Scottish Last Names

Five real Scottish last names per press, most with an origin or Gaelic form and a place in Scotland's registers.

Scottish Last Names

  1. MacNealVariant of McNeal.
  2. McCluneyVariant of McClung.
  3. McIverAnglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Íomhair (“son of Íomhar”), Gaelic adaptation of the Old Norse name Ívarr. Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  4. MacKellarVariant of McKellar. Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  5. McCuskerAnglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Oscair (“son of Oscar”). Place 880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.

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How it works

These Scottish last names are real: 558 surnames, led by the 100 most common in Scotland's registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2014. Most cards add the origin a dictionary gives: Campbell is crooked mouth.

Read the full guide

Common Scottish last names and their place in the registers

Under the tool the list opens with the top 100 of National Records of Scotland's 2014 table, each with its place: Smith, Brown, Wilson, Campbell and Stewart hold places 1 to 5. The dropdown keeps that top 100, the 211 other names the table holds, or 247 rarer ones.

Mac names, places and trades

Under More filters, Kind keeps the 316 Mac and Mc names (MacDonald is Mac Dhòmhnaill, son of Donald), or the names an entry ties to a place, a trade, a nickname or a father's name. Dictionary origin keeps names filed under Scottish Gaelic or Scots: Muir is Scots for moor.

Tips
  • The registers count McDonald and MacDonald apart, at places 21 and 10; the dictionary calls McDonald a spelling variant.
  • A card gives an origin only where its dictionary entry reads plainly; 32 of the top 100 give none.

Questions and answers

What last names are Scottish?

Names that arose in Scotland: MacDonald, Campbell, Murray and Cameron from Gaelic, Muir and Aitken from Scots. This list holds the surnames a dictionary files under either language, beside the 100 most common in Scotland's registers, whatever their origin.

What are the most common Scottish last names?

Smith, Brown, Wilson, Campbell and Stewart led Scotland's registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2014, in that order. National Records of Scotland warns that the registers are not the whole population, since they count events, not residents.

What are old Scottish last names?

Much the same ones. In Scotland's 1901 census the five most common surnames were Smith, Brown, Robertson, Wilson and Campbell, says National Records of Scotland; all five are in the top ten of 2014. A card's Gaelic form is older than its English spelling.

What does Mac mean in a Scottish last name?

Son of. MacDonald is Mac Dhòmhnaill in Gaelic, son of Donald, and MacLeod is son of Leòd. Not every Mac name began with a father, though: in MacBeth and MacRae the word meant pupil or devotee.

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All 558 last names

In the top 100 of Scotland's 2014 registers 100

  • Aitken Place 91 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Allan Place 39 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Anderson From Ander (“Andrew”) + -son, after Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. Place 8 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Bell Place 40 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Black From Middle English blak (“black”). Place 48 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Boyle Place 81 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Brown From Middle English Broun, originally a nickname for someone with brown hair or a dark complexion. Place 2 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Bruce From a Norman place name, Brix, of disputed meaning. Place 70 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Burns As a Scottish surname, from several places such as Burnis, Burnes, Burnhouse, containing the noun burn (“stream”). Place 59 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cameron From Scottish Gaelic Camshròn, from cam (“crooked, bent”) + sròn (“nose”). Place 32 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Campbell As a Scottish surname, from Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, from cam (“crooked”) + beul (“mouth”). Place 4 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Christie Place 87 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Clark From Old English clerc (“clergyman; learned man”), whence also clerk. Place 14 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Craig From craig (“rock”). Place 60 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
Show all 558 last names (544 more)

