Alexander

An Irish surname of Antrim. In the 2010 US census it was carried by 204,621 people, the 118th most common surname in the country.

Alexander is the anglicised form of two distinct Irish names. Some you can hear in the English name; others look and sound nothing like it, and were simply swapped for it.

Alsandair, son of Alexander

Mac Alsandair, son of Alexander (a not uncommon personal name among the Normans, specially common in Scotland)

Where the name comes from

Alexander came to Ireland from Scotland, where it was a not uncommon personal name among the Normans, and it has assumed a great variety of forms since. Mac Alsandair alone was written M'Alexander, MacAlshander, MacAlshender, MacAlshinder, MacCalshander, MacElshander and MacKalshander.

A second line, Alsandair, is of early record in Ireland but doubtless came in at different periods rather than all at once. Alesaundre, Alisander, Elysandyr and Elshander are all the same name. It is now found chiefly in Ulster.

The Giant's Causeway at twilight with wet hexagonal basalt columns stretching to the sea and long exposure blurred waves
The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim

Antrim, photographed

Photographs made in Antrim.

Antrim

The Antrim coast road runs about 25 miles between the cliffs and the sea, with nine glens coming down to it. The rock is basalt, the same flow that formed the Giant's Causeway. Scotland is 12 miles off at the narrowest point and visible on a clear day.

The iconic Dark Hedges beech tree tunnel near Armoy in County Antrim with intertwined branches forming a brooding canopyThe Dark Hedges, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Long exposure of Pan's Rock with its footbridge at dawn on the Antrim Causeway Coast, silky water and blurred clouds, Rathlin Island on the horizonPan's Rock, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunrise over Colliery Bay with Fair Head cliffs and mountains, Co. Antrim, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxColliery Bay & Fair Head, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Dunluce Castle on coastal cliffs with long exposure sea, Co. Antrim, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxDunluce Castle, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Black and white photograph of a rainstorm sweeping across the Skerries islands off the North Antrim coast near PortrushRainstorm, the Skerries, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunset over Bengore Head with waves rolling over rocks, Co. Antrim, Ireland — fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxBengore Head, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunset over the Skerries coast in County Antrim with warm light reflecting on wet sand and rock formationsThe Skerries, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim

All Antrim prints

Notable bearers

Jason Alexander (born 1959), actor, singer, and film producer.

Sasha Alexander (born 1973), actor, film producer, and television director.

Jane Alexander (born 1939), actor, writer, and manufacturer.

Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (1891-1969), politician, military officer, and aristocrat.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (born 1998), basketball player.

About this page

The counties on this page are where the name was thickest on the ground in Ireland a century and a half ago, not a claim about any one family. Names moved around inside the country as much as they left it. The photographs are mine, made in the counties named.

More Irish surnames: Smith · Brown · Miller · Wilson · Anderson · Thomas · Taylor · Moore · Jackson · Martin · Lee · Thompson

How common the name was

In 1890, 53 births were registered under Alexander in Ireland, most of them in Antrim and Down.

Ulster 49
Leinster 3
Connacht 1
Munster 0
Ireland 53

Down is the one I haven't worked in.