Behind the Name
the etymology and history of surnames
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Scottish Names

Acheson
Usage: Scottish
A variant of Atchison.

Adamson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Adam".

Aiken
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the medieval given name Atkin, which was a pet form of Adam.

Aitken
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Adam.

Allaway
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a Scottish place name derived from alla "wild" and mhagh "field".

Allen
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Alan.

Anderson
Usage: English, Icelandic, Scottish, Swedish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Andrew".

Armstrong
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "strong arm" from the Old English earm and strang.
It is said that the armor bearer to a King of Scots acquired this name after he rescued the monarch on a battlefield when the King's horse was killed under him. Because of his strength, he was known as Armstrong.

Atchison
Usage: Scottish
A variant of Atkinson.

Barber
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Indicated one who cut hair for a living.

Bateson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Batte". Batte was a medieval diminutive of Bartholomew.

Beattie
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the medieval name Battie, a diminituve of Bartholomew.

Begbie
Usage: Scottish
The surname Begbie originates in Scotland, where it is most common in the Edinburgh and East Lothian areas. Begbie is derived from the Old Norse personal name Baggi and Old Norse býr meaning "settlement". The small hamlet of Begbie can be found adjacent to the larger hamlet of Samuelston, near to the town of Haddington, East Lothian. Throughout history the name appeared in a variety of forms, including Baikbe, Baikbie and Baigbie. The earliest mention of the surname is that of 'Johnne and Williame Baikbe' who were summoned to appear before the Privy Council of Mary, Queen of Scots, to answer to charges of Treason, most likely for having taken part in an unsuccessful rebellion against Mary, (known as the 'Chaseabout Raid'), during 1565.

Blackwood
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
From an English place name meaning (obviously) "black wood".

Blair
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From any one of several of this place name in Scotland, which derives from Gaelic blar meaning "plain, field, or battlefield".

Boyd
Usage: Scottish
Derived from the word buidhe which means "fair" or "blond".

Breckenridge
Usage: Scottish, Irish, English
Extra: Statistics
A habitational name for someone from Brackenrig in Lanarkshire, named with the northern Middle English braken, meaning "bracken", (from the Old Norse brækni) and rigg, meaning "ridge" (from the Old Norse hryggr), or from a similarly named place located in northern England.

Breckinridge
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Breckenridge.

Bruce
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From Brix, a city in Normandy, from which the Bruces came.

Buchanan
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a Scottish place name meaning "house of the canon".

Burns (1)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Old English burne "stream". Famous bearers include poet Robert Burns, comedian George Burns and fictional character C. Montgomery Burns (from the cartoon show "The Simpsons").

Calhoun
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Colquhoun.

Cameron
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From Gaelic, meaning "crooked or hook nose".

Campbell
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From Gaelic words meaning "wry or crooked mouth". It was probably a characteristic of an early chief of the line.

Carr
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name that means "marsh" in Old Norse.

Chancellor
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name for an administrator, a chancellor, from Norman French chancelier.

Clacher
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Scottish word clachair meaning "stonemason".

Coburn
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Cockburn.

Cockburn
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Name for someone who came from Cockburn, a place in Berwickshire. The name of Cockburn comes from Old English cocc (see Cox) combined with burna "stream".

Colquhoun
Usage: Scottish
From a place name meaning "narrow corner" or "narrow wood" in Gaelic.

Coutts
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the place name Cults in Aberdeenshire, derived from a Gaelic word meaning "woods".

Cowden
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From various place names meaning either "coal valley", "coal hill", or "cow pasture" in Old English.

Craig
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Gaelic creag meaning "crag" or "rocks".

Crawford
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name derived from Old English crawa "crow" and ford "river crossing".

Croft
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
This is an Old English term that refers to a small pasture near a house.

Cruickshank
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a Scottish nickname meaning "bent legs".

Cummins
Usage: English, Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Means "descendant of Cuimin", a Breton name meaning "little bent one".

Cunningham
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name in the Ayrshire district of Scotland. Possibly comes from the Gaelic cuinneag meaning "milk pail", or coney and hame meaning "rabbit home".

Darrow
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
A habitational name from Darroch near Falkirk, in Stirlingshire, said to be named from Gaelic darach "oak tree".

David
Usage: English, French, Scottish, Jewish, Czech
Extra: Statistics
From the given name David.

Davis
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name David. This was the surname of the revolutionary jazz trumpet player, Miles Davis.

Donaghue
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Donoghue.

Donne
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
From Gaelic donn meaning "brown", a nickname for a person with brown hair.

Donoghue
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Gaelic Ó Donnchadha, meaning "the descendent of Donnchadh".

Drummond
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name, meaning "ridge" in Gaelic.

Duff
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Gaelic dubh meaning "dark".

Duffy (2)
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
From Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe meaning "descendent of Dhuibhshíthe", a name meaning "black peace".

Dunbar
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "castle headland" and comes from the old barony of Dunbar, now in East Lothian in Scotland. The place name Dunbar itself comes from the Gaelic dun meaning "fort" and barr meaning "summit". Locality from the town of Dunbar, at the mouth of the Frith of Forth, Scotland, so called from its situation on the rock which at this place projects into the sea.

Duncan
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
From the given name Duncan.

Duncanson
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Duncan".

Eads
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Adam or Eda". Eda is a medieval short form of Edith.

Fairbairn
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "beautiful child" in Middle English.

Faulkner
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Old English for "falconeer".

Ferguson
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Fergus".

Finley
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Fionnlagh.

Forney
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Name for someone who lived around ferns, from Middle English fern "fern" and heye "enclosure".

Fraser
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Possibly means either "a Frisian" or else "strawberry" in Norman French.

Frazier
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Form of Fraser.

Gibb
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Gib.

Gibbs
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "Gib's son", where Gib is a diminutive of Gilbert.

Gibson
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Gib".

Gordon
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name meaning "spacious fort" in the ancient British language.

Graham
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from an English place name which meant either "gravelly homestead" or "grey home" in Old English. The surname was first taken to Scotland in the 12th century. The first Graham recorded was a William de Graham who came over to Britain with the Normans in 1066 and was given lands in Dumfries and Dalkieth, Montrose in Scotland by William the Conquerer.

Grant
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Norman French meaning "grand, tall, big, great".

Grieve
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Occupational name meaning "farm manager" in Middle English.

Hambledon
Usage: English, Scottish
Variant of Hamilton.

Hambleton
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Hamilton.

Hameldon
Usage: English, Scottish
Variant of Hamilton.

Hamilton
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From an English or Scottish place name, derived from its elements hamil, which means "treeless hill", and tun, which means "settlement". The literal translation of the surname would be "treeless hill town".

Hardie
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Scottish form of Hardy. Part of the Farquharson Clan, own or lived in Balmoral at one time.

Henderson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Henry.

Hendry
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Henry.

Hepburn
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
From a place name meaning "high burial mound" in Old English. Famous bearers of the name include Hollywood actresses Katherine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn. Mary Queen of Scot's infamous third husband James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwall, also bore the name.

Holme
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Refers either to someone living by an island in a fen (from northern Middle English holm) or near a holly tree (Middle English holm).

Holmes
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Holme.

Houston
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "Hugh's town". The original Houston is in Scotland near Glasgow.

Hume
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Holme. A famous bearer was the the philosopher David Hume.

Hunter
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Hunt.

Irving
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Originally derived from a Scottish place name (near Dumfries, Scotland) meaning "green water".

Jack
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the first name Jack.

Jardine
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "garden", denoting someone who worked as a gardender.

Johnston
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the name of a Scottish town, which meant "John's town".

Kelly (2)
Usage: Scottish
From a Scottish place name derived from coille "grove".

Kennedy
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Irish Gaelic Ó Cinnéidigh meaning "kinsmen of Brian Boru." Cean éidig literally means "mishapen head," a nickname for Brian Boru's father. This surname was borne by assassinated American president John F. Kennedy.

Kerr
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from a place name meaning "rough wet ground" in Old Norse.

Kidd
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a nickname meaning "young goat, kid" in Middle English.

Kinnaird
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the name of a place in Scotland. The area concerned is high and occupies a vantage point and may have been named in Gaelic as Ceann Ard, literally meaning "high end or head". In 1180, Rudulphus Ruffus or Rufus (a Norman nobleman) received from his friend, King William the Lion (King of Scots), a charter of land in the Carse of Gowrie. (Scots Peerage Vol.5, Antiquarian Notes and MacFarlane's Genealogy Collection Vol 1).

Another source indicates that Rudulphus name was in fact de Kinnaird. Perhaps he actually gave his name to the area, which in turn, from the vocal sound, became Ceann Ard in Gaelic. Ceann Ard is the proper, original Gaelic spelling and Ceann Aird was developed from it.

Kyles
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Gaelic caol meaning "narrows, channel, strait", originally given to a person who lived by a strait.

Lester
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Lister.

Lister
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac an Fhleisdeir, meaning "son of the arrow maker".

Lithgow
Usage: Scottish
A habitation name meaning "pool, damp, or hollow". A famous bearer of this name is actor John Lithgow.

Logan
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a Scottish place name meaning "little hollow".

Low
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
A variant of Law.

Lowe (2)
Usage: English, Scottish
A variant of Low.

Lowry
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
From a diminutive of Laurence.

Lusk
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Possibly means "cave" in Gaelic.

Lyne
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
A habitational name for someone who lived in places in Ayrshire, Peebles-shite, and Wigtownshite.

Lyon
Usage: Scottish, English, French, Dutch
Habitational name from either the Lyon in southern central France, or Lyons-la-Forêt in Eure, Normandy.

MacAngus
Usage: Scottish
Means "son of Angus".

MacAslan
Usage: Scottish
Means "son of Absalon". Absalon is a variant of Absolon.

MacBay
Usage: Scottish
Variant of MacBeth.

MacBeth
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac Beatha, meaning "son of life", which denoted a man of religious devotion. The name of one of the well-known plays written by William Shakespeare.

MacBride
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Bhrighde.

MacCailín
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Means "son of Cailín".

MacCallion
Usage: Scottish
Anglicized form of MacCailín.

MacCallum
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From Gaelic Mac Coluim meaning "son of Columba".

MacCance
Usage: Scottish
Variant form of MacAngus.

MacChruim
Usage: Scottish
Means "son of Crum", Crum is a byname meaning "bent".

MacClellan
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant form of MacClelland.

MacConnell
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
The name McConnell in Ireland is often of Scottish origin and can be derived from the native Gaelic MacDomhnaill, which translates as "son of Donnell." The old Irish version of the name is Domhnaill; its personal-name form is Donald. The name is mostly found in the Province of Ulster and especially in countries Antrim, Down and Tyrone.

MacCrum
Usage: Scottish
Anglicized form of MacChruim.

MacCrumb
Usage: Scottish
Variant form of MacCrum.

MacDaniel
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of MacDonald.

MacDonald
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Donald" in Scottish.

MacDougall
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Dougal" in Scottish.

MacEachern
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of MacEachthighearna.

MacEachthighearna
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Means "son of the horse lord".

MacEntire
Usage: Scottish
Variant of MacIntyre.

MacFarland
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Mac Pharlain.

MacFarlane
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of MacFarland.

Mac Gill Fhaolain
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Means "son of the devotee of Saint Fillan".

MacGinnis
Usage: Scottish
Variant of MacGuinness.

Mac Giolla Bhrighde
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Means "son of the devotee of Saint Brigid".

MacGregor
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Gregor" in Scottish.

MacGrory
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Means "son of Rory".

MacIntyre
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McIntyre.

MacIomhair
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Means "son of Ivor".

MacIver
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of MacIomhair.

MacKay
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McKay.

MacKenna
Usage: Scottish
Means "son of Cináed" in Scotts Gaelic.

MacKenny
Usage: Scottish
Variant of MacKenna.

MacKenzie
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the Scots Gaelic MacCoinneach meaning "son of Coinneach." It originates from the Kintail area of Scotland on the northwest coast.

MacLean
Usage: Scottish
Variant of McLain.

MacLeod
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McLeod.

Mac Naoimhín
Usage: Scottish, Irish
From the Irish Gaelic Mac Naomhán, meaning "son of Naomhan".

MacNeil
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McNeil.

Mac Pharlain
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Means "son of Parlan", Parlan most likely comes from the personal name Partholon meaning "spirit of the waves".

MacQueen
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from MacShuibhne.

MacRae
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McCrae.

MacWilliam
Usage: Scottish
Means "descendent of William".

Magee
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McKay.

Maguire
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McGuire.

Masson (1)
Usage: French, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "stone mason" from the Old French, Old English mas(s)on.

Masters
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of the master" from the Middle English maister.

Mathaton
Usage: Scottish
Variant of Matheson (1).

Matheson (1)
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Gaelic surname MacMathan.

Matheson (2)
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Matthew".

McAdams
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Adam." The name originated in Scotland but is known as a Scotch-Irish name. The McAdams were originally thought to be a part of the infamous MacGregor clan of Scotland. However, new information suggests that they may actually be a part of the Gordon clan.

McAlister
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Meaning "son of Alistair".

McArthur
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "descendent of Arthur".

McCaig
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Thaidhg, meaning "son of Tadhg".

McCracken
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Reachtain, Ulster variant of Mac Neachtain meaning "decendent of Neachdan".

McCrae
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Gaelic Mag Raith meaning "descendent of Rath", a given name menaing ""prosperity" or "grace".

McCune
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Mac Eoghain, meaning "son of Eoghan" in Gaelic.

McDonald
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of MacDonald.

McGee
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh".

McGill
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Means "descendent of the foreigner" in Gaelic.

McGinnis
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Mag Aonghuis.

McGuire
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Irish Mag Uidhir, meaning "pale-colored".

McIntyre
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From Scottish Mac an tSaoir, meaning "son of the carpenter".

McKay
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Aodha meaning "son of Aodh".

McKellar
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Hilary" in Scottish.

McLain
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
From Gaelic Mac Gille Eáin meaning "son of the servant of John".

McLean
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McLain.

McLeod
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Gaelic Mac Leòid meaning "son of Leod", a given name derived from Old Norse ljótr "ugly".

McMahon
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Mac Mathghamahna meaning "son of Mathghamhain". The name Mathghamhain is an old Gaelic name meaning "bear".

McNab
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac an Aba, literally "the son of the abbot". Perhaps slightly scandalous as the child of a (presumably celibate) monk.

McNabb
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McNab.

McNeil
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Neil" in Gaelic.

McNeill
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McNeil.

McNiel
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of McNeil.

McPhee
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Duffy (2).

McReynolds
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Meaning "son of Reynold".

Melville
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a Norman place name meaning "bad town" in Old French.

Meyrick
Usage: Scottish
Variant of Merrick.

Milligan
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From the Gaelic given name Maolagán, a derivative of maol meaning "bald" or "tonsured".

Mitchell
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Michael.

Moffett
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name in Scotland meaning "long field".

Monroe
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Designated a person who had originally lived near the mouth of the Roe River in Derry, Ireland.

Morris
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the given name Maurice.

Murdoch
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Scottish form of Murdock.

Murray
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the region in Scotland, called Moray. Moray means "seaboard settlement". A notable bearer of this surname is General James Murray (1721-1794), who was the first British Governor-General of Canada.

Ness
Usage: Scottish, English, Norwegian
Extra: Statistics
Means "headland" in Middle English, originally referring to a person who lived there.

Nevin (1)
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín.

Niven
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Nevin (1).

Norris (1)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from the north", either denoting someone who had moved from the north, further south or someone who lived in the northern part of a settlement.

Norris (2)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "wet nurse, foster mother" from the Old French nurise, norrice.

Oliver
Usage: Catalan, English, French, German, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from the personal name Oliver.

Paterson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Patrick".

Patterson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Patrick".

Patton (1)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Diminutive of the English and Scottish surname Pate, which is derived from Pat or Patt, a shortened form of Patrick (the on suffix is Old French).

Payne
Usage: Irish, Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "villager, rustic" and later "heathen" from the Middle English Payn, Old French Paien which was often given to children whose baptism had been postponed or adults whose religious zeal was lacking.

Pottinger
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
An occupational surname for an apothecary.

Quick
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Quigley.

Quickley
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Variant of Quigley.

Quigg
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Quigley.

Quigley
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from Middle English quik or Old English cwic, which both mean "lively". It's an English nickname for an agile person. This is also sometimes a place name derived from the place where cinch grass grew: it was a quick-growing grass.

Ralston
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Ralston, Scotland".

Ramsay
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Ramsey.

Ramsey
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Literally means "garlic island", derived from Old English hramseon "garlic" and eg "island".

Rattray
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a place name meaning fortress town. Gealic rath "fortress" + Welsh tref "town".

Read (2)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller in a clearing in woodland" from the Old English ried, ryd. Also denotes a person hailing from one of the many place names in England of similar names.

Ready (2)
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Reedie, Scotland".

Reid (1)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a nickname meaning "red faced/haired" (Old English read).

Reid (2)
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Derived from a place name meaning "roe headland" in Old English.

Robertson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Robert".

Rose (1)
Usage: English, French, German, Scottish, Jewish
Extra: Statistics
Means "rose" from the Middle English, Old French and Middle High German rose. All denote a person of a rosy complexion or a person who lived in a rosy area. Also found derived from the Yiddish royz which always referred to the flower.

Ross
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "promontory" in Gaelic, originally belonging to someone who lived on a headland.

Rowe
Usage: English, Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Means "dweller by a row of hedges or houses" from the Middle English row. Some examples of the name are derived from the medieval name Row which is either a variant of Rollo or Roland.

Roy (2)
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "red haired" from the Gaelic ruadh.

Ruskin (1)
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "tanner" from the Gaelic rusg(aire)an.

Rutherford
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
The name taken by families who lived near the town of Rutherford in Scotland. It means "cattle ford" in Old English. The name dates back to the 13th century.

Rutherfurd
Usage: Scottish
Variant of Rutherford.

Sangster
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
An occupational surname meaning "song-maker or singer" from Old English.

Saunders
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Sanders.

School
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Derived from either the Old Norse personal name Skúli, the Old Danish Skuli or the Old Swedish Skule which probably all mean "to protect".

Scott
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Originally given to a person from Scotland or a person who spoke Scottish Gaelic.

Shaw
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Originally given to a person who lived near a sceaga, Old English meaning "thicket".

Sheach
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Variant of Sheehy.

Sheehy
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicized form of the Gaelic given name Sítheach meaning "mysterious, eerie".

Skeates
Usage: Scottish
An ancient Scottish surname, first found in Ayrshire, taken from the village of Skeoch, near Mauchline.

Spalding
Usage: English, Scottish
From the place name Spalding in Lincolnshire.

Starrett
Usage: Scottish
Means 'from Stairaird', 'Stairaird' being a town in Scotland.

Stewart
Usage: Scottish
Occupational name for a steward, from Middle English stiward. The Stewart family (sometimes spelled Stuart) held the Scottish crown for several centuries; one of the most famous members of the Stewart family was Mary, Queen of Scots.

Stroud
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Locational name meaning "thicket, marsh, or marshy ground overgrown with brushwood".

Strudwick
Usage: Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Strudwick, England".

Stuart
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Stewart.

Studwick
Usage: Scottish, English
Variant of Strudwick.

Sutherland
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Scottish regional name that described the man who came from the former county by this name, which got its name from Old Norse suðroen (= "southern") and land (= "land"). It was called the South Land because it was south of Scandinavia and south of the Norse colonies of Orkney and Shetland Islands. The man who came from that area of Scotland was referred to by his former place of residence.

Taggart
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Anglicization of the Irish language surname Mac an tSagairt, meaning "son of the priest". The name is quite old, and comes from a time and place in (primarily the north of) Ireland where the rules of priestly celibacy were not strictly enforced.

Thomson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Thompson.

Trask
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "from Thirsk, England".

Turnbull
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
A strong man of the name Ruel, having turned a wild bull by the head which was charging King Robert Bruce in Stirling Park, received from the king the lands of Bedrule and the name of Turnbull.

Underwood
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
From a Scottish and English place name for a man who lived at the edge of the woods. It is formed from the Middle English under and wood. Both terms have survived to modern day with the same meanings.

Urquhart
Usage: Scottish
Derived from Welsh ar "by", cardden "thicket". This is the name of several places, the most famous one being north of Loch Ness.

Waldroup
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Wardrobe.

Wallace
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Extra: Statistics
Means "foreigner or stranger" from the Norman French le waleis. It was often used to denote native Welsh and Bretons. Borne by Sir William Wallace of Scotland.

Waters (2)
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Patronymic form of Walter.

Watson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
A patronymic form of the English and Scottish name Watt, which came from the extremely popular Middle English given name Wat or Watt, which was a pet form of the name Walter. The surname Watson thus means "son of Watt".

Wilkie
Usage: Scottish
Extra: Statistics
A double diminutive of William.

Wilkins
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Wilkinson.

Wilkinson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Wilkin", Wilkin being a diminutive of Will or William.

Wilson
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Means "son of Will", Will being a short form of William.

Wood
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Originally denoted one who lived in or worked in a wood or forest, derived from Middle English wode.

Woods
Usage: English, Scottish
Extra: Statistics
Variant of Wood.

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