Scottish surnames
Encyclopedia
Scottish surnames are surnames currently found in Scotland
, or surnames that have a historical connection with the country.
, King of Scots (1124–53). These were Anglo-Norman
names which had become hereditary in England before arriving in Scotland (for example, the contemporary surnames de Brus, de Umfraville, and Ridel). During the reigns of kings David I, Malcolm IV
and William the Lion, some inhabitants of Scottish towns were English
and Flemish
settlers, who bore English and continental personal name
s, with trade names and sometimes nicknames. One of the earliest sources for surnames in Scotland is the Ragman Roll. This document records the deeds of homage
pledged by Scots nobles to Edward I
, King of England in 1296. The surnames recorded within are for the most part very similar to those found in England at around the same date, consisting of local, patronymic and occupational names, and nicknames. Some of the local surnames with the roll are derived from places within Scotland; there are very few Gaelic surnames recorded in the roll.
The earliest patronyms recorded in Scotland are written in several different languages. In early Latin
documents, such names were formed by the genitive case of the father's name preceded by forms of filius, meaning "son" (for example Dugaldus filius Nigelli); later the filius was only implied (for example Dugaldus Nigelli). Other early records show patronyms using forms of the Welsh ap, meaning "son"; and the Gaelic mac, meaning son (for example, the names of Macrath ap Molegan, and Gilmychel Mac Eth appear in the same document).
There are several prefix
es and suffix
es that may indicate whether a modern surname originated from a patronym: the English suffixes -son, and -s; and the Gaelic prefix Mac-. In some cases, the -son was dropped from such surnames, and just the forename of an ancestor was used (for example Martin). In some cases, the suffix -s was used, and according to Black, such names appear to have originated in England (for example Adams
).
The use of patronyms died out in the Lowlands after the 15th century, as they became solidified as surnames. It was not until the 18th century that they were given up in the Gaelic-speaking Highlands. As late as the first part of the 18th century, some men were distinguished not only by their father's name, but their grandfather's and great-grandfather's (for example, John Roy M'Ean Vc Ewin Vc Dougall Vc Ean, a man from Lismore recorded in 1585). Patronyms were still common in Shetland in the first half of the 19th century.
is derived from Brix
in Manche
, France, and Graham
is derived from Grantham
, in Lincolnshire
, England). Not all territorial surnames are derived from lands owned by their bearers. In some cases such names were borne by tenants, or followers, of the owners of the lands they lived on. In this way the bearers of these surnames may not have had any kinship with the landowners (the surname Gordon is an historical example of such a name).
Some Scottish surnames are derived from vague geographical locations rather than specific places. These names are sometimes called "topographic names". These names refer to physical features, like forests, streams, and marshes; such names may also refer to man-made structures, such as castles and churches (for example the surnames Wood
, Milne
, and Shaw
). Sometimes names derived from proper names of geographical features can be classified as topographic names rather than habitational names. This is because these names refer to a location rather than a specific settlement.
, Mason
, and Fletcher
). In time, true occupational surnames became hereditary and were passed down through families (for example, in 1525 there is a record of a woman named Agnes Beltmakar, who is described as a kaikbakstar). Occupational names were rare amongst Gaelic speakers (an example of such a surname derived from Gaelic occupational name is Gow).
Examples of Scottish surnames derived from nicknames are: Little
; White
; and Meikle
(which means "big"). One of the most common Scottish surnames is Campbell
, which is derived from the Gaelic caimbeul, meaning "crooked-mouthed".
, and Scott
.
, Gordons
, Macdonalds
, and Mackenzies
) adopted the names of their new lords. The leadership of large clans increased their power by increasing the number of their followers by both conciliation
and coercion
. The memory of such renaming is sometimes preserved in tradition. One old Gaelic saying reads: Frisealach am boll a mine ("the Frasers of the boll of meal"), which explains that some of name Fraser
are actually Bissets
, who originally controlled the lands taken by the Frasers
. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the clan name of the MacGregors was outlawed, and members of the clan were forced to assume other names. When the bans were lifted once and for all, some of the clan resumed using forms of MacGregor
—but not all. In some cases, the name of a clan may be identical to the surname of another family, yet there is no etymological link between the employed surname, and there is no historical connection between the different families (for example, the Hebridean/Kintyre surname Brodie
is not connected to surname of the Brodies of Brodie
, who were centred in Moray
). Similarly, a surname derived from a patronym, may be used by numerous unconnected families descended from a like-named individual (for example, the bardic family of the surname MacEwan
employed by the Campbells are not connected to the MacEwens of Otter).
operates under the (erroneous) proposition that everyone who shares the same surname is related. The position of the standing court of heraldry
in Scotland, the Court of the Lord Lyon
, considers that everyone who shares the same surname as a recognised chief, is a member of that chief's clan. In consequence, where a coat of arms
already exists for the chief of a clan, or head of a family, new grants of arms to individuals with the same surname are generally variations of those arms (for example, one of the oldest families of Argyll
are the Fergussons of Glensellich; this clan is not related or historically connected in any way to the Fergussons of Kilkerran
who the Lord Lyon King of Arms considers to be the Chief of the Name and Arms of Fergusson; consequently, the arms of Fergusson of Glensellich are based upon the arms of Fergusson of Kilkerran).
means "son of the parson
"). Also, not all names beginning with the prefix are derived from Gaelic personal names; in areas along the Lowland border, the prefix was added to the diminutives of non-Gaelic personal names ending with the suffix -ie (for example, McRitchie, MacWillie). Other Lowland, or English, diminutives of personal names ending with the suffixes -on, and -in, were borrowed by Gaelic speakers (for example Rankin
to Macrankin, Gibbon to Macgibbon).
, Macaskill, and Macleod
). It has been noted that such 'Norse' names in these areas are in complete contrast to the indigenous surnames of the adjacent islands and lands to the south. Some surnames brought to Scotland in the Middle Ages by English, or Anglo-Normans, are also derived from Norse personal names.
names derived from Frankish names; other Germanic names derived from Norse names; and Latin and Greek names, many of which were religious names. Many diminutive suffixes were introduced with the Normans (for example, -el, -et, -ett, -ot, -at, -en, -in, -oc, -on, -uc, and -cock). These suffixes were added to pet-forms of names (for example, Adkin diminutive of Adam
, and Paton
from Patrick).
. This register was made up of all people over the age of 16 who were entitled to vote in elections in the UK
. The data was further enhanced with names of people that were not entitled to vote. In 2001, a change in law made it possible for people to opt out of having their information publicly viewable; thus the 2001 register has been considered by at least one recent study to be the most recent reliable source for determining the most common surnames in Scotland.
. Children under the age of 16 are only allowed to change their surname once. For people over the age of 16, a total of three surname changes are allowed, however a period of 5 years must elapse between each successive name change. In some cases, surname changes are allowed if the person receives a decree, or certificate of change, from the Lord Lyon King of Arms
; or if certain certified will
s, settlements, or deeds of trust, contain conditions where a person must take a surname different from the one which they were registered at birth; or when a male has married and changed his surname following his marriage, and has received a decree or certificate from the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Surname changes can consist of substituting one surname for another (for example, from Brown to Johnson); changing the spelling of the surname (for example, from Brown to Broun); or changing surname by hyphenation (for example, from Brown to Brown-Johnson) (see also: double-barrelled name
).
s, particularly in North America
. These names are sometimes given to both males and females (for example, the given name Mackenzie
, taken from the Scottish surname Mackenzie
, is given to girls more than boys in North America; another North American given name used for both genders is Cameron
derived from the surname Cameron
).
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, or surnames that have a historical connection with the country.
History
The earliest surnames found in Scotland occur during the reign of David IDavid I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
, King of Scots (1124–53). These were Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
names which had become hereditary in England before arriving in Scotland (for example, the contemporary surnames de Brus, de Umfraville, and Ridel). During the reigns of kings David I, Malcolm IV
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
and William the Lion, some inhabitants of Scottish towns were English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
settlers, who bore English and continental personal name
Personal name
A personal name is the proper name identifying an individual person, and today usually comprises a given name bestowed at birth or at a young age plus a surname. It is nearly universal for a human to have a name; except in rare cases, for example feral children growing up in isolation, or infants...
s, with trade names and sometimes nicknames. One of the earliest sources for surnames in Scotland is the Ragman Roll. This document records the deeds of homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
pledged by Scots nobles to Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, King of England in 1296. The surnames recorded within are for the most part very similar to those found in England at around the same date, consisting of local, patronymic and occupational names, and nicknames. Some of the local surnames with the roll are derived from places within Scotland; there are very few Gaelic surnames recorded in the roll.
