Blair is a Scots-English-language name of Scottish Gaelic origin.
| Gender | Unisex |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Scots-English |
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Scottish Gaelic |
| Word/name | Anglicisation of blàr |
| Meaning | "plain", "field", "meadow", "battlefield" |
| Region of origin | Scotland |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Blaire |
The surname is derived from any of the numerous places in Scotland called Blair, derived from the Scottish Gaelic blàr, meaning "plain", "meadow" or "field", frequently a battlefield.
The given name Blair is unisex and derived from the surname. Blair is generally a masculine name in Scotland and Canada, although it is more popular in the United States, where it is also a feminine name. A variant spelling of the given name is Blaire.[1] In 2016, in the United States, Blair was the 521st most popular name for girls born that year, and the 1807th most popular for boys.[2]
Scottish clan
editPeople with the surname
editA–E
edit- Adam Blair (born 1986), New Zealand rugby league player
- Andrea Blair, New Zealand geothermal consultant
- Andrew M. Blair (1818–???), American politician in Wisconsin
- Andy Blair (footballer) (born 1959) Scottish footballer
- Andy Blair (ice hockey) (1908–1977), Canadian ice hockey player
- Anthony Blair (criminal) (1849–1879), American hanged for murder
- Austin Blair (1818–1894), Governor of Michigan
- B. Brian Blair (born 1957), American professional wrestler and local politician
- Bill Blair (disambiguation), several people
- Bonnie Blair (born 1964), American Olympic gold medalist in speed skating
- Bruce G. Blair (1947–2020), American activist
- Cherie Blair (born 1954), British barrister and wife of Tony Blair
- Cheyse Blair (born 1992), Australian Rugby League player
- Clancy Blair, American psychologist
- Danny Blair (1905–1985), Scottish footballer
- David Blair (disambiguation), several people
- DeJuan Blair (born 1989), American basketball player
- Dennis C. Blair (born 1947), United States Director of National Intelligence
- Diane Blair-Sherlock, American politician
- Doug Blair (born 1963), American heavy metal guitarist
- Doug Blair (footballer) (1921–1998), English footballer
- Edmund Blair Leighton (1852–1922), English artist
- Ellen A. Dayton Blair (1837–1926), American social reformer and art teacher
- Emily Newell Blair (1877–1951), American writer, suffragette, and founder of League of Women Voters
- Eric Arthur Blair (1903–1950), British author better known by his pen name George Orwell
- Euan Blair (born 1984), British businessman and son of Tony Blair
- Everard Blair (1866–1939), English soldier and cricketer
F–M
edit- Francis Preston Blair (1791–1876), American journalist and politician
- Francis Preston Blair Jr. (1821–1875), American politician and American Civil War general
- Francis Simpson Blair (1839–1899), Virginia's Attorney General from 1882 to 1886
- Frederick Blair (1874–1959), director of Canada's Immigration Branch
- Garfield Blair (born 1987), Jamaican basketball player
- George A. Blair (1915–2013), American businessman
- George W. Blair (1921–2020), American politician and rancher
- Gwenda Blair (born 1943), American author and journalist
- Harold Blair (1924–1976), Australian tenor and Aboriginal activist
- Harvey Blair (born 2003), English footballer
- Henry W. Blair (1834–1920), United States Representative and Senator from New Hampshire
- Hugh Blair (1718–1800), Scottish author
- Hugh Blair (composer) (1864–1932), English musician, composer and organist
- Hugh E. Blair (1909–1967), linguist and co-developer of Interlingua
- Iain Blair (1942–2011), Scottish journalist, actor and author
- Ian Blair (born 1953), Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
- James Blair (Australian judge) (1870–1944), Australian judge
- James Blair (cricketer) (1900–1961), New Zealand cricketer
- James Blair (footballer) (1883–1913), Scottish footballer
- James Blair (Indian Army officer) (1828–1905), Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross
- James Blair (MP) (1788–1841), Scots-Irish Member of Parliament
- James Blair (South Carolina) (1786–1834), American politician
- James Blair (Virginia) (1656–1743), Scottish clergyman and founder of the College of William and Mary
- Jayson Blair (born 1976), former New York Times reporter
- Jayson Blair (actor) (born 1984), American actor
- Jimmy Blair (footballer, born 1888) (died 1964), Scottish international footballer
- Jimmy Blair (footballer, born 1918) (died 1983), Scottish professional footballer
- John Blair Jr. (1732–1800), American politician and one of the first Associate Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court
- John Insley Blair (1802–1899), American railroad tycoon
- John Leo Blair (1888–1962), American businessman, founder of Blair Corporation
- John T. Blair (1885–1976), American architect
- June Blair (1933–2022), American actress and model
- Kenneth Blair (1882–1952), English entomologist
- Lewis Harvie Blair (1834–1916), American businessman and author