In the top 100 of Scotland's 2014 registers, continued

  • Crawford From Old English crāwe (“crow”) + ford (“ford”). Place 82 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cunningham Place 60 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Currie As a Scottish surname, from the place in Edinburgh, possibly from Scottish Gaelic currach (“boggy plain”). Place 93 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Davidson Place 26 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dickson Place 94 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Docherty From Irish Ó Dochartaigh. Place 77 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Douglas From a place name, Scottish Gaelic dubh (“black”) + glais (“stream”). Place 74 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Duncan As a Scottish Gaelic and Irish surname, from Donnchadh, a name composed of donn (“brown”) + cath (“battle”). Place 35 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ferguson From Fergus + -son, translation of Gaelic MacFhearguis, "son of Fergus". Place 36 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Fleming Place 77 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Fraser Scottish surname thought to be from Norman, but not corresponding to any obvious places in France; perhaps a corrupted transcription of a Middle Irish name. Place 28 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gibson From Gibb + son. Place 56 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gordon The Scottish surname derives from Gordon in Berwickshire. Place 57 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Graham The surname derives from Gra(nt)ham, the name of a place in Lincolnshire, from Old English *grand (“gravel”) + hām (“homestead”). Place 20 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Grant From Scottish Gaelic Grannd, from Anglo-Norman graunt (“big, large”), from Old French grant, from Latin grandis. Place 41 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gray As an English, Irish, Scottish, and Norman surname, from the placename Graye-sur-Mer in Calvados, from Late Latin Graecus (“Greek”). Place 27 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Green English surname, a topographic name for someone who either lived near a village green, or was just fond of the color. Place 95 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Hamilton From Old English *Hameldūne, from hamel (“blunt, flat-topped”) + dūne (“hill”). Place 31 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Henderson Place 22 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Hill As an English surname, from the noun hill, shortened from Hilary, and from Old English hild (“battle”). Place 85 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Hughes Place 53 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Hunter Place 37 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Jackson Place 84 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Jamieson From Jamie + son. Place 97 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Johnston Place 34 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Johnstone Place 64 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Jones Genitive of John. Place 46 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kelly Irish Ó Ceallaigh. Place 33 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kennedy Irish Ó Cinnéidigh (ceann (“head”) + éidigh (“ugly”)) or Scottish Gaelic Ceannaideach (ceann (“head”) + aideach (“ugly”)). Place 50 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kerr As an English and Scottish topographic surname for someone who lived by a patch of wet ground overgrown with brushwood, from Middle English kerr (“brushwood”). Place 30 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • King Place 88 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Lindsay From Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from Old English Lindesēġe, Lindesīġe (“Isle of Lind”). Place 92 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacDonald From Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhòmhnaill, equivalent to "son of Donald". Place 10 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Mackay See McKay. Place 45 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Mackenzie Spelling pronunciation of Scots MacKenȝie with the letter ⟨ȝ⟩ confused with ⟨z⟩. Place 42 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacLean From Scottish Gaelic MacGilleEathain, meaning "son of the servant of John". Place 90 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacLeod From Scottish Gaelic MacLeòid (“son of Leòd”), from Old Norse Liótr (“the Ugly (one)”), from Old Norse ljótr (“ugly, scary”). Place 44 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Marshall As an English surname, from the noun marshal. Place 49 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Martin From Middle English Martin, from Latin Mārtīnus (“of or like Mars” or “little Mars”), Mars + -īnus. Place 29 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McDonald A common spelling variant of MacDonald, from Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhòmhnaill, equivalent to "son of Donald". Place 21 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGregor See MacGregor. Place 83 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McIntosh Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac an Tòisiche. Place 99 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKay From Irish Mac Aodha and Scottish Gaelic MacAoidh (“son of Aodh”). Place 69 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKenzie Place 70 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLaughlin Anglicized from Irish Mac Lochlainn (“son of Lochlan”). Place 96 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLean Place 43 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMillan Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Maoláin (“son of Maolán”), a personal name derived from a diminutive of maol (“bald, tonsured”). Place 79 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Millar Place 73 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Miller English surname, capitalization of miller. Place 25 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Milne Scottish occupational surname for a miller or someone who lived at a mill, from Old English mylen (“mill”). Place 63 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Mitchell From a Middle English vernacular form of the Old French given name Michel (“Michael”), or in some cases from a Middle English nickname muchel (“big”). Place 16 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Moore Place 89 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Morrison From the given name Maurice or Morris + -son. Place 24 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Muir From Scots muir (“moor”). Place 66 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Munro Place 68 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Murphy From Irish Ó Murchadha (“descendant of Murrough”), Mac Murchaidh (“Son of Murrough”), etc. Place 52 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Murray Scottish surname derived from the place name Moray in northeastern Scotland, from Medieval Latin Moravia, Morauia, from Scottish Gaelic Moireibh, Moireabh, Moreb. Place 12 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Paterson From a Middle English short form of Patrick + son. Place 23 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Reid Place 9 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ritchie From Richard. Place 76 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Robertson Place 6 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ross Place 18 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Russell Middle English Russel, from Anglo-Norman Russel. Place 51 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Scott Place 11 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Shaw From shaw. Place 85 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Simpson From Middle English Sympson, equivalent to Sim, the short form of Simon, + -son. Place 37 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Sinclair Derived from Saint Clare, to whom the clan's churches were dedicated. Place 74 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Smith From smith or Middle English Smith (“a surname”), alternative form of Smyth, itself from smyth (“smith”). Place 1 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Stevenson Place 65 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Stewart Middle Scots stewart (“steward”), from Early Scots stewart, from Old English stiġweard. Place 5 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Sutherland The name of the county is from Old Norse Suðrland, from suðr (“south”) + land (“land”), named from the point of view of Orkney and Shetland. Place 55 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Taylor From tailor. Place 13 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Thomson From Tom + son, originally meaning "son of Thomas". Place 7 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Walker Place 15 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Wallace An Old English byname for a Welshman or Breton, from Anglo-Norman waleis (“foreign”); see wǣlisċ. Place 47 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ward As an English surname, from the noun ward and related cognates such as warden, guard etc. Place 100 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Watson Place 19 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Watt Place 79 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • White Place 70 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Whyte From whyte (“white”). Place 97 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Williams Variant of William with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s. Place 62 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Williamson Place 67 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Wilson From Will + -son. Place 3 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Wood Place 58 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Wright English and Scottish occupational surname, from the archaic noun wright (“builder, maker”). Place 54 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Young As an English, Scottish, and northern Irish surname, from the adjective young, used to distinguish a younger brother or son. Place 17 in Scotland's 2014 registers.

Elsewhere in Scotland's 2014 registers 211

  • Adair Place 1,047 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Arbuckle Habitational surname from a minor place in North Lanarkshire, from Scottish Gaelic earrann (“part, section”) + buachaille (“of the herdsman”). Place 1,255 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Auld From Scots auld (“old”). Place 734 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Balfour From Scottish Gaelic baile (“village, town”) + pùir, genitive form of pór (“pasture, grass”). Place 614 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ballantine Place 1,360 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ballantyne Place 397 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Boyd From Scottish Gaelic, either buidhe (“blond, yellow, fair”), or a habitational surname from the Isle of Bute in Scotland. Place 107 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Brodie Scottish habitational surname of uncertain meaning. Place 435 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Buchanan Place 158 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cairns As a Scottish surname, from Scots cairn, describing a manmade heap or mound of stones. Place 123 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Carberry From Scottish Gaelic craobh (“tree”) + barran (“hedge”). Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cargill Probably from Pictish. Place 697 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Carmichael From Cumbric *cayr (cognate of Welsh caer (“fort, stronghold”)) + the personal name Michael. Place 363 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Carr As an English and Scottish surname, variant of Kerr. Place 319 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cathcart From Scottish Gaelic cath (“battle”) + the name of the River Cart. Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Caven Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Clelland Scottish variant of Cleland. Place 682 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cochrane From the placename "Lowlands of Cochrane", in Paisley, Renfrewshire, or an anglicization of Scottish Gaelic Maceachrain. Place 186 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Colquhoun Habitational surname borrowed from Scottish Gaelic, possibly from cùil (“nook, angle, corner”) + cumhang (“narrow, close”). Place 576 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Comrie From Scottish Gaelic comar (“confluence”) + the locative suffix -ach. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cowan An anglicization of mac Eoghainn (“son of Ewen”). Place 150 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Cowie From Gaelic colldha (“hazel”). Place 263 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Crombie Habitational surname borrowed from Scottish Gaelic, from crom (“bent, crooked”). Place 663 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Curry As a Scottish and northern English surname, variant of Currie. Place 1,162 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dalgleish From Scottish Gaelic dail (“field”) + glas (“green”). Place 955 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dalrymple From Scottish Gaelic dail (“field, meadow”) + an unexplained second element. Place 1,162 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dalziel Spelling pronunciation of Scots Dalȝiel with the letter ⟨ȝ⟩ confused with ⟨z⟩, ultimately from dail + geal. Place 663 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dewar From Scottish Gaelic deòradh (“pilgrim, stranger”), an occupational surname for a custodian of holy relics. Place 386 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Doig Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Doig. Place 602 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Donachie Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic personal name Donnchadh, which is composed by the elements donn (“brown”) + cath (“battle”). Place 1,360 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Donnachie Variant of Donachie; also compare Donahue. Place 792 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dougall Reduced form of McDougall. Place 1,162 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Drummond Place 175 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Duffy From the Irish surname, from Ó Dubhthaigh (“descendant of Dubhthach”) and Mac Duibhshíthe (“son of Duibhshíth”). Place 133 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dunbar Historically Dynbaer, from Cumbric *dyn (“fort”) + *barr (“hill-crest, summit, top”). Place 325 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dundas The Scottish name is from Scottish Gaelic, from Old Irish dùn (“fort”) + deas (“south”). Place 1,427 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Dunsmuir From Old English personal name *Dynn, genitive case *Dynnes + Scots muir (“moor”). Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Duthie Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Dubhthaigh (“son of the servant of (Saint) Dubhthach”), ultimately from the same source as the surname Duffy. Place 528 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Farquhar From Scottish Gaelic Fearchar. Place 359 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Faulds Scottish habitational surname. Place 899 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Finlay Anglicized from Scottish Gaelic Fionnlagh (“fair warrior/hero”). Place 532 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Forbes Place 101 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Fordyce Old Norse *Fordys, from for (“furrow”) + dys (“grave mound, cairn”). Place 1,255 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Galbraith Scottish ethnic surname from Scottish Gaelic gall (“stranger, foreigner”) + Breathnach (“Briton”). Place 410 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gallacher Scottish variant of Gallagher. Place 125 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Geddes A Scottish habitational surname. Place 301 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gilchrist Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Gillechrìosd (“servant of Christ”), from gille + Crìosd. Place 319 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gill As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McGill. Place 363 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gilmore From Scottish Gaelic gille (“servant lad”) + Moire (“Mary mother of Jesus”). Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gilmour Variant of Gilmore, from Scottish Gaelic gille (“servant lad”) + Moire (“Mary mother of Jesus”). Place 179 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Girvan Anglicization of Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Gharbhain. Place 1,120 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Glen A Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. Place 402 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Gow From Scottish Gaelic gobha (“smith”). Place 466 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Guthrie Of various origins, including an anglicization of Scottish Gaelic mag Uchtre. Place 515 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Irvine Derived from the place name, probably from Celtic words cognate with Welsh ir, yr (“green, fresh”) + afon (“water”). Place 106 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Irving Variant of the Scottish habitational surname Irvine. Place 466 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Keddie Contraction of McAdie and related names, anglicizations of Scottish Gaelic Mac Adaidh, derived from a diminutive of Adam. Place 1,047 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kilgour Habitational surname from a place in Fife, from Scottish Gaelic coille (“wood”) + gobhar (“goat”). Place 987 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kinghorn From Scottish Gaelic ceann (“head; height”) + gronna (“bog”); the placename later developed to Kinghorn due to folk etymology. Place 1,080 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kinnaird A Scottish habitational surname, from Scottish Gaelic ceann (“head”) + aird (“summit, peak”). Place 987 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kinnear Scottish habitational surname from Kinneir, in Fife, apparently from Scottish Gaelic ceann (“headland”) + iar (“west”). Place 1,213 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Knox Scottish Gaelic cnoc (“round hill”). Place 311 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Kyle From several places in Scotland and Northern Ireland, derived from Gaelic caol (“narrows”). Place 515 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Leslie From a placename in Aberdeenshire, originally Lesslyn, Scottish Gaelic lios cuileann (“garden of hollies”). Place 250 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Lobban Scottish habitational surname, probably from Scottish Gaelic làban (“muddy place”). Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Logan From Scottish Gaelic lag (“little hollow”). Place 142 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Lundie Perhaps from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning "little marsh" or "black marsh". Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Lynn As a surname from Scottish Gaelic, from linne (“firth; pond, pool; waterfall”). Place 880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacArthur See McArthur. Place 823 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Macaulay From Scotland, an anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Amhalghaidh ("son of Amhalghaidh"). Place 443 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacDougall Scottish Gaelic Mac (“son of”) + Dougal. Place 497 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacFarlane Variant spelling of McFarlane. Place 194 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacGregor From Scottish Gaelic MacGriogair (“son of Gregory”). Place 217 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Macintosh From Scottish Gaelic Mac an Tòisiche, meaning "son of the thane (Old Irish toísech (“leader”))". Place 1,427 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacIntyre Variant of McIntyre. Place 416 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacIver Alternative spelling of McIver. Place 368 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacKellar Variant of McKellar. Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacKillop Scottish Gaelic MacFhilib. Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacKinnon From Scottish Gaelic MhicFhionghain, from Fhionghain (“Fingon”). Place 170 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacPhail Variant of McPhail. Place 748 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacPherson Variant spelling of McPherson. Place 197 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • MacRitchie Variant spelling of McRitchie. Place 1,506 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Malloch Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Iain Mhalaich (“son of Ian of the bushy eyebrows”). Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAdam Alternative spelling of MacAdam. Place 602 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAleer Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Northern Irish Mac Giolla Uidihir (“son of the servant of (Saint) Odhar”), a byname from odhar (“dun; dull, dark”). Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAleese Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Íosa and Irish Mac Giolla Íosa (“son of the servant of Jesus”). Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAlister Variant of McAllister. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAllan Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAllister Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Alasdair (“son of Alexander”). Place 207 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAlpine Anglicized form of Irish Mac Ailpín and Scottish Gaelic Mac Ailpein (“son of Ailpean”), a personal name derived from a diminutive of ailp (“lump; stout person”). Place 638 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McAndrew Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Aindreis (“son of Andrew”). Place 1,300 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McArdle Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Ardail, Mac Ardghail (“son of Ardal”), a personal name composed of the elements ard (“high”) + gal (“valor”). Place 1,162 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McArthur Partial translation of Scottish Gaelic Mac Artair and Irish Mac Artúir (“son of Arthur”). Place 203 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McBain Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac a' Ghille Bhàin (“son of the pale or white-haired man”). Place 734 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McBean Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Northern Irish Mac Bheathain (“son of Beathan”). Place 1,506 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McBeth Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Beatha (“son of life”). Place 1,213 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McBlain Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Blatháin (“son of the servant of Saint Blane”). Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McBride Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Brighde (“son of the servant of (Saint) Brigit”). Place 233 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McBurnie Variant of McBurney. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCaig Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Thaoig and Irish Mac Thaidhg (“son of Tadhg”). Place 767 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCallion Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Cailín (“son of Cailín”), a personal name which derives from coileán (“cub, puppy”). Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCallum Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Caluim (“son of Calum”). Place 118 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCartney Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Artaine (“son of Artan”), from mac (“son”) + Artan, a diminutive of the name Art, from Old Irish art (“bear”). Place 532 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCauley Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Amhalghaidh (“son of Amhalghadh”), a personal name of uncertain origin. Place 1,663 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCaw Variant of McGaw. Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCloy Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Lugaidh (“son of Lugaid”), a personal name related to Old Irish Lug. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McClung Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Luinge (“son of Lunge”), a personal name probably meaning "seafarer". Place 1,047 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McClure Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Uidhir and Irish Mac Giolla Uidhir (“son of the dun lad”), from Mac + gille + uidhir, obsolete form of odhar (“dun; dark”). Place 734 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McColgan Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Colgan (“son of Colga”), a personal name based on colg (“sword”). Place 1,080 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McColl Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Colla, a personal name of uncertain origin. Place 392 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCombie Variant of McComb, anglicized from a Gaelic diminutive of Thomas. Place 1,427 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McConnachie Place 767 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCormack Variant of McCormick. Place 325 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCormick From Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Cormaic (“son of Cormac”). Place 338 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCourt Variant of McCord. Place 734 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCracken Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Reachtain, a variant of Mac Neachtain (see McNaughton). Place 663 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCrae Variant of McRae. Place 1,080 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCready Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Riada (“son of Riada”), a byname meaning "expert", "trained". Place 955 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCubbin Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Giobúin, a Gaelicized form of the personal name Gilbert. Place 987 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCulloch From the Scottish Gaelic variant of McCullough. Place 120 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCurdy Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Mhuircheartaigh (“son of Muircheartach”), a personal named based on muir (“sea”) + ceartach (“ruler”). Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCusker Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Oscair (“son of Oscar”). Place 880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McCutcheon Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Uisdein (“son of Uisdean”), a Gaelicized form of Old French Huchon, a hypocoristic form of Hughe (“Hugh”). Place 654 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McDermid Place 1,120 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McDougall Scottish surname, from Scottish Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill (“son of Dubhghall”), from dubh (“black”) + Gall (“stranger”). Place 287 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McDowell Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic MacDubhghaill (“son of the dark stranger”), equivalent to mac + Dubhghall. Place 987 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McEvoy Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuidhe (“son of the yellow-haired lad”) and Irish Mac Fhíodhbhuidhe. Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McEwan Variant of McEwen. Place 120 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McEwen Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Eoghain (“son of Eòghan”). Place 1,213 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McFadden Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacPhaidein and Irish Mac Pháidín. Place 710 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McFadyen Variant of McFadden. Place 682 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McFall Variant of McPhail. Place 1,360 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McFarlane Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Pharthaláin (“son of Parthalán”), probably a Gaelicized form of the personal name Bartholomew. Place 116 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGarry Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Fhearadhaigh (“son of Fhearadhach”), a personal name meaning "strong", "brave", from fear (“man”). Place 710 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGarva Variant of McGarvey. Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGarvey Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Gairbhshíth (“son of Gairbhshíth”), a personal name composed of the elements garbh (“rough”) + síth (“peace”). Place 1,300 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGeachie Variant of McGeachy. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGeoch Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Eochadha. Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGibbon Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Giobúin (“son of Gibbon”), a pet form of the personal name Gilbert. Place 1,300 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGill Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Ghoill "son of the stranger". Place 331 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGillivray Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Bhràtha. Place 748 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGovern Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Samhradháin (“son of Samhradhán”), diminutive of samhradh (“summer”). Place 585 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGowan Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac a' Ghobhainn and Irish Mac Gabhann (“son of the smith”). Place 165 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGroarty Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Rabhartaigh (“son of Rabhartach”). Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGrory Place 734 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGuigan Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Uiginn (“son of the viking”), from uiging (“Viking; pirate”). Place 576 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McGurk Variant of McGuirk. Place 899 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McHaffie Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Cathbhaidh (“son of the servant of (Saint) Cathbhadh”). Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McInnes Variant of McInnis. Place 343 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McIntyre Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac an t-Saoir (“son of the craftsman”), from saor (“craftsman”). Place 108 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McIver Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Íomhair (“son of Íomhar”), Gaelic adaptation of the Old Norse name Ívarr. Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McIvor Scottish variant of McIver. Place 1,047 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKechnie Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Eacharna; compare McEachern. Place 486 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKellar Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Ealair (“son of Ealair”), the Gaelic equivalent of Hillary. Place 748 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKenna From the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McKinney. Place 174 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKillop Variant of McKillip. Place 1,047 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKinlay Variant of McKinley. Place 466 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKinley Anglicized from Scottish Gaelic Mac Fhionnlaoich, "son of Fionnlaoch (=Fair Warrior)". Place 1,427 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKinnon From Scottish Gaelic MhicFhionghain, from Fhionghain (“Fingon”). Place 356 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McKnight Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Neachtain, which is usually Anglicized as McNaughton. Place 542 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLarty Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLeish Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Gille Íosa (“son of the servant of Jesus”). Place 654 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLellan Variant of McClellan. Place 333 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLelland Variant of McClellan. Place 663 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLeod From Scottish Gaelic MacLeòid (“son of Leòd”), from Old Norse Liótr (“the Ugly (one)”), from Old Norse ljótr (“ugly, scary”). Place 112 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLintock Variant of McClintock. Place 1,360 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McLuckie Corrupt form of McLucas. Place 880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMaster Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Maighstir or Mac Á Mhaighstir (“son of the master”), from maighstir (“master”). Place 568 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMath Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Matha (“son of Matha”), a patronymic from a Scottish Gaelic form of Matthew. Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMichael Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Mìcheil (“son of Michael”). Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMinn Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Méinn. Place 955 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMonagle Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Maonghail (“son of Maonghal”), a personal name composed of the elements maoin (“riches, wealth”) + gal (“valor”). Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McMurtrie Variant of McMurtry. Place 1,880 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McNair Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Iain Uidhir (“son of sallow John”), from the personal name Iain (“John”) and odhar (“dun; sallow”). Place 987 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McNaughton From the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, Anglicized form of Mac Neachtain, a patronymic surname from the personal name Neachtan. Place 654 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McNeil Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Néill (“son of Níall”). Place 285 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McNeill From Scottish Gaelic Mac (“son of”) + Niall (possibly "the champion"). Place 239 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McNicol Place 623 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McNiven Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Naoimhín (“son of Naoimhín”), a diminutive of naomh (“saint”); compare McNevin. Place 1,120 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McPhail Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Phàil and Irish Mac Phóil, both meaning "son of Paul". Place 585 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McPhee Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshìthe. Place 363 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McPherson Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac a' Phearsain (“son of the parson”), from pearsan (“parson”). Place 203 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McPhillips Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Philib (“son of Philip”); compare McKillip. Place 1,427 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McQuillan An Anglicized form of Irish Mac Coilín and Scottish Gaelic Mac Cailein. Place 1,162 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McRae Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Raith (“son of grace”), from mac + rath. Place 697 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McRobbie From the Scottish Gaelic patronymic surname from the personal name Robbie. Place 1,018 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McRobert Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Roibeirt (“son of Roibert”), a Gaelicized form of Robert. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McRoberts Variant of McRobert, with the redundant patronymic suffix -s. Place 1,047 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McSorley Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Somhairle. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McTaggart Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Northern Irish Mac an tSagairt (“son of the priest”), from sagart (“priest”). Place 767 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McTavish Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Tamhais (“son of Thomas”). Place 1,763 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McVeigh Variant of McVey. Place 1,578 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McVey Variant of McBeth, from the aspirated form Mac Bheatha. Place 548 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McVicar Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac á Bhiocair (“son of the vicar”). Place 987 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McWhirter Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac an Chruiteir (“son of the harpist”), from cruitear (“harpist, fiddler”). Place 1,300 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • McWilliam Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Uilleim (“son of Uilleam”), a Gaelicized form of William. Place 638 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Mearns Scottish habitational surname for someone coming from The Mearns, an alternative name for Kincardineshire, which is named as An Mhaoirne in Scottish Gaelic. Place 1,080 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Melrose From Scottish Gaelic maol (“bare, barren”) + ros (“promontory, headland”). Place 899 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Moffat From Scottish Gaelic magh (“field, plain”) + fada (“long”). Place 190 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Monro Place 2,015 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Murdoch Unknown, but possibly from Scottish Gaelic muir (“sea”), or from muireach (“mariner”). Place 156 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Niven From the Scottish Gaelic variant of Nevin. Place 767 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Ogilvie From the toponym Ogilvie Glen in Scotland. Place 532 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Peden From Scottish Gaelic Paidin (“little Pat”), diminutive of Pàdraig (“Patrick”). Place 1,300 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Rattray From Pictish, probably equivalent to Welsh rhawdd (“fortress”) + tref (“village”). Place 927 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Renfrew From Scottish Gaelic Rinn Friù, from Old British rhyn frwd meaning "point at the current". Place 1,360 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Scobie Scottish habitational surname from a lost settlement in Perthshire named with Scottish Gaelic sgolbach (“thorny place”). Place 955 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Strachan The village is named with Scottish Gaelic srath (“river valley”) + eachan (“foal”); the surname could derive from the placename. Place 137 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Urquhart Probably from Pictish, equivalent to Welsh ar (“on”) + cardden (“enclosure”). Place 247 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Warnock Reduced Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhearnóg (“son of the servant of (Saint) Mearnóg”), the patron saint of Kilmarnock. Place 1,213 in Scotland's 2014 registers.
  • Wemyss From uaimh (“cave”) + -es (“place of”). Place 1,213 in Scotland's 2014 registers.

