Scottish surnames are surnames currently found in Scotland , or surnames that have a historical connection with the country.
41-570: McKinnon , MacKinnon or Mackinnon is a Scottish surname . ( Gaelic : Mac Fhionghain ), Notable people with this surname include: Scottish surname The earliest surnames found in Scotland occur during the reign of David I , 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
82-729: A department of the Pays de la Loire , is to the south-east, and Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany is to the south-west and it shares maritime borders with Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey of the United Kingdom to the west. The salient of this department is the longest in France. It is also the second longest salient in Europe, after Odesa Oblast in Ukraine . The region
123-450: A foreign place (such as a trader). Examples of ethnic surnames are Fleming , Galbraith , Scott , and Wallace . 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 of that particular clan. There are several reasons for this. In many cases,
164-579: 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 ). Historian Charles Ian Fraser stated in his history of the Clan Munro that the bond between clansman and chief cannot in every instance have been that of a common blood. Scottish heraldry operates under the implication that everyone who shares
205-609: 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,
246-525: 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
287-649: Is a coastal French département in Normandy on the English Channel , which is known as La Manche , literally "the sleeve", in French. Manche is bordered by Ille-et-Vilaine and Mayenne to the south, Orne and Calvados to the east, the English Channel to the west and north and by sharing maritime borders with the Crown Dependencies of Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey of
328-483: Is a record of a woman named Agnes Beltmakar , who is described as a kaikbakstar ). Occupational names were rare amongst Gaelic speakers Examples of such surnames derived from Gaelic occupational name is Gow , from the Scottish Gaelic Gobha (smith), and MacIntyre from Mac an t-Saoir ( [ˈmaxk ən̪ˠ ˈt̪ʰɯːɾʲ] "son of the carpenter." Macpherson means "son of the parson ", from
369-599: Is derived from Brix in Manche , France, Crawford is derived from Crawford, South Lanarkshire , in the south of Scotland, Barton is derived from Dumbarton , or the several villages and towns in England , 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
410-553: Is derived from the Gaelic Camshron , meaning "crooked-nose". Another common Scottish surname is Armstrong , which means the son of a strong man. 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 who were connected with
451-510: Is lush and green with sandy beaches and remains oriented towards farming. The peninsula was originally joined as a single land mass to Cornwall and Dorset in England, meaning that the underlying geological strata of both regions are very similar. However, there are substantial regional differences today in terms of flora and fauna, and farming practices have varied considerably between the United Kingdom and France. Flat marsh areas in
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#1732773352289492-642: The Battle of Normandy following D-Day . When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it once again became the capital. The department includes the Cotentin Peninsula down to the famous Mont St Michel . Of the Channel Islands , only the island of Chausey forms part of the territory of the department. Manche borders the Normandy departments of Calvados to the east and Orne to the southeast. Mayenne ,
533-473: The United Kingdom to the west. It had a population of 495,045 in 2019. Manche is one of the original 83 Departments of France , established during the French Revolution on 26 February 1790. It was created from part of the province of Normandy . The capital was Coutances until 1796, and it resumed that role after World War II because of the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô during
574-542: 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 prefixes and suffixes that may indicate whether
615-466: The 2001 UK electoral register . 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
656-639: The Borders and the West Highlands. In some cases within fishing communities, the names of fishing boats were tacked onto the names of people in order to differentiate them from others. 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-mouth". Similarly, Cameron
697-424: The Gaelic surname Mac a' Phearsain . Bynames, to-names, or other names, were once very common in Scotland. These names were used in areas where there were few names in circulation, and the bynames were added onto the name of person, in order to distinguish them from others who bore the same name. Bynames were particularly prevalent in fishing communities in the northeastern part of Scotland, but were also used in
738-726: 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
779-533: 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 ). The name Fraser (Gaelic Friseal ) has a unique etymology; it originally derives from the French fraise , meaning strawberry . The top twenty most common surnames in Scotland are shown below. The data were mostly gathered from
820-625: The Scottish surname Mackenzie , is given to girls more than boys in North America; another North American given name used for both sexes is Cameron derived from the surname Cameron ). The male name Douglas has become very popular throughout the commonwealth countries, and is derived from the Douglas clan. Manche Manche ( / m ɒ̃ ʃ / , French pronunciation: [mɑ̃ʃ] ; Norman : Maunche )
861-418: The arms of Fergusson of Kilkerran). 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". (Other examples can be found under the section Occupational Surnames). Also, not all names beginning with
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#1732773352289902-470: 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 documents, such names were formed by
943-711: The client, then the suggestions put forward 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
984-508: The coast to 1300mm in the southern central area. Highly localised but not life-threatening flash flooding has been experienced during the last few springs. The west coast benefits from the influence of the Gulf Stream and this has enabled the naturalization of Mediterranean and exotic plants such as mimosas, palms, and agaves. There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides, contributes to rapid temperature changes in
1025-403: The department attract many bird-watchers. The region in and around St Lô is also the equestrian capital of France, where the cooler climate compared to the south is ideal for breeding and training. France's first EPR nuclear reactor is under construction at Flamanville near Cherbourg and is planned to start operations in late 2023. The most populous commune is Cherbourg-en-Cotentin ; and
1066-489: The families that originally lived on the lands acquired by powerful clans (such as the Campbells , 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
1107-624: The first half of the 19th century. One of the most common surnames in Scotland is Simpson , which means the son of "Simon", in Gaelic the equivalent names are McSymon, and MacSymon. 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 in Normandy or in England (for example, Bruce
1148-471: The male line shortly after the turn of the 20th century). Anyone whose birth is registered in Scotland, or who was legally adopted in Scotland, may apply to register a surname change . 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 five years must elapse between each successive name change. In some cases, surname changes are allowed if
1189-413: 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. Many Scottish surnames originate from names that were originally patronyms . Patronyms are derived from the forename of
1230-462: The most recent reliable source for determining the most common surnames in Scotland. 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
1271-628: 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 the 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
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1312-540: The northern Hebrides, many of the indigenous surnames are derived from Gaelicised Norse personal names (for example, MacAmhlaigh → Macaulay , MacAsgaill → Macaskill , and MacLeòid → Macleod ). 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. Nearly all
1353-522: 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
1394-600: The person receives a decree, or certificate of change, from the Lord Lyon King of Arms ; or if certain certified wills , 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
1435-414: The prefecture Saint-Lô is the second-most populous. As of 2019, there are six communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants: The climate is oceanic with relatively mild winters in which temperatures go below zero only for a few days. Summer temperatures are usually around 20 °C, and can occasionally reach 35 °C in direct sunlight. Precipitation is heavy but varies greatly by region, from 700mm on
1476-486: 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 ). In
1517-565: 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 names , 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
1558-531: The same surname might be 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, when new grants of arms to individuals with the same surname are being discussed with
1599-493: 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 ). In recent years, names that have been traditionally surnames have been used as given names , particularly in North America . These names are sometimes given to both males and females (for example, the given name Mackenzie , taken from
1640-572: 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. Many surnames are derived from the occupations, or trades , of their original bearers (for example, Stewart , Shepherd , Mason , Kemp , Webb , and Fletcher ). In time, true occupational surnames became hereditary and were passed down through families (for example, in 1525 there
1681-554: 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: Germanic 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