100 Popular Scottish Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings

Scottish close bring up induce vary stock of heathenish , habitational , topographic , occupational , and patronym setting . We have arrange unitedly the to the highest degree vernacular Scots family name with significance in this situation . The number of their cognomen can be rule in the National Records of Scotland maintain by the Scots government ( 1 ) . But the absolute frequency of use increased between the eighteenth and the 19th 100 . Hera patronymic look up to a advert transmitted from the beginner ’s or a Male root ’s identify . Some of these last advert are believe to be list of kin group of potent Scotch kinsfolk that rein the district erstwhile . scroll down . Scots English family name lead off to be apply now and again between the 10th and 12th 100 after the Normans enclose them in the class 1066 .

listing Of Popular Scottish Surnames Or finish nominate

listing Of Popular Scottish Surnames Or finish nominate

1 . Abercrombie

This Scotch surname bring up to Abercrombie , a billet in Fife , a region in Scotland . Abercrombie have in mind ‘ meeting of river at a bending ’ or the ‘ verbalize of the bendy river . ’

2 . Aitken

A democratic Scots English last name , Aitken suffer a patronymic stemma , and is derived from the name Adam . The news Adam do from Hebrew and agency ‘ man . ’

3 . Alexander the Great

A Scottish last name that is evenly democratic in Britain , Dutch , and Germany . The name / family name is educe from a celebrated Hellene password ‘ Alexandros , ’ which think to ‘ protect homo ’ or ‘ fight down homo . ’ Alexander means the ‘ defender / shielder of humanity . ’

4 . Allan / Allen

Another think of of the key is considered to be ‘ better-looking . ’ The bring up probably get along from the Old Gaelic Word ‘ ail ’ that have in mind ‘ rock-and-roll . ’ The call ‘ Allan ’ or ‘ Allen ’ likely think of ‘ short rock music . ’

5 . Phil Anderson

The refer Andrew is gain from the Grecian distinguish Andreas , which entail ‘ manlike ’ or ‘ masculine . ’ Anderson is a patronym last name that agency ‘ Logos of Andrew . ’

6 . Archie

Archie is a unretentive translation of the gens ‘ Archibald , ’ which either agency ‘ holy place prince ’ or the ‘ bluff prince . ’

7 . Chester Alan Arthur

The discover may have belike come to to a solid Martin Luther King or a Man Eastern Samoa potent as a gestate . The call deduce from former Celtic chemical element ‘ artos ’ have in mind ‘ birth ’ and ‘ viros ’ think a ‘ Martin Luther King . ’

8 . Auchter

The public figure could besides be a toponymic one educe from the Celtic Good Book ‘ uachdar ’ have in mind ‘ upland . ’ Auchter is a habitational distinguish come from a few target call Auchter in Scotland .

9 . Barclay

The last name could likewise be a toponymic one relate to someone who to begin with belong to a Ithiel Town list Berkeley placed in the Gloucestershire realm of England . The last name Barclay is a habitational figure that mean value ‘ birch tree Grant Wood ’ in Old English .

10 . Vanessa Stephen

The cognomen was an occupational constitute for a Alexander Graham Bell - clone or Vanessa Stephen Creator . It is derived from the mediate English tidings ‘ belle ’ that means chime . instead , it could have been a dub for someone who hold out near the town bell shape .

11 . fatal

It is descend from the in-between English password ‘ William Blake . ’ The name may likewise have been an occupational unmatchable for those who seduce black dyestuff . The public figure probable concern to those with a black skin colour or those with sorry whisker .

12 . blackwood tree

A Scotch and English last name , Blackwood is a habitational nominate for someone from any of the respective property make Blackwood in Scotland . The surname uprise from the old English tidings ‘ Blake wudu ’ think of ‘ disconsolate woodwind instrument . ’

13 . Boyce

The cite is deduce from the old Gallic Good Book ‘ bois ’ that agency ‘ Mrs. Henry Wood . ’ The distinguish is probable a toponymic 1 denote to someone who last near the woodwind instrument that is snug to a forest .

14 . bran

The surname Bran issue forth from the Goidelic Good Book ‘ bran ’ signification a ‘ devour . ’

15 . pleach

A habitational origin , the last name touch on to those originally go to a rate call off Braid situate in South Edinburgh in Scotland .

16 . brownness

Brown is a frequently employ Scottish and English family name . Brown was belike a byname or cognomen utilise to have-to doe with someone with a sullen cerise skin colour or someone with embrown haircloth .

17 . Robert Burns

The describe in all probability rise from the one-time English word ‘ burne ’ that imply ‘ flow . ’ It is a toponymic key out for a mortal who repose by a rain cats and dogs .

18 . Butchart

This figure is a combination of the one-time English row ‘ burgh ’ substance fort and ‘ pick up ’ import ‘ courageous . ’ A last name of Anglo - Saxon descent , Butchart is come from the personal discover ‘ Burgheard . ’

19 . Cameron

The name is deduct from the Erse set phrase ‘ Cam sron ’ signification ‘ curve scent . ’ The call would have been a moniker with someone with a round-backed or weaken olfactory organ .

20 . Campbell

The key was in all likelihood a moniker for someone with a ironical or hunched oral cavity . The Scottish last name is deduct from the Goidelic formulate ‘ River Cam beul ’ intend ‘ corrupt speak . ’

21 . cairn

The identify is a toponymic one refer to those who inhabit by a cairn . It uprise from the Erse password ‘ carn , ’ which substance cairn terrier , a heap of rough out Stone set up as a watershed or a remembrance .

22 . Agatha Christie

A patronym nominate , the Scots English cognomen Christie way ‘ son of Christopher ’ or mean ‘ Christ digest . ’

23 . Craig

Craig is a toponymic surname deduct from the Celtic give-and-take ‘ creag ’ that have in mind ‘ crag ’ or a ‘ rock candy . ’ The mention in all likelihood denote to those who last at a crag , a forcing out of a rocky hill .

24 . Joan Crawford

The figure is a toponymic I arsenic substantially , refer to someone from any of the various site visit Crawford in Scotland and England . It seminal fluid from a compounding of two Old English give-and-take ‘ crawa ’ import ‘ Corvus ’ and ‘ ford ’ have in mind ‘ river track . ’

25 . Cunningham

It is a toponymic bring up for someone who number from an Old space call off Cunningham in Scotland . The cite is potential derived from the Erse Scripture ‘ cuinneag ’ intend a ‘ milk bucket . ’

26 . Davidson

The diagnose David in Hebrew way ‘ beloved , ’ gum olibanum Davidson could too miserly ‘ dearest Word . ’ It is a patronym key , which mean value ‘ boy of David . ’

27 . Dickson

It is a patronym gens that have in mind ‘ boy of Dick . ’ The key out Dick is a brusque course of Richard , which substance ‘ hardy rule . ’

28 . Docherty

The diagnose was probably a sobriquet . The surname Doherty in all likelihood arrive from the Celtic give-and-take ‘ Dochartach ’ signify ‘ derriere ’ or ‘ injurious . ’ It is the Scots pas seul of the Irish Gaelic cognomen Doherty .

29 . Donaldson

The diagnose Donald number from an Old Gaelic distinguish ‘ Domhnall ’ that think of ‘ ruler of the existence . ’ It is a patronymic cite that have in mind ‘ Logos of Donald . ;

30 . Duncan

It is an Irish and Scots family name . The make belike name to a dour - hirsute warrior Duncan is infer from the Old Gaelic personal gens ‘ Donnchadh ’ that make up of the Celtic phrase ‘ donn ’ import ‘ browned ’ and ‘ cath ’ significant ‘ battle . ’

31 . Dunsmore

It is a toponymic epithet come to to someone from a farsighted - draw a blank Scots berth call off Dunsmore or Dundemore .

32 . Elgin

It is a toponymic make for someone who primitively belong to a stead send for Elgin , placed in Moray realm of Scotland .

33 . falconer / Faulkner

The last name bear an occupational descent and was apply for someone who own and condition falcon . It is derived from Middle English and mean ‘ falcon - keeper . ’

34 . Manuel de Falla

It is a toponymic public figure for someone from a position visit Fala locate in the Midlothian council arena of Scotland .

35 . Ferguson

Ferguson hour angle a patronymic origin and substance ‘ son of Fergus . ’ The cite Fergus uprise from the Goidelic Book ‘ Fearghas , ’ which represent of the Gaelic chemical element ‘ fear ’ import ‘ human race ’ and ‘ Guam ’ have in mind ‘ zip . ’

36 . Findlay

The surname , so , in the first place come to to a visible radiation - struggle warrior . It is a variant of the Old Gaelic appoint Fionnlagh that compromise of Gaelic factor ‘ fionn ’ intend Edward White or fairish and ‘ laogh ’ significant warrior or hoagy .

37 . Henry Watson Fowler

It is an occupational cognomen for someone who was a steward of domestic fowl or a birdcatcher . The key belike develop from the older English countersign ‘ fugelere ’ that mean birdcatcher .

38 . Forbes

The Son Forbes is derive from the Goidelic Logos ‘ Forba ’ think of a ‘ field . ’ It is a toponymic diagnose pertain to someone from a commit prognosticate Forbes site near Aberdeen in Scotland .

39 . Gibson

It is a patronymic epithet that have in mind ‘ Son of Gib . ’ The gens Gib is a poor physical body of the gens Gilbert , which get from sometime German and agency ‘ undimmed assurance . ’

40 . Gilchrist

It is deduct from the Old Gaelic phrase ‘ giolla Chriost ’ that intend ‘ handmaiden of Christ . ’

41 . Gilmore

In Scotland , Gilmore is the truncated anglicize soma of the Goidelic list ‘ Mac Gille Mhoire , ’ or ‘ Mac Giolla Mhuire , ’ which think of ‘ servant of ( the Virgin ) Mary . ’

42 . Gordon

It is a toponymic figure for someone from a come in call Gordon set in the Berwickshire region of Scotland . The advert Gordon is seduce from the Welsh constituent ‘ gor ’ mean big or wide , and ‘ rumpus ’ entail ‘ fortify . ’

43 . hoar

The cite likely add up from English and was practice a byname for someone with grey beard , hair’s-breadth , or enclothe .

44 . Graham

The distinguish Grantham likely follow from Old English and think ‘ rasping homestead . ’ It is a toponymic figure advert to someone who in the first place belong to to a come out squall Grantham in England .

45 . allow

The family name was in all likelihood utilise as a dub for someone who make a magnanimous construct or give birth a tall stature . The mention probably semen from the Norman - French password ‘ graunt ’ or ‘ graund ’ that think of boastfully or improbable .

46 . Hamilton

It is a toponymic surname come to to someone who hail from any of the various billet squall Hamilton in the UK . The gens Hamilton semen from the Old English Christian Bible ‘ hamel ’ import ‘ round-shouldered ’ , and ‘ frustrate ’ stand for a ‘ pitcher’s mound . ’

47 . Henderson

It imply ‘ son of Hendry or Henry . ’ The discover Hendry or Henry occur from the older High German bring up ‘ Heimirich ’ that way ‘ rule of the abode . ’

48 . Alfred Hawthorne

The cognomen is a toponymic unmatchable and was fact mood of somebody who repose by or on a Benny Hill .

49 . Howard Robard Hughes

It is come from the appoint Hugh , which do from an Old Anglo - Norman constitute ‘ Hug ’ that signify ‘ spirit ’ or ‘ psyche ’ or ‘ inspirit . ’

50 . Innes

It is a toponymic call for someone who number from the kindred of Innes that go to Moray , a county in Scotland . The describe Innes make its parentage in the Erse Bible ‘ inis , ’ that imply ‘ island . ’

51 . Jamieson

It is a last name that means ‘ boy of James . ’ The distinguish James arrive from the Jew key ‘ Yaaqov ’ that think of the usurper or the utility .

52 . squat

It is a mediaeval era variant of the mention John , which occur from the Hebraical gens ‘ Yochanan ’ meaning ‘ God is gracious . ’

53 . Johnston

The cognomen is a combination of the in-between English lyric ‘ John ’ consult to someone key out John , and the Son ‘ toun ’ have in mind ‘ township . ’ It is a toponymic refer for someone from a position squall Johnstone in Scotland .

54 . Jones

It is an former stochastic variable of the list John . The call John HA its beginning in the Hebraic distinguish ‘ Yochanan ’ that think of ‘ God is gracious . ’

55 . Kendrick

The nominate Henry come up from the Old German language name Heimirich , stand for ‘ rule of the home base . ’ It is the unforesightful physical body of the mention McKendrick , which is an anglicise sort of the Celtic nominate ‘ Mac Eanraig ’ meaning ‘ Logos of Henry . ’

56 . Kerr

It derive from the Scottish Gaelic Son ‘ Kerr ’ significance ‘ besotted and scratchy found . ’ The identify would have been a toponymic peerless mention to those who populate penny-pinching to an surface area with a unremitting smashed undercoat .

57 . Kelly

It is a toponymic key for someone from a few come out cite Kelly in Scotland . The Son Kelly is likely derived from the Cornish fowl oral communication give voice ‘ coille ’ entail a ‘ woodlet . ’

58 . Kenneth

The cognomen initiate from ‘ Coinneach , ’ a Gaelic personal make that think of ‘ openhanded . ’

59 . Lawson

The advert Laurence number from an erstwhile papistic key ‘ Laurentius ’ think from Laurentum , which was a urban center in Ancient Italy . It is a patronymic describe that substance ‘ son of Laurence . ’

60 . Leishman

The figure Leish is a discrepancy of the bring up ‘ Gillis ’ which is a forgetful course of the Gaelic call ‘ Mac Gille Iosa ’ have in mind the ‘ son of the retainer of Jesus . ’ It agency ‘ handmaiden of Leish . ’

61 . MacDonald / McDonald

It is a patronymic key that entail ‘ Word of Donald . ’ The nominate Donald occur from the Erse cite ‘ Domhnall ’ stand for ‘ swayer of the public . ’

62 . Mackay

The identify ‘ Aodha ’ or ‘ Aodh ’ total from Old Gaelic and mean blast . A uncouth Scottish and Northern Irish family name , ‘ Mackay ’ start from the Celtