MACNAIR, Macnayer, Macneir, Macnuir, Macnuyer: This surname is generally considered to have at least three different origins: (1) The Macnairs of Ross-shire (Gairloch) are supposed to derive their name from a Mac-Iain-uidhir, 'son of dun (odhar) John, ' through Macan-uidhir, condensed into M'In-nir. (2) The Perthshire sept appear in documents as early as 1370 as Macnayre, in 1468 M'Inayr, explained as M'an-oighre, 'son of the heir. A story more or less apocryphal is told to account for this origin of the name.

(3) The late Prof. Mackinnon suggested Macan-fhuibhir, 'son of the smith; ' and Dr. Macbain added another possible derivation from Macan-fhuidhir, 'the stranger's son. ' The latter two names are pronounced Macan-ewar, with dh and fh mute. The Macnairs of Lennox, some of whom go by the name of Weir, are reckoned a sept of Marferlane; the Argyllshire (Cowal) sept are connected with the Macnaughtons; and the Perthshire Macnairs ere probably a branch of the Macnabs. The lands of Foss in Perthshire formed part of the extensive abthania of Dull, which was coextensive with the parishes of Dull and Fortingall. When the lands of the Abbey of Dull came to be secularized the earliest name found in connection with Foss is Christian Hair (error for Nair), who got a charter of the lands of Wester Fosseiche from Robert I (RMS., I, App. II, 484). Andrew Mcnayr and Angus Mcnayr were put to the horn in 1392 as art and part in the slaughter of Walter de Ogilvy, sheriff of Angus (APS., I, p. 579). Sir Simone M'Ner, rector of Arddewnane, and Sir Robert M'Ner witnessed a sasine in favor of Thomas of Abbyrcromby of that Ilk of the lands of Merthly and Nether Eskyndi in 1445 (Grandtully, I, p. 10). The obit of Rinalde N'Gynnayr in 1452 is recorded in the Chronicle of Fortingall (p. 112), Malcolm McNoyare appears as 'mair' of Menteth in 1454 and 1456 (ER., V, VI), and twenty years later Robert Maknare witnessed a charter by John of Muncreff of that Ilk (Athole, p. 709). Duncan M'Kynnayr of Lettyrmaicloyne, cherter witness, 1457 (Lennox, II, p, 73). Finla M'Nar or Fynlay M'Nare was witness to a sasine of the lands of Tollard begg in 1478 (Lamont, p. 24). The tenement of Umfridus Maknayr in Glasgow is mentioned in 1487 (LCD., p. 200), and Jhoannes Maknayr was tenant of the lands of Mykil Gwffane (Govan) in 1521 (Rental). Robert Macnere was a witness in Perth in 1495 (RMS., II, 896), Donald Maknoyer was respited in 1526 for rebellion and fire raising (RSS., I, 3640), and John Maknewar had a remission from Queen Mary for assisting the English in burning the town of Dunnone (Dunoon) and besieging the castle in 1546 (RSS. ). Robert Makynnair, rector of Assint in 1548 (RMS., IV. 259) appears again in 1565 as Dominus Robertus M'Genayr in his obit recorded in the Chronicle of Fortingall (p. 133). Patrick McNair in Darquhalliche was fined for resetting members of the outlawed Clan Gregor in 1613 (RPC., XIV, p. 634), John M'Nure from the parish of S. Ninians, a Covenanter, was drowned off Orkney, 1679 (Hanna, II, p. 253). John M'Nair was 'the-saurer' of the burgh of Stirling in 1654 (SBR., p. 214), John McKnaire was appointed bailie there in 1686 (RPC., 3. ser. XII, p. 493), Donald M'Inuire was tenant in Danamore, Knapdale, in 1689 (Argyll Inv. ), Finlay M'Nuer was a merchant at Inveraray in 1720 (Campbell, I, p. 180), and Archibald M'Inuer, merchant tailor in Rothesay, died in 1784 (Isles). Andrew McNare was the official bell-ringer of the State-House bell in Philadelphia from 1759 to 1776, and may have rung the Liberty Hell on July 4, 1776, and also four days later when the Declaration of Independence was first publicly proclaimed in Philadelphia. Mc inair 1592, M'Innyeir and M'Inuyer 1672, Mc Inuair 1746, McKnaer 1527, M'Knair 1608, Maknair 1573, M'Kynnair 1575, Macknair 1664, McNayair 1665, M'Nare 1456, McNeir 1592, M'Newer 1574, M'Nuir (Cowal) 1685, Mac Nuire 1746, M'Nuyer (Inverness) 1681, M'Nvyr 1492, McNwyar (Kilbride) 1665, and (undated) M'lnnar, M'Innuer, M'Innuier, McNoyar, McNoyiar.

(Gaelic) Son of the Heir [Gaelic mac, son + an, of the + oighre, heir]* (Irish) Son of the Riser [Irish mac, son + an, of the + ineirghe, riser] * This name is not from one source. The Gairloch branch is desceuded from an Iain Odhar, whose name is condensed into In-uir. The pronunciation and other facts point to a third origin also: Mac An-fhuidhir [fh and dh mute] = the Stranger’s Son. Prof. Mackinnon makes the name Fuibhir, and takes it from Latin faber, smith.—MacBain, Inverness Names, p. 40.

(Scottish, Irish) The son of dark-brown John (gracious gift of Jehovah); the son of the heir, or of the steward: or of the smith, or of the stranger.