Patronymics
Many Scottish surnames originate from names that were originally patronyms. Patronyms are derived from the forename of the bearer's father (for example, the full name of a man named John Donaldson indicates that the father's name was Donald). Patronyms change with every successive generation (for example, the patronyms of a grandson, father, and grandfather may be John Donaldson, son of Donald Robertson, son of Robert Williamson).The earliest patronyms recorded in Scotland are written in several different languages. In early Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
documents, such names were formed by the genitive case of the father's name preceded by forms of filius, meaning "son" (for example Dugaldus filius Nigelli); later the filius was only implied (for example Dugaldus Nigelli). Other early records show patronyms using forms of the Welsh ap, meaning "son"; and the Gaelic mac, meaning son (for example, the names of Macrath ap Molegan, and Gilmychel Mac Eth appear in the same document).
There are several prefix
Prefix
A prefix is an affix which is placed before the root of a word. Particularly in the study of languages,a prefix is also called a preformative, because it alters the form of the words to which it is affixed.Examples of prefixes:...
es and suffix
Suffix
In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns or adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs...
es that may indicate whether a modern surname originated from a patronym: the English suffixes -son, and -s; and the Gaelic prefix Mac-. In some cases, the -son was dropped from such surnames, and just the forename of an ancestor was used (for example Martin). In some cases, the suffix -s was used, and according to Black, such names appear to have originated in England (for example Adams
Adams (surname)
Adams is a common surname of English and Scottish origin, meaning "son of Adam".-Politics and law:* Abigail Adams , U.S. First Lady* Brock Adams , U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Washington...
).
The use of patronyms died out in the Lowlands after the 15th century, as they became solidified as surnames. It was not until the 18th century that they were given up in the Gaelic-speaking Highlands. As late as the first part of the 18th century, some men were distinguished not only by their father's name, but their grandfather's and great-grandfather's (for example, John Roy M'Ean Vc Ewin Vc Dougall Vc Ean, a man from Lismore recorded in 1585). Patronyms were still common in Shetland in the first half of the 19th century.
Territorial names, topographical names
Many of the first surnames recorded in Scotland were those of nobles, or great landowners, whose surnames derived from the lands they possessed. These names are sometimes called territorial names, or habitation names. Many of these surnames were brought to Scotland by Anglo-Normans, whose surnames were derived from either lands on the continent or in England (for example, BruceBruce
The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix of the Manche département in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands"...
is derived from Brix
Brix, Manche
Brix is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Brix is known primarily as being the assumed origin of the Bruce family, who emigrated to Britain in the Middle Ages, settling in northern England and then southern Scotland...
in Manche
Manche
Manche is a French department in Normandy named after La Manche , which is the French name for the English Channel.- History :Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, France, and Graham
Graham (surname)
Graham is an English surname. It is a habitational name, derived from Grantham in Lincolnshire, England.-People:* Alasdair Graham , Canadian politician, journalist, and businessman* Alexander H...
is derived from Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England). Not all territorial surnames are derived from lands owned by their bearers. In some cases such names were borne by tenants, or followers, of the owners of the lands they lived on. In this way the bearers of these surnames may not have had any kinship with the landowners (the surname Gordon is an historical example of such a name).
Some Scottish surnames are derived from vague geographical locations rather than specific places. These names are sometimes called "topographic names". These names refer to physical features, like forests, streams, and marshes; such names may also refer to man-made structures, such as castles and churches (for example the surnames Wood
Wood (surname)
Wood is a surname in the English language. It is common throughout the world, especially countries with historical links to Britain.- Etymology :...
, Milne
Milne (surname)
Milne is a surname of Scottish origin, and may refer to:In military:* Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet, British admiral* Archibald Berkeley Milne , admiral of the Royal Navy* Sir David Milne, British admiral...
, and Shaw
Shaw (name)
Shaw is most commonly a surname and rarely a given name. The name is of English and Scottish origin. In some cases the surname is an Americanization of a similar sounding Ashkenazic Jewish surname....
). Sometimes names derived from proper names of geographical features can be classified as topographic names rather than habitational names. This is because these names refer to a location rather than a specific settlement.
Occupational names
Many surnames are derived from the occupations, or trades, of their original bearers (for example, ShepherdShepherd (surname)
Shepherd, Shepard, Sheppard, Shephard and Shepperd are surnames and given names, and alternative spellings and cognates of the English word "Shepherd".-Shepherd:Shepherd is a surname.People named Shepherd:...
, Mason
Mason (surname)
Mason is an occupational surname of English origin, and may refer to many people:-A:* A. E. W. Mason, British author* Abner Mason, American presidential advisor on AIDS* Alex Mason, the protagonist of Call of Duty: Black Ops...
, and Fletcher
Fletcher (surname)
Fletcher is a surname of English origin. The name is an occupational name for an arrowsmith or seller of arrows, derived from the Middle English, Old French flecher . Early bearers of the name include Robert le Flecher in 1203, William Flecher’ also in 1203, and Peter le flechier in 1227...
). In time, true occupational surnames became hereditary and were passed down through families (for example, in 1525 there is a record of a woman named Agnes Beltmakar, who is described as a kaikbakstar). Occupational names were rare amongst Gaelic speakers (an example of such a surname derived from Gaelic occupational name is Gow).
To-names, other names, nicknames
To-names, or other names, were once very common in Scotland. These names were used in areas where there were not many different names, and the to-names were added onto the name of person, in order to distinguish them from others who bore the same name. To-names were particularly prevalent in fishing communities in the northeastern part of Scotland, but were also used in the Borders and the West Highlands. In some cases within fishing communities, the names of fishing boats were tacked onto the names people in order to differentiate them from others.Examples of Scottish surnames derived from nicknames are: Little
Little
Little is a surname in the English language. The name is ultimately derived from the Middle English littel, and the Old English lȳtel, which mean "little". In some cases the name was originally a nickname for a little man. In other cases, the name was used to distinguish the younger of two bearers...
; White
White (surname)
White is a surname of English origin. It is the sixteenth most common surname in the United Kingdom. In the 1990 United States Census, 'White' ranked fourteenth among all reported surnames in frequency, accounting for 0.28% of the population....
; and Meikle
Meikle
*Meikle Loch in Aberdeenshire, North East Scotland*Meikle Millyea, a mountain in South West Scotland*Meikle Pap, a mountain in North East ScotlandPeople:*Andrew Meikle, the Scots engineer, inventor of the Threshing machine...
(which means "big"). One of the most common Scottish surnames is Campbell
Campbell (surname)
Campbell is a Scottish family name of Gaelic origins.The name in some cases derives from the Scottish Clan Campbell, in other cases from Mac Cathmhaoil meaning son of the battle chieftain....
, which is derived from the Gaelic caimbeul, meaning "crooked-mouthed".
Regional names, or ethnic names
Some Scottish surnames can be classified as either "regional names" or "ethnic names". These names originally referred to the origin of the bearer and tended to have been acquired by people who migrated a considerable distance for their original homes. In other cases, such names were sometimes borne by people were connected with a foreign place (such as a trader). Examples of ethnic surnames are Fleming, GalbraithGalbraith
Galbraith is a surname of Scottish origin meaning foreign Briton, and may refer to:-Academics:* John Kenneth Galbraith , Canadian-born American economist* James K. Galbraith , United States economist, son of John Kenneth Galbraith...
, and Scott
Scott (name)
Scott originated from Scotti .Scott came from the name of a Gaelic speaking Celtic tribe called the Scoti although there is no clear evidence to the etymology of the word, even if it has Gaelic roots or whether it was first applied to them by outsiders...
.
Scottish clans
Many Scottish surnames are the names of Scottish clans that were once powerful families dominating large swaths of territory. However, it is a common misconception that every person who bears a clan's name is a lineal descendant of the chiefs, or members, of that particular clan. There are several reasons for this. In many cases, the families that originally lived on the lands acquired by powerful clans (such as the CampbellsClan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
, Gordons
Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a Scottish clan. The chief of the clan was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.-Origins:...
, Macdonalds
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
, and Mackenzies
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
) adopted the names of their new lords. The leadership of large clans increased their power by increasing the number of their followers by both conciliation
Conciliation
Conciliation is an alternative dispute resolution process whereby the parties to a dispute agree to utilize the services of a conciliator, who then meets with the parties separately in an attempt to resolve their differences...
and coercion
Coercion
Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. Such actions are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way...
. The memory of such renaming is sometimes preserved in tradition. One old Gaelic saying reads: Frisealach am boll a mine ("the Frasers of the boll of meal"), which explains that some of name Fraser
Fraser (surname)
Fraser is a surname, of Scottish origin , and may refer to many people..-A:* Alec Garden Fraser , Scottish Reverend and educationalist* Alex Fraser , Canadian politician* Alex Fraser , British scientist...
are actually Bissets
Clan Bissett
Clan Bissett is a Scottish clan of Anglo-Norman origin. It does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, therefore the clan has no standing under Scots Law...