- Leo Blair (1923–2012), father of Tony Blair
- Linda Blair (born 1959), American actress
- Lionel Blair (1928–2021), Canadian-born British entertainer
- Marquise Blair (born 1997), American football player
- Mary Blair (1911–1978), American artist, animator
- Matthew Blair (disambiguation), several people
- Maybelle Blair (born 1927), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Mike Blair (born 1981), Scotland rugby union international
- Montgomery Blair (1813–1883), American politician and lawyer
N–Z
edit- Natalie Blair (born 1984), Australian actress
- Patricia Blair (1933–2013), American actress
- Patrick Blair (surgeon) (c. 1670–1728), Scottish surgeon-apothecary
- Paul Blair (disambiguation), several people
- Paul Blair (born 1978), American music producer, songwriter and DJ better known as DJ White Shadow
- Preston Blair (1908–1994), American animator for Disney, MGM, and Hanna-Barbera
- Randy Blair (born 1983), American actor and writer
- Richard Blair (disambiguation), several people
- Robert Blair (disambiguation), several people
- Saira Blair (born 1996), American politician
- Selma Blair (born 1972), American actress
- G. W. Scott Blair (1902–1987), British rheologist
- Seth Blair (born 1989), American baseball player
- Steven Blair (1939–2023), American exercise scientist
- Tom Blair (1892–1961), Scottish football goalkeeper
- Tony Blair (born 1953), British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1997–2007
- Walter Blair (disambiguation), several people
- William Blair (disambiguation), several people
- Wren Blair (1925–2013), Canadian ice hockey coach
People with the given name
editA–E
edit- Blair Adams (born 1991), English football player
- Blair Bann (born 1988), Canadian volleyball player
- Blair Brown (born 1946), American actress
- Blair Brown (American football) (born 1994), American football player
- Blair Butler (born 1978), American stand-up comedian
- Blair Chenoweth, winner of the 2003 Miss Alaska pageant and the 2007 Miss Alaska USA pageant
- Blair Dunlop (born 1992), English musician and actor
- Blair Effron (born 1962), American financier and co-founder of Centerview Partners
F–M
edit- Blair Fowler (born 1993), YouTube beauty guru
- Blair Hinkle (born 1986), American professional poker player
- Blair Hopping (born 1980), New Zealand field hockey player
- Blair Horn (born 1961), Canadian rower
- Blair Hull (born 1942), American businessman and politician
- Blair Imani (born 1993), African-American activist
- Blair Joscelyne (born 1978), Australian composer, songwriter, and co-host of Mighty Car Mods
- Blair Kiel (1961–2012), American football player
- Blair Kinghorn (born 1997), Scotland Rugby Union international
- Blair Late (born 1982), American pop singer
- Blair Lee I (1857–1944), Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
- Blair Lee III (1916–1985), Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
- Blair Lekstrom (born 1961), Canadian politician
- Blair Levin (born 1954), American lawyer
- Blair Lewis (born 1956), American gastroenterologist
- Blair Longley (born 1950), Canadian politician
- Blair MacKichan, English musician
- Blair McDonough (born 1981), Australian actor
- Blair Milan (1981–2011), Australian actor and television presenter
N–Z
edit- Blair Peach (1946–1979), New Zealand-born activist, a victim of police brutality
- Blair Peters, Canadian animator and co-founder of Studio B Productions
- Blair Phillips (born 1984), American football linebacker
- Blair Redford (born 1983), American actor
- Blair St. Clair (born 1995), American drag queen
- Blair Stewart (ice hockey) (born 1953), Canadian hockey player
- Blair Stewart (rugby union) (born 1983), New Zealand rugby player
- Blair Stewart-Wilson (1929–2011), British army officer
- Blair Sturrock (born 1981), Scottish footballer
- Blair Underwood (born 1964), American actor
- Blair Walsh (born 1990), American football player
- Blair White (born 1987), American football wide receiver
- Blaire White (born 1993), American YouTuber and political commentator
- Blair Wilson (born 1963), Canadian member of parliament
Fictional characters
edit- Blair (Soul Eater), a character from the manga and anime series Soul Eater
- Blaire Bennett, a main character in the television series Ted
- Blair Cramer, a character in the television series One Life to Live
- Blair Dame, a character in the video game Street Fighter EX
- Blair Waldorf, a character in the novels and television series Gossip Girl
- Blair Warner, a character in the television series The Facts of Life
- Blair, a main character in the animated television series Sunny Day
- Blair Willows (Princess Sophia), a main character in animated film Barbie: Princess Charm School
- Blaire Wilson, an American Girl character
- Blair Pfaff, a main character in the television series Black Monday
- Blair, a main character in the film The Thing
References
edit- ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 34, 400. ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1.
- ^ "Blair - Popularity of Blair, How Popular Is the Name Blair?". www.ourbabynamer.com. Retrieved 2020-04-20.