
With help from Barra McCain!
Placed prominently at the top of the second column of a list of those massacred at Dunaverty, 1647, supporting the MacDougalls, were these "Mc Leas":
Iain Mc Iain Vc ein dui alias Mc onlea, Dunsla M'ein Vc onlea and Iain M'onlea, his brother (Highland Papers, II, p. 257).
(By the way, i have confirmed that the spelling Mc onlea was an early form of Mac Lea used among the McLeas who lived on the Isle of Bute, from whence I believe my family came as well, so though this has been shown for other McLeas, I believe it also applies to my family in particular. The early parish records from the 1690s confirm this, and I have seen them on film and can confirm.)
In modern Gaelic,
Iain M'Ein Vc ein dui alias M'onlea
is the name: Eáin Mac Eáin Mhic Eáin Dubh, also known as Mac An Leagha
then down below you have his brothers. Dunlsa and Iain. Dunsla is probably Dunlevy, i.e. Dunnsliebhe and Iain of couse is Eáin.
And in looking at the Highland Papers, Rob Livingston, who died in 2005, had said: "I was surprised to see that there is a fourth McOnlea on the list - "Donald M'conochie Vc neill alias M'Onlea"
I also received this file from Ian Ross which might be useful at some point. I'm not 100% clear on its provenance or the quality of the research. But apparently it was researched by Mr. Ivan McClay in Belfast, sometime back in th 1950s or 60s. He's been gone for some time, but his work is in the collection of PRONI.
Here is the link to the M records at PRONI: http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/USING/privatem.htm
And the specific record in question: McClay (depositor) genealogical documents T/2964
From these records, the write postulates that the family of N. Irish McClays/McLay/etc. is descended from Baron McLea of Lindsaig mentioned in the 1743 ?Account of McLea. There is at least a decent chance that our own family descends from the same.
One thing that makes me wonder is Ivan's statement in an extract of a letter from Ivan McClay to a family member:
"I am descended from a branch of your family in the north west. The surmame originally was MAC AN LEAGH 'son of the physician', they being a hereditary medical family. The last Barron McLea had 3 sons, who settled in Ulster during the reign of Charles 1. In Northern Ireland the name was spelt McClea , McLea, McKlea, McClay and once McLeagh. The two brothers lived opposite one another on the banks of the river Foyle, in 1630 John McClay yeoman to Sir John Wilson of Wilsons Castle, Ballindrait and Andrew McClay yeoman to Sir George Hamilton of Mountcastle, Donaghedy. During the 1641-9 revolution they went to Londonderry, like a lot of Scots families in the north west. After the war John McClay, your ancestor, settled in the Waterside, Glendermott Parish. The family belonged to Glendermott Presbyterian Church and also in later years Donaghedy Presbyterian Church.
"The other sibling of your ancestor, Andrew McClay yeoman, after the 1641-49 war, got the lease of a townland in Fahan parish in Innishowen and there was no Presbyteraian church there until later years, so they were Church of Ireland or protestent.
"The surname in Scotland is spelt McLay and MacLay, so where you see the surname spelt McClea and McClay, you know they come from Northern Ireland, descended from the three brothers. A branch of our family in Donaghedy Parish spelt their surname both ways, McClea and McClay. A number went to America, but descendants in the female line are still there. One family who inherited a McClea/McClay farm showed me letters which were written by girls in Philedelphia about 1840. In one letter they would spell the name McClea and in another McClay. One went to New Zealand and he wrote a number of poems and signed them McClay and his family out there spell it McClea. A branch of the Fahan family went to the goldfields in Australia and settled in New Zealand and changed their name to McClea there. Most surnames, one can spell a number of ways."
Research by Robert A. MacLeay Jr., Ramsey NJ
The following excerpts are from The Surnames of Scotland Their origin, meanings, and history, by George Black, PHD, New York Public Library, 1946. They were collected for the book from articles which originally appeared in the Bulletin of the New York Public Library, August 1943 through September 1946.
MACLAE, MACLAY, MACCLAY, MACLEA, MACLEAY. These names are commonly but incorrectly explained as from G. Mac an leigh. This is merely popular etymology due to the belief that the name means 'son of the physician,' and that the Macleays of western Sutherland are descended from Ferchard Leche, who had a grant of lands in Assynt, 1386. The full form of the name is MacDhunnshleibhe, 'son of Donnshleibhe,' as explained under DUNSLEVE, q.v. In a royal commission of 1498 King James III directed certain persons to distrain the lands and goods of Kenyoch M'Conleif and Donald M'Conleif, co-raiders with Chisholm of Comar of the lands of Huchone Ros of Kilrawok (OPS., II, p. 527). Kenzoch or Kennitus M'Coleif held the king's lands of Cumree ( Comrie ) in Strathconon in 1504 (ER., XII, p. 663), behind Tor Achilty, where tradition placed the seat of the clan. John M'Ewin V' Dunslef appears at Sonnachan, Argyllshire, in 1502 (Notes and queries, 11 July, 1931, p. 21), and Finla Makgillecallum Makcolluf and John Roy M'Culloiff were tenants under Stewart of Appin in 1509 (Stewarts of Appin, p. 193). In 1518 the "clane McDowleanis" (an error for M'Donvleavis ) gave their bond of manrent to Sir John Campbell of Caldor (Cauwdor, p. 129). The names given in the bond are: Duncan Brec McDunlane, and Jhone Mcdoulane 'his broder.' Dunslane McNeill is one of the parties to the bond, and in all three instances -laue has been misread -lane. John McYndayn McCollef is mentioned in 1519 (ibid., p. 131). Odoni Makdouill Makdunlane [i.e. Makdunlaue] had a remission in 1524, and a son of Duncan M'Dunlewe was appointed minister of the two parishes of Killespic-Kerrill and Kilmaronock in 1541 (HMC., 2 Rep., p. 193). The northern Macleays were known to Sir Robert Gordon as the clan Leajwe; while thereafter they are known in record as Makley (in Alness 1651), M'Ley (in Contin 1677). Macleays were numerous in early times in Easter and Wester Ross and in Argyll. Of the southern Macleays was Jo. M'Ey V'Dunlaif in North Argyll, 1570 (Cawdor, p. 177). A cautioner was found for John McClay in Ayrshire, 1584 ( RPC., III, p. 714), and Donald M'Collea was one of Dunolly's men in 1588 ( RPC., IV, p. 265), and Duncan M'Collea appears in same year (ibid., p. 333). Patrik M'Conlea in Finran was fined for reset of members of Clan Gregor in 1613 (ibid., xn, p. 631), and Donald M'Onleif was servitor to Allan Cameron of Locheil in same year (RMS. VII, 871) . Donald M'Clae was burgess of Glasgow by purchase, 1617 (Burgesses), and Duncan Dow McDonochie Brec alias McDonnslae and John McEane Dow VcDonochie Brec alias McDonnslae were charged with assault and cattle-stealing, 1623 (RPC., XIII, p. 270-271). Mc onlea is a common record spelling of the name, and its derivation is clearly shown by the name of Dounslea Mconlea, tenant of Schewnay, 1669 (HP., IV, p. 222). Donald roy M'Onlay appears in Lunga, 1633 (Notes and queries, 18 July, 1931, p. 44). Findlay McClay and Malcolm McClay appear in Drakies in 1646 (More Culloden Papers, p. 50), and Dunsla M'ein Vc onlea and Iain M'onlea, his brother, were among those massacred at Dunaverty, 1649 ( HP., II, p. 257). Duncan Mc onlea was bailie of Rothesay, 1662 (ibid., III, p. 12), and another Duncan M'Onlea was burgess of Paisley, 1667 (Isles). Iain Mc onlew was tenant of Torisay, Mull, 1669 (HP., IV, p. 223), and Duncan M'Onlea, Duncan M'Dunslea, and Neill M'Dimslea ( an error for Dunslea) appear in Islay, 1686 (Bk. Islay, p. 508, 511). William Livingston, the Islay bard, always wrote his name in Gaelic M'Dhunleibhe, and Dr. David Livingstone, the African traveller, was a Macdonleavy of Ulva. Allan Dall gives another popular etymology of the name, which he makes to mean 'son of John the grey-haired,'
"Thagrainn cairdeas Mhic-Iain-Léithe
'S gur dìleas do m' chinneadh féin e,
Sheasadh air gach cnoc le chéile,
Nuair a dh' éireadh iad gu strì."
DUNSLEVE. G. Donnsléibhe or Donnshléibhe, for early Gaelic Duinslebe, 'brown of the hill.' An old personal name among the Gaels of Scotland and Ireland, and a favorite forename with the Macquarries of Ulva (Dunslaf 1505 Downsleif 1517). The duke of Argyll has shown that in old Argyll rentals 'd' drops out, and also the 's' by euphonic elision, the name becoming (with Mac-) M'Onlave, M'Dunlave, M'inlay and M'An-lei or M'Onlea which became Maclay. In one document the name Dunslave M'Dunslave is found, clearly showing that the origin of the name lay in a forename (CR., VI, p. 19l). Dunslene (for Dunsleue, second u = v) frater Murchardi was one of the witnesses to the confirmation by Walter, earl of Menthet of the gift of the church of Colmanel to the church of Paisley, 1262 (RMP., p. 122) . Between 1303-09 James, son of Dunsleph, received a grant of lands in Kintyre from Robert the Bruce for his forensic service of a ship with twenty-six oars with men and victuals pertaining to the same (RMS., I, App. I, 105). Dunslane (for Dunslaue) McNeill is one of the parties to a Macdonleavie bond of 1518. Dunsleve, son of Aedh Alain, through his son Suibhne or Swene was ancestor of the MacSuibhnes or Macewens of Otter, and also the common ancestor of the Lamonts and the Maclachlans (CR., VI, p. 19l).
In 1518 the "clane McDowleanis" (an error for M'Donvleavis ) gave their bond of manrent to Sir John >Campbell of Caldor (Cauwdor, p. 129). The names given in the bond are: Duncan Brec McDunlane, and Jhone >Mcdoulane 'his broder.' Dunslane McNeill is one of the parties to the bond, and in all three instances >-laue has been misread -lane. John McYndayn McCollef is mentioned in 1519 (ibid., p. 131). Odoni >Makdouill Makdunlane [i.e. Makdunlaue] had a remission in 1524, and a son of Duncan M'Dunlewe was >appointed minister of the two parishes of Killespic-Kerrill and Kilmaronock in 1541 (HMC., 2 Rep., p. >193).
This is interesting as that Campbell Caldor family later comes into the story as a descendant of the John above was John Campbell laird of Islay 1618 to 1625 and his son was Laird after him, both men very active in north Antrim.
"Google" 1630 Muster Roll Donegal: shows a John McCley under Sr. John Willson. Per research of others ,this McClay appears to be one of the 3 sons of the last baron McLea of Lindsaig, who left Scotland per the McLea manuscript.
"Google" 1665 Hearth Money Roll Donegal: lists a Wm.M'clae (Kilmacrenan barrony, Aghanunshen parish) and a James M'clae (same barrony, Tullayferne parish).
"Google" 1796 Spinning Wheel List Donegal: several McClays listed, inc. John (Aghanshin) and Archie, Sam, etc. (Conwal. an adjacent parish).
I was also sent the 1688, 1751, and 1802 Argyll Valuation Rolls which show the Lindsaig and Lismore McLeas as landowners.