, who originally controlled the lands taken by the Frasers
Clan Fraser
Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of French origin. The Clan has been strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gained lands there in the 13th century. Since its founding, the Clan has dominated local politics and been active in every major military conflict...
. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the clan name of the MacGregors was outlawed, and members of the clan were forced to assume other names. When the bans were lifted once and for all, some of the clan resumed using forms of MacGregor
MacGregor (surname)
MacGregor, also spelt Macgregor, is a Scottish surname. The name is Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic MacGriogair. The Gaelic name was originally a patronym, and means "son of Griogar". The Gaelic personal name Griogar is a Gaelicised form of the name Gregory. The surname is used by members of...
—but not all. In some cases, the name of a clan may be identical to the surname of another family, yet there is no etymological link between the employed surname, and there is no historical connection between the different families (for example, the Hebridean/Kintyre surname Brodie
Brodie
Brodie can be a given name or a surname. Of Scottish origin!, and a location in Morayshire, Scotland, its meaning is uncertain; it is not clear if Brodie, as a word, has its origins in the Gaelic or Pictish languages...
is not connected to surname of the Brodies of Brodie
Clan Brodie
Clan Brodie is a Scottish clan whose origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie chiefs were the Thanes of Brodie and Dyke in Morayshire. The Brodies were present in several clan conflicts, and during the civil war were ardent covenanters...
, who were centred in Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
). Similarly, a surname derived from a patronym, may be used by numerous unconnected families descended from a like-named individual (for example, the bardic family of the surname MacEwan
MacEwan
-People:*Alexander MacEwan, former leader of the Scottish Party and the Scottish National Party*Grant MacEwan, former Mayor of Calgary and Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada*Paul MacEwan, a politician and MLA in Nova Scotia, Canada...
employed by the Campbells are not connected to the MacEwens of Otter).
Scottish heraldry
Scottish heraldryScottish heraldry
Heraldry in Scotland, while broadly similar to that practised in England and elsewhere in western Europe, has its own distinctive features. Its heraldic executive is separate from that of the rest of the United Kingdom.-Executive:...
operates under the (erroneous) proposition that everyone who shares the same surname is related. The position of the standing court of heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
in Scotland, the Court of the Lord Lyon
Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
, considers that everyone who shares the same surname as a recognised chief, is a member of that chief's clan. In consequence, where a coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
already exists for the chief of a clan, or head of a family, new grants of arms to individuals with the same surname are generally variations of those arms (for example, one of the oldest families of Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
are the Fergussons of Glensellich; this clan is not related or historically connected in any way to the Fergussons of Kilkerran
Fergusson Baronets
The Fergusson Baronetcy, of Kilkerran in the County of Ayr, is a title in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. It was created on 30 November 1703 for the prominent advocate John Fergusson. The second Baronet represented Sutherland in the House of Commons and served as a Lord of Session under the judicial...
who the Lord Lyon King of Arms considers to be the Chief of the Name and Arms of Fergusson; consequently, the arms of Fergusson of Glensellich are based upon the arms of Fergusson of Kilkerran).
Gaelic
Not all surnames that begin with the prefix Mac- are truly derived from patronyms. Forms of the surnames MacBeth and MacRae are derived from the Gaelic personal names Mac-bethad and Mac-raith. The prefix in such cases means "pupil", "devotee", "disciple". Some surnames beginning with Mac- are not derived from personal names (for example, MacphersonMacpherson
MacPherson or Macpherson can refer to:*Clan Macpherson, a Scottish clan*MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co.*MacPherson strut, a car suspension system*MacPherson, Singapore*Macpherson Stadium -In sports:...
means "son of the parson
Parson
In the pre-Reformation church, a parson was the priest of an independent parish church, that is, a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization...
"). Also, not all names beginning with the prefix are derived from Gaelic personal names; in areas along the Lowland border, the prefix was added to the diminutives of non-Gaelic personal names ending with the suffix -ie (for example, McRitchie, MacWillie). Other Lowland, or English, diminutives of personal names ending with the suffixes -on, and -in, were borrowed by Gaelic speakers (for example Rankin
Rankin
-Places:*In Australia:**Division of Rankin, an electoral district in the Australian Federal House of Representatives, in Queensland*In Canada:**Rankin Inlet, Nunavut**Rankin Inlet Airport, Nunavut**Rankin River, Ontario...
to Macrankin, Gibbon to Macgibbon).
