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The Scots surname McLay is one of many variant forms of MacLae, and these names are commonly but incorrectly explained as from the Gaelic "Mac an Leigh". This is merely popular etymology due to the belief that the name means "son of the physician", d that the MacLeays of Western Sutherland were descended from Ferchard Leche, who had a grant of lands in Assynt in 1386. The full form of the name is "Mac Dhunnshleibhe", meaning "son of Donnshleibhe", and ancient personal name derived from "Duinslebe" meaning "brown of the hill", and revealing the patronymic origin of the name. Early records show that in a Royal Command of 1498 King James III directed certain persons to distrain the lands and goods of Kenyoch M'Conleif, co-raiders with Chisholm of Co r, of the lands of Huchane Ros of Kilrawak. A cautioner (one who stands surely for another) was found for one John McClay in Ayrshire in 1484, and one Donald M'Clae was a burgess of Glasgow by purchase in 1617. The McLays were a sept of the clan Stewart of Appin and were therefore entitled to the patronage and protection of that clan, including the use of the clan arms and tartan. Stewart of Appin, Sir John Steart's fourth son, became the ancestor of several i ortant lines, including the Stewart Lords of Lorn, and those of Atholl. The Appins sprang from the last Lord Lorn who died in 1469. The name appears to have been introduced into America in October 1851, when the steamer "Martha's-Vineyard" arrived in Ne York from Glasgow, Scotland, carrying on board one James McLay aged thirty five years, a laborer, upon his emigration from Scotland.



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