Adair

Adair is a surname of Scottish origin and is used occasionally as a given name. The surname is traditionally linked to a Scottish landholding or place name and is associated with families long established in the central Lowlands. As a given name, Adair remains relatively uncommon, primarily found in English-speaking countries.

The name has spread beyond Scotland through migration and diaspora, and today Adair is encountered in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, the United States and other countries with historical Scottish ties. Notable people bearing the surname span various fields, including politics, academia, sports and the arts.

Geographically, Adair appears in several American place names, most prominently in Adair County, a designation used in Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa and Oklahoma. The name also appears in town and township names across multiple states, reflecting its use as a local toponym in regions settled by Scotch-Irish and other settlers in the United States. In addition to counties and towns, the name Adair is found in historical and contemporary institutions and street names in areas with Scottish heritage.

Overall, Adair remains a recognizable family name with historic roots in Scotland, widely distributed through the English-speaking world, and echoed in various place names in North America.