Norse
In the northern Hebrides, many of the indigenous surnames are derived from Gaelicised Norse personal names (for example, MacaulayMacaulay (surname)
Macaulay, MacAulay, and McAulay are surnames in the English language. There are several etymological origins for the names: all of which originated as patronyms in several Gaelic languages—Irish and Scottish Gaelic...
, Macaskill, and Macleod
MacLeod
MacLeod and McLeod are surnames in the English language. Variant forms of the names are Macleod and Mcleod.Generally, the names are considered to be Anglicised forms of the Scottish Gaelic MacLeòid, meaning "son of Leòd". However, in some cases the names can also be Anglicised forms of the Irish...
). It has been noted that such 'Norse' names in these areas are in complete contrast to the indigenous surnames of the adjacent islands and lands to the south. Some surnames brought to Scotland in the Middle Ages by English, or Anglo-Normans, are also derived from Norse personal names.
Anglo-Normans
Nearly all the surnames brought to Britain by the Normans were territorial names derived from lands on the continent. In some families where patronyms were used, once a man acquired lands in Britain he would assume his surname from these lands. Norman patronyms were made up of mainly three types of names: GermanicGermanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
names derived from Frankish names; other Germanic names derived from Norse names; and Latin and Greek names, many of which were religious names. Many diminutive suffixes were introduced with the Normans (for example, -el, -et, -ett, -ot, -at, -en, -in, -oc, -on, -uc, and -cock). These suffixes were added to pet-forms of names (for example, Adkin diminutive of Adam
Adam (name)
-People with the given name Adam:* Adam of Ebrach , German abbot and historian* Adam , Spanish churchman* Adam , stage name of Mohd Aizam Mat Saman...
, and Paton
Paton
-People:* Alan Paton , South African author* Borys Paton , long-term chairman of the National Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine* Charlie Paton, Scottish polar adventurer* Danny Paton , Scottish footballer* David Paton -People:* Alan Paton (1903-1988), South African author* Borys Paton (b. 1918),...
from Patrick).
Most common surnames
The top twenty most common surnames in Scotland are shown below. The data was mostly gathered from the 2001 UK electoral registerElectoral register
The electoral roll is a listing of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The register facilitates the process of voting, helps to prevent fraud and may also be used to select people for jury duty...
. This register was made up of all people over the age of 16 who were entitled to vote in elections in the UK
Elections in the United Kingdom
There are five types of elections in the United Kingdom: United Kingdom general elections, elections to devolved parliaments and assemblies, elections to the European Parliament, local elections and mayoral elections. Elections are held on Election Day, which is conventionally a Thursday...
. The data was further enhanced with names of people that were not entitled to vote. In 2001, a change in law made it possible for people to opt out of having their information publicly viewable; thus the 2001 register has been considered by at least one recent study to be the most recent reliable source for determining the most common surnames in Scotland.
- SmithSmith (surname)Smith is an English family name originating in England. It is the most common surname in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, the second most common surname in Canada, and the fifth most common surname in Ireland...
(1.28%) (occupational name) - BrownBrown (surname)Brown is a surname of English and Scottish origin. It also originates independently in the United States, as an Anglicization of several other surnames, such as the German Braun. Among the earliest recorded Browns is John Brown of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England in 1312. Brown is one of the most...
(0.94%) (nickname) - WilsonWilson (surname)Wilson is a common surname of English origin. It literally means "son of Wil" . It is the seventh most common surname in the United Kingdom, and eighth most common in the United States. In Ireland it is often Gaelicised as "McLiam"...which translated means "Son of William"...
(0.89%) (patronym) - RobertsonRobertson (surname)Robertson is a patronymic surname, originating in northern England and Scotland. It means "son of Robert".-People with this surname:* A. Willis Robertson, former U.S. Senator from Virginia, father of Pat Robertson* Alec Robertson, New Zealand lawn bowler...
(0.78%) (patronym) - ThomsonThomson (surname)Thomson is an English and Scottish patronymic surname meaning "son of Thom, Thomp, Thompkin, or other diminutive of Thomas", itself dervied from the Aramaic תום or Tôm, meaning "twin". The Welsh surname is documented in Cheshire records before and after the 1066 Norman Conquest. Variations...
(0.78%) (patronym) - CampbellCampbell (surname)Campbell is a Scottish family name of Gaelic origins.The name in some cases derives from the Scottish Clan Campbell, in other cases from Mac Cathmhaoil meaning son of the battle chieftain....
(0.77%) (nickname) - StewartStewart (name)Stewart is a Scottish surname and is also used as a masculine given name of pre-7th century Old English origin, derived from stigeweard, the genitive prefix stige meaning "sty", and the suffix weard meaning "guardian" or "warden". An alternative spelling is Stuart. The progenitor of the Stewart...
(0.73%) (occupational name) - AndersonAnderson (surname)Anderson, Andersson or Andersen is a surname deriving from a patronymic meaning "son of Anders/Andrew"...
(0.70%) (patronym) - ScottScott (name)Scott originated from Scotti .Scott came from the name of a Gaelic speaking Celtic tribe called the Scoti although there is no clear evidence to the etymology of the word, even if it has Gaelic roots or whether it was first applied to them by outsiders...
(0.55%) (ethnic name) - MurrayMurray (surname)Murray is a common variation of the word Moray, an anglicisation of the Medieval Gaelic word Muireb ; the b here was pronounced as v, hence the Latinization to Moravia. These names denote the district on the south shore of the Moray Firth, in Scotland...
(0.53%) (territorial name) - MacDonaldMacdonaldMacDonald, Macdonald, and McDonald are Anglicised forms of the Scottish Gaelic name MacDhòmhnaill. It is a patronym where Mac means "son" and Dhòmhnaill means "of Dòmhnall". The personal name Dòmhnall is composed of the elements domno "world" and val "might", "rule"...
(0.52%) (patronym) - ReidReidReid is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin, and is the 90th most common surname in the UK.It may refer to:* Reid Caldwell, Species undefined.* Reid, Australian Capital Territory, inner suburb of Canberra, Australia...
(0.52%) (nickname) - TaylorTaylor (surname)Taylor is a surname in the English language which originated as an occupational surname in England The name is derived from the Old French tailleur, which is in turn derived from the Late Latin taliator, from taliare meaning "to cut"...
(0.49%) (occupational name) - ClarkClarkClark is surname in the English language, ultimately derived from the Latin clericus meaning "scribe", "secretary" or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educated. Clark evolved from "clerk". First records of the name are found in 12th century England...
(0.47%) (occupational name) - RossRoss (name)Ross can be used as a given name, typically for males, but is also a typical family name for people of Scottish descent . In this case the name is of Scottish origin. The family name can also be of German origin . Ross is the name of many people, such as:- Family name Ross :*Aaron Ross Ross can be...
(0.43%) (territorial name) - YoungYoung (surname)Young is a surname originating in England and Scotland . Derived from the Old English word geong, meaning "young," the Young surname was used as a descriptive name to distinguish father from son or to the younger of two relatives. Young can also be a Korean surname and Chinese surname...
(0.42%) (nickname) - MitchellMitchell (surname)Mitchell is an English surname, the surname is generally derived from the Middle English and Old French personal name Michel which is the vernacular form of the personal name Michael. In some cases the surname is derived from a nickname for a big man which is derived from the Middle English michel,...
(0.41%) (patronym; nickname) - WatsonWatson (surname)Watson is a patronymic surname of English and Scottish origin. Meaning "son of Walter", the popular Middle English given names Wat or Watt were pet forms of the name Walter. Watson is the 36th-most common surname in the United Kingdom.-A:* A. J...
(0.41%) (patronym) - PatersonPaterson (surname)Paterson is an English, Scottish, and Irish surname meaning "son of Patrick". In Connacht, and Ulster, the name is considered to be an Anglicised form of the Irish language surname Ó Casáin. Paterson is rarely used as a given name...
(0.40%) (patronym) - MorrisonMorrison (surname)Morrison is a surname. In some cases it is derived from a patronymic form of the personal name Morris. This personal name is a variant of Maurice, and was quite popular in the Middle Ages. The surname is common throughout Ireland, but mainly in east Ulster...
