The word Blair is derived from the Gaelic "Blar" and properly signifies a plain clear of woods, but since the Celts often chose such open plains for warfare, the word came to signify a field of battle. There are many Blair place names in Scotland, such as Blair Atholl, Blairgowrie, and Blairmore.

Blair is a surname of great antiquity in Scotland. The first Blair was probably of Norman descent and took his name from the place in which he settled. The first mention of the surname was an entry in the "Registrorum Abbacie de Aberbrothoc," which recorded Stephen de Blare as a witness to a charter by Dovenald, Abbe de Brechin to the monastery of Arboath, between 1204-1211.

There were two principal Blair families in Scotland; the Blairs of Balthyock in Fife and Perthsire and the Blairs of Blair in Ayrshire. The Blair family made alliances by marriage with many powerful families, including Cochrane, Hunter, Kennedy, Montgomery, Oliphant, and Scott.

Prominent Blairs in Scottish history include: John Blair, chaplain to Sir William Wallace; Robert Blair, a poet best known for the epic poem "The Grave;" Hugh Blair, minister and author; Patrick Blair, botanist and surgeon; Robert Blair, inventor of the aplanatic telescope; Eric Blair, a writer best known by his pen name George Orwell.

Blair is also a common surname in Ireland. These Blairs are descended from Scots who settled in Ulster in the 17th century.

Blairs have settled all over the world and today, Blair descendants can be found in Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.

Courtesy of:
Edward MacLysaght's "Surnames of Ireland"