What is the origin of the surname "McClary"?

Question:

What is the origin of the surname "McClary"?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: McClary
This long-established surname is of Scottish origin, and is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "M'a'Chleirich", son of the Clerk or
Cleric, from "Mac", son of, with the definite article "an", and "Cleirich", the genitive of "cleireach", clerk, cleric. The surname first
appears on record in Scotland in the late 14th Century (see below); however, it is interesting to note that an earlier form of the name,
"O'Cleirigh", is recorded in Ireland from the middle of the 10th Century, making it one of the earliest recorded surnames. The Gaelic prefix
"O" indicates "grandson" or "male descendant of". The Irish O'Cleirighs descend from one Cleireach, who was of the line of the famous
Guaire the Hospitable, King of Connacht. Cleireach was born about the year 820 A.D. The most usual form of the name in Ireland today
is O'Cl(e)ary, and this is chiefly found in Munster and in Dublin.

In 1428, one John Macclerich of Kilravock, Nairnshire, had a remission from James 1 for offences committed by him, and in 1475,
Malcolm M'Clery was a witness in Stirling. The 17th Century Register of marriages for the parish of Edinburgh includes George
Makclearie, a tailor, in 1648, and Catharine M'Clirie in 1674. On December 22nd 1783, William McCleery and Janet Milne were
married in Edinburgh, Midlothian. A Coat of Arms granted to the family depicts an azure chevron between three red roses on a gold
shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of
M'Cleri, which was dated
1376, in "Ancient Charters of the Earldom of Morton", during the reign of
King Robert 11 of Scotland, 1371 - 1390.