Rarer Scottish last names 247

  • Affleck Scottish habitational surname, from the village of Auchinleck, in Ayrshire.
  • Allister Anglicized from Alasdair, the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander.
  • Alphin Reduced form of McAlpine.
  • Balmain Perhaps a habitational surname from a place in Scotland, from Scottish Gaelic baile (“village, town”) + meadhan (“middle, center”).
  • Birney Scottish habitational surname from a place in Morayshire, probably from Scottish Gaelic braonach (“misty, wet, damp”).
  • Bratten Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac an Bhreatnaich (“son of the Briton”), from Breatnach (“Briton”).
  • Buchannon Variant of Buchanan.
  • Cannedy Variant of Kennedy.
  • Carmical Variant spelling of Carmichael.
  • Catterson Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Uaitéir (“son of Walter”) + the patronymic suffix -son.
  • Cleghorn Habitational surname from Scottish Gaelic.
  • Clendenning Variant of Glendenning.
  • Clinkscale Habitational surname of Scots origin.
  • Cohran Variant of Cochrane.
  • Collister Reduced form of McCollister.
  • Cormican Hypocoristic form of Cormac.
  • Corrie From Scottish Gaelic coire (“cauldron, boiler; corrie”), which denotes a bowl-shaped geographical feature similar to a cirque.
  • Coughran Variant of Cochrane.
  • Cowans Variant of Cowan, with redundant English patronymic -s.
  • Craigo From Scottish Gaelic creagach (“rocky place”), from creag (“steep rock”).
  • Cromarty From Scottish Gaelic crom (“crooked, bent”) + àrd (“height”) or bati (“bay”).
  • Cromie Variant of Crombie.
  • Crumby English spelling of Crombie.
  • Cubbison Probably a reduced form of McCubbin + son.
  • Culbreath Variant of Galbraith.
  • Dalglish Variant of Dalgleish.
  • Dalzell Variant of Dalziel.
  • Donachy Variant of Donachie.
  • Dorch Perhaps from Scottish Gaelic dorch (“dark”).
  • Dougal Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Dùghall, from Old Irish dubgall (“Dane, black-haired foreigner”), synchronically from dubh (“black”) + gall (“stranger”).
  • Dunmore Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic dùn (“fortress, fort, stronghold”) + mòr (“big, large, great”).
  • Dysart Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic dìseart (“hermit's cell, hermitage”), itself from Latin desertum (“desert, waste, solitary spot”).
  • Eady From the Middle English and Scots given name Edy.
  • Fayle As an English, Scottish and Irish surname, variant of Fail.
  • Findley Variant of Finlay.
  • Forbus Variant spelling of Forbes.
  • Frizzell As a Scottish surname, from Anglo-Norman fresel (“strawberry”) (see fraise).
  • Fyall Contraction of McPhail.
  • Gilcrease Probably a variant of Gilchrist.
  • Gilkison From the Scottish Gaelic patronymic surname, from a pet form of Gilchrist.
  • Gillilan Variant of Gilliland.
  • Gilliland Reduced Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Fhaoláin and Irish Mac Giolla Fhaoláin (“son of the servant of (saint) Faolán”).
  • Girven Variant of Girvan.
  • Girvin Variant of Girvan.
  • Glendenning Habitational surname from a minor place in Dumfries, Scotland, perhaps from Scottish Gaelic gleann (“mountain valley, glen”) + dùn (“fortress”) + fionn (“white”).
  • Goar From Scots, but the ultimate source is uncertain.
  • Gowan Shortened form of McGowan.
  • Keddy Contraction of McAdie and related names, anglicizations of Scottish Gaelic Mac Adaidh, derived from a diminutive of Adam.
  • Kiddie Clipping of McAdie and related names, anglicizations of Scottish Gaelic Mac Adaidh, diminutive of Adam.
  • Kiddy Clipping of McAdie and related names, anglicizations of Scottish Gaelic Mac Adaidh, diminutive of Adam.
  • Killgore Variant of Kilgour.
  • Kinard A variant of Kinnaird.
  • Kincaid Scottish habitational surname from a minor place near Lennoxtown, from Scottish Gaelic ceann (“head, top”) + càithe (“pass”) or cadha (“quagmire”).
  • Kinkade Variant of Kincaid.
  • Kinnick Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic personal name Coinneach.
  • Kinnon Anglicization of MacKinnon (“McKinnon”).
  • MacAdam Scottish Gaelic Mac Àdhaimh (“Adam's son”).
  • MacAfee Variant of McAfee.
  • MacAlpine Scottish Gaelic Mac Ailpein, from Proto-Celtic.
  • Macartney Variant of McCartney.
  • MacCormack Variant spelling of McCormack.
  • MacCormick Variant spelling of McCormick.
  • MacDonnell A spelling variant of MacDonald.
  • MacEwen Variant spelling of McEwen.
  • Mackall Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Cathail (“son of Cathal”).
  • MacKnight Variant spelling of McKnight.
  • Maclaurin From Scottish Gaelic Mac Labhrainn (“son of Lawrence”).
  • MacMaster Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Maighstir or Mac Á Mhaighstir (“son of the master”), from maighstir (“master”).
  • MacNeal Variant of McNeal.
  • MacTaggart Alternative spelling of McTaggart.
  • MacTavish Anglicization of Scottish Gaelic MacTàmhais, a patronymic surname meaning "son of Thomas".
  • Maffett Variant of Moffat.
  • Mawhinney Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Choinnich and Irish Mac Choinnigh (“son of Coinneach”).
  • McAfee Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe (“son of Dhuibhshít”), a personal name composed of dubh (“black”) + síth (“peace”).
  • McAffee Variant of McAfee.
  • McAlester Variant of McAllister.
  • McAlexander Partial translation of Scottish Gaelic Mac Alasdair (“son of Alasdair or Alexander”).
  • McArtor Variant of McArthur.
  • McBane Variant of McBain.
  • McBay Variant of McBeth.
  • McBeath Variant of McBeth.
  • McBurney Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Biorna.
  • McCadden Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Cadáin (“son of Cadán”).
  • McCalister Variant of McAllister.
  • McCambridge Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Ambróis (“son of Ambrose”).
  • McCamey Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Shimidh (“son of Jamie”).
  • McCampbell Patronymic formation from Campbell.
  • McCardell Variant of McArdle.
  • McCardle Variant of McArdle.
  • McCartan Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Artáin (“son of Artán”), from mac (“son”) + Artán, a diminutive of the name Art, from Old Irish art (“bear”).
  • McCaskey Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Ascaidh (“son of Ascadh”), from a pet form of the Old Norse personal name Ásketill.
  • McCathern Probably an altered form of McCahern or McGahern, both variants of McEachern.
  • McCausland Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Ausaláin (“son of Absolom”), from the name of a cleric.
  • McCauslin Variant of McCausland.
  • McClane Variant of McLean.
  • McClatchey Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Northern Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Èitigh (“son of the ugly lad”), from gille (“boy, lad”) and èitigh (“unseemly, ugly”).
  • McCleese Variant of McLeish.
  • McClellan Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Fhaolain and Irish Mac Giolla Fhaoláin (“son of the servant of Faolán”).
  • McCleod Variant of McLeod.
  • McClintock Anglicized form of Irish Mac Giolla Fhionntóg and Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Fhionndaig (“son of the servant of (Saint) Finndag”).
  • McClish Variant of McLeish.
  • McCluney Variant of McClung.
  • McCoin Variant of McEwen.
  • McCollister Variant of McAllister.
  • McComb Anglicization of a Scottish Gaelic patronymic surname derived from a Gaelic diminutive of Thomas.
  • McCombe Variant of McComb, anglicized from a Gaelic diminutive of Thomas.
  • McComish Anglicization of a Scottish Gaelic patronymic surname derived from a Gaelic equivalent of Thomas.
  • McCook From Mc + cook.
  • McCord Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Cuairt or Mac Cuarta, meaning "son of a journey," from mac + cuairt.
  • McCormac Variant of McCormick.
  • McCormic Variant of McCormick.
  • McCorquodale Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Thorcadaill (“son of Thorcadall”), a personal name composed of the Old Norse elements Þórr + ketill (“kettle”).
  • McCort Variant of McCord.
  • McCorvey Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Fhearghaidh (“son of Fearghadh”), a hypocoristic form of the personal name Fergus.
  • McCosh Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Northern Irish Mac Coise (“son of Cos”), a byname deriving from cos (“foot, leg”).
  • McCowan Anglicized form of either Scottish Gaelic Mac Eoghain (“son of Eoghan”) or Mac Gille Comghain (“son of the servant of (Saint) Comghan”).
  • McCowen Variant of McCowan.
  • McCrackin Variant of McCracken.
  • McCrady Variant of McCready.
  • McCreight Ultimately a reduced variant of McNaughton; compare McCright.
  • McCright Ultimately a reduced variant of McNaughton; compare McCreight.
  • McCrillis Of Irish or Scottish Gaelic origin; perhaps a variant of McNelis.
  • McCrimmon Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Ruimein (“son of Ruimen”), a Gaelicized form of the Old Norse personal name Hróðmundr.
  • McCrum Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Cruim, from crom (“bent, twisted”).
  • McCuen Variant of McEwen.
  • McCuistion Variant of McQuiston.
  • McCuiston Variant of McQuiston.
  • McCullah Variant of either McCullough or McKellar.
  • McCuller Variant of McKellar.
  • McCullers Variant of McKellar, with redundant English patronymic -s.
  • McCutchan Variant of McCutcheon.
  • McDaris Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Dubhruis.
  • McDow Variant of McDuff.
  • McDuff Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Dhuibh.
  • McDuffey Variant of McDuffie.
  • McDuffie Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Duibshíthe (“son of Duibshíth”), a personal name composed of the elements dubh (“black”) + síth (“peace”).
  • McDuffy Variant of McDuffie.
  • McEachern Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Eichthigheirn (“son of Eichthigearn”), a personal name formed by each (“horse”) + tighearna (“lord”).
  • McEachin Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Eachainn (“son of Eachann”), a personal name composed of the elements each (“horse”) + donn (“brown”).
  • McElvain Variant of McElwain.
  • McElwain Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Bheathain (“son of the servant of (Saint) Beathan”), a personal name representing a diminutive of beatha (“life”).
  • McEntyre Variant of McIntyre.
  • McEuen Variant of McEwen.
  • McEvers Variant of McIver.
  • McFaddin Variant of McFadden.
  • McFarlan Variant of McFarlane.
  • McFarling Variant of McFarlane.
  • McFatridge Variant of McFetridge.
  • McFaul Variant of McPhail.
  • McFetridge Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Pheadruis (“son of Peter”).
  • McField Variant of McPhail.
  • McGavin Possibly a variant of McGowan.
  • McGaw Anglicized from Scottish Gaelic and Irish patronymic surnames derived from diminutives of Adam.
  • McGeachy Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Eachaidh (“son of the horseman”).
  • McGeorge Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Deòraidh (“son of the pilgrim”), from deòradh (“wanderer, pilgrim”).
  • McGillis Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Íosa (“son of the servant of Jesus”); compare McLeish.
  • McGilvery Variant of McGillivray.
  • McGilvray Variant of McGillivray.
  • McGlamery Of either Scottish Gaelic or Irish origin; perhaps related to McClamrock.
  • McGlasson Anglicized form of Irish Mac Glasain (“son of Glasan”), a personal name derived from a diminutive of glas (“gray, green, blue”).
  • McGlothin Probably a variant of McLaughlin.
  • McGonagle Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac Conghail (“son of Conghal”), a personal name composed of the elements cú (“hound”) + gal (“valor”).
  • McGowin Variant of McGowan.
  • McGregory Variant of McGregor.
  • McGuffey It could be a variant of the surname McDuffie.
  • McGuffie Variant of McGuffey.
  • McGuirk Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Cuirc, patronymic from the personal name Corc.
  • McIlvain Variant of McElwain.
  • McIlveen Variant of McElveen or McElwain.
  • McIndoe Perhaps an Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Iain Duibh.
  • McInnis Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacAonghais.
  • McInturff Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Irish Mac an Tairbh (“son of the bull”), from tarbh (“bull”).
  • McIsaac From the Scottish Gaelic patronymic from the personal name Isaac.
  • McKaig Variant of McCaig.
  • McKamey Variant of McCamey.
  • McKell Shortened Anglicized form of a Scottish Gaelic or Irish surname beginning with Mac Giolla (“son of the lad”), from giolla (“lad, boy”).
  • McKeller Variant of McKellar.
  • McKellips Variant of McKillip.
  • McKelvin Unclear, perhaps a Scottish Gaelic variant of McIlveen.
  • McKennon Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Fhionnáin (“son of Fionnán”), a personal name representing a diminutive of fionn (“white”).
  • McKibben Anglicized form of Irish Mac Fhibín (“son of Fibín”), a pet form of Philip.
  • McKibbin Variant of McKibben.
  • McKillip Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Fhilib (“son of Philip”).
  • McKissack Variant of McIsaac.
  • McKissic Variant of McIsaac.
  • McKitrick Variant of McKittrick.
  • McKittrick Anglicized form of a Scottish Gaelic and Northern Irish name, a Gaelicized form of the Old Norse personal name Sigtryggr.
  • McKiver Scottish variant of McIver.
  • McLees Variant of McLeish.
  • McLester Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac an Fhleasdair (“son of the fletcher (arrow-maker)”), an occupational surname.
  • McLoud Variant of McLeod.
  • McLucas Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Lùcais (“son of Lucas”).
  • McLure Variant of McClure.
  • McManigal Variant of McMonagle.
  • McMartin Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Mhàrtainn (“son of Martin”).
  • McMeekin Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Miadhacháin (“son of Miadhachán”), a personal name derived from a diminutive form of miadhach (“honorable”).
  • McMicheal Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Mìcheil (“son of Michael”).
  • McMonigle Variant of McMonagle.
  • McMunn Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Mhunna (“son of the servant of (Saint) Munnu”), from the personal name Munnu.
  • McMurtrey Variant of McMurtry.
  • McMurtry Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Muircheartaigh (“son of Muircheartach”).
  • McNeal Variant of McNeil.
  • McNeely Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic and Northern Irish Mac an Fhilidh (“son of the poet”), from fili (“poet, seer”).
  • McNeer Variant of McNair.
  • McNeff Variant of McNiff.
  • McNeilly Variant of McNeely.
  • McNiff Anglicized form of Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Conduibh, a patronymic from the personal name Cú Dhubh, composed of the elements cú (“hound”) + dubh (“black”).
  • McOmie Variant of McComb.
  • McOrmick Variant of McCormick.
  • McPeters Variant of McPheeters.
  • McPhatter Variant of McPheeters.
  • McPhaul Variant of McPhail.
  • McPhearson Variant of McPherson.
  • McPheeters Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Pheadair (“son of the servant of (Saint) Peter”).
  • McPheron From the Scottish Gaelic variant of McFerrin.
  • McPhie Variant of McPhee.
  • McQuarrie Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Guaire.
  • McQuarter Variant of McWhirter.
  • McQuary Variant of McQuarrie.
  • McQueary Variant of McQuarrie.
  • McQuilken Variant of McQuilkin.
  • McQuilkin Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Cuilcein and Irish Mac Uilcín (“son of Uilcín”), a personal name derived from a Gaeliced form of Wilkin.
  • McQuiston Anglicized form of Northern Irish and Scottish Gaelic Mac Uisdein (“son of Uisdean”); compare McCutcheon.
  • McQuown Variant of McEwen.
  • McRay Variant of McRae.
  • McRee Variant of McRae.
  • McRitchie From a Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of Richard".
  • McRorie From the Scottish Gaelic variant of McCrory.
  • McSween As a Scottish Gaelic surname, from Mac Suibhne (“son of Suibhne”); see McQueen and McSweeney.
  • McTier Reduced form of McIntyre and McAteer.
  • McWaters Anglicized form, with English genitive -s, of Scottish Gaelic Mac Bhàtair, a patronymic from a Gaelicized form of the personal name Walter.
  • McWatters Variant of McWaters.
  • McWherter Variant of McWhirter.
  • McZeal Scottish surname of uncertain origin.
  • Mebane Perhaps a variant of McBain.
  • Montrose From Scottish Gaelic moine (“moor”) + rois (“peninsula”).
  • Muffett Variant of Moffat.
  • Ogilvy Variant of Ogilvie.
  • Pattillo Habitational surname from either of two minor places in Scotland.
  • Quaile From a Manx form of McPhail.
  • Querry Reduced form of McQuarrie.
  • Rayburn Scottish habitational surname, from Raeburn, a place in the Scottish Borders name from Scots rae (“roebuck”) + burn (“stream”).
  • Ruthven Possibly from Scottish Gaelic ruadh (“red”) + mhaighin (“place”).
  • Sorley From Scottish Gaelic Somhairle, from Old Norse Sumarliði.
  • Sween As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, reduced form of McSween.
  • Teare Reduced form of McIntyre.
  • Tyree Shortened from McIntyre.