(0.40%) (patronym)
Extinction
While the total bearers of specific surnames have grown in number over the years, such as the names of the most dominant clans, some Scottish surnames have completely died out in the country (for example, the family with the Hebridean surname MacUspaig, derived from a Gaelicised Norse personal name, died out in the male line shortly after the turn of the 20th century).Surname changes
Anyone whose birth is registered in Scotland, or who was legally adopted in Scotland, may apply to register a surname changeName change
Name change generally refers to a legal act allowing a person to adopt a name different than their name at birth, marriage, or adoption. The procedures and ease of a name change depend on the jurisdiction. In general, common law jurisdictions have loose limitations on name changes while civil law...
. Children under the age of 16 are only allowed to change their surname once. For people over the age of 16, a total of three surname changes are allowed, however a period of 5 years must elapse between each successive name change. In some cases, surname changes are allowed if the person receives a decree, or certificate of change, from the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
; or if certain certified will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
s, settlements, or deeds of trust, contain conditions where a person must take a surname different from the one which they were registered at birth; or when a male has married and changed his surname following his marriage, and has received a decree or certificate from the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Surname changes can consist of substituting one surname for another (for example, from Brown to Johnson); changing the spelling of the surname (for example, from Brown to Broun); or changing surname by hyphenation (for example, from Brown to Brown-Johnson) (see also: double-barrelled name
Double-barrelled name
In English speaking and some other Western countries, a double-barrelled name is a family name with two parts, which may or may not be joined with a hyphen and is also known as a hyphenated name. An example of a hyphenated double-barrelled surname is Bowes-Lyon; an example of an unhyphenated...
).
Scottish surnames as given names
In recent years, names that have been traditionally surnames have been used as given nameGiven name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
s, particularly in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. These names are sometimes given to both males and females (for example, the given name Mackenzie
Mackenzie (given name)
Mackenzie is a given name derived from a Scottish surname. In North America, the name is used for girls less often than boys.-Statistics:Mackenzie was the 64th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2007. This spelling of the name was also among the top 1,000 most popular names...
, taken from the Scottish surname Mackenzie
Mackenzie (surname)
Mackenzie, MacKenzie, and McKenzie, are Scottish surnames. Originally pronounced in Scots, the z representing the old Middle Scots letter, yogh. The names are Anglicised forms of the Scottish Gaelic MacCoinnich, which is a patronymic form of the personal name Coinneach. The personal name means...
, is given to girls more than boys in North America; another North American given name used for both genders is Cameron
Cameron (given name)
Cameron is a given name in the English language, which is considered to be a unisex name. It is popularly borne by males, but is now also borne by females .The name originates from the Scottish surname Cameron...
derived from the surname Cameron
Cameron (surname)
Cameron is an English-language surname, which is considered to be a Scottish surname. The name has several origins. One origin is from a Gaelic-language nickname, derived from cam and sròn . Another origin of the surname is from any of the various places called Cameron, especially such places...
).
See also
- List of Scottish Gaelic surnames, Scottish Gaelic surnames and their English equivalents
- Scottish Gaelic personal naming systemScottish Gaelic personal naming system-Forenames:Scottish Gaelic has a number of personal names, such as Ailean, Aonghas, Dòmhnall, Donnchadh, Coinneach, and Murchadh, for which there are traditional forms in English...
- Welsh surnamesWelsh surnamesFixed family names were adopted in Wales from the 15th century onwards. Hitherto, the Welsh had a patronymic naming system.-History:In 1292, 48 per cent of Welsh names were patronymics, and in some parishes over 70 per cent. Other names were derived from nicknames, occupational names, and a few...
, the surnames of Wales - Cornish surnamesCornish surnamesCornish surnames are surnames used by Cornish people and often derived from the Cornish language. Such surnames for the common people emerged in the Middle Ages, although the nobility probably had surnames much earlier on. Not until the later Middle Ages did it become necessary for a common man to...
, the surnames of Cornwall - Manx surnamesManx surnamesManx surnames are surnames which originate on the Isle of Man. The general make up of Manx surnames reflects the recorded history of the island, which can be divided into three different eras - Gaelic, Norse, and English. In consequence most Manx surnames are derived from the Gaelic, Norse, and...
, the surnames of the Isle of Man - History of ScotlandHistory of ScotlandThe history of Scotland begins around 10,000 years ago, when humans first began to inhabit what is now Scotland after the end of the Devensian glaciation, the last ice age...
, and Scotland in the High Middle AgesScotland in the High Middle AgesThe High Middle Ages of Scotland encompass Scotland in the era between the death of Domnall II in 900 AD and the death of king Alexander III in 1286...