the etymology and history of surnames
|
the etymology and history of surnames
|
| 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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