How this list was compiled: A list by a written rule, built on 2 October 2026. Three kinds of name are listed. (1) The 100 surnames that occurred most often in Scotland's registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2014, whatever their origin (Smith, Brown and Wilson lead that table). (2) Every other surname of that table that English Wiktionary files under 'English surnames from Scottish Gaelic' or 'English surnames from Scots' (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_surnames_from_Scottish_Gaelic, 709 and 13 entries listed that day) and whose entry was read. (3) Rarer names of those two categories that are in the US Census Bureau's 2020 file of last names, which shows they are in use, whose entry gives an origin that could be read as one plain sentence, and that no other list of this site holds. The card's sentence is the opening of the entry's etymology, shortened to its first sentence, with the Gaelic form and the meaning the entry gives; where the entry gives no readable origin, a name of the table carries its place alone. A card that says only that a name is a variant of another is kept only when that other name is on the list; in the table's own names the sentence is then left off and the place stays. An origin is what a dictionary records for the surname in general, not for any one family. The place is the surname's position in National Records of Scotland's table of the surnames that occurred most often in Scotland's registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2014, which lists 2,190 surnames with ten or more events (https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk, table 'Most Common Surnames, 2014', read from the Internet Archive's copy of 21 August 2023; contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0); the table warns that the registers are not the whole population. Kinds: a Mac name is read from the spelling; a place, a trade, a nickname or a father's name is marked where the entry's sentence says so or where the dictionary files the name under that kind. 'From Scottish Gaelic' and 'From Scots' are the dictionary's categories. Under the tool each group prints in A to Z order. Licence: Origins and Gaelic forms: English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Places in the registers: National Records of Scotland, © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0 (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/). The selection is our own work.