The surname McAleer is found in County Tyrone, Ulster in Ireland, moving into western regions of Scotland. It is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Uidhir or Mac Giolla Uír. It is thought to mean "son of the servant of Saint Odhar". Legend says that Saint Odhar was Saint Patrick's charioteer. The surname is most likely of Norse origin and is encountered frequently in Norway as Lier. It comes from la, a sloping grassy hillside at the foot of a mountain, a dale, a glen, the plural of which is lêr, pronounced leer. The name was transplanted to Ireland during the time of the Danish and Norwegian invasions, after which Mac was added to the name. Notable McAleers Hugh McAleer, Irish nationalist member of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for Mid Tyrone, 1929-1941 Jimmy McAleer, American baseball player Caolan McAleer, Northern Irish footballer Owen McAleer, mayor of Los Angeles from 1904 till 1906 Dave McAleer, chief consultant/contributor of the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums Declan McAleer, Irish politician Kevin McAleer, Irish comic Phelim McAleer, Irish filmmaker William McAleer, Irish-American politician Medieval spelling variations Spellings include McAlear, MacClure, MacLure, MacCloor, McLeur, McCloor and others. References