This unusual Scottish surname is an Anglicization (in modern spelling) of the ancient Gaelic "Mac en Deoir", translating as "the son of Pilgrim", the latter being a personal name of great antiquity, rather than the description of a religious devotee who went on journeys or who was the keeper of relics. Modern recordings of the surname are also found in the spelling forms of MacIndeor, McIndeor, MacIndewer and Mackindewer. The sept appears to have originated in the Clyde region, although claims have also been made for Argyle, Lanarkshire and Islay. Amongst the early recordings are those of Gillaspy McIndewir, who tenanted the lands of Ardtalloch, Islay, in 1541, whilst John MaKindewer, also variously recorded as Makeandewer, Makindeora, and M'Indeor, was a rent witness at Portbane, in 1576. Other spellings and earliest recording date include M'yndoir (1560), McInder (1613), M'Doir (1672), McInddeor (1686) and McIndoir (1692). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Colin Mackindoyr, which was dated circa 1410, a Juror on an inquisition of the lands of Inchesturphyn, Lanarkshire, Scotland, during the reign of King James 1 of Scotland, 1406 - 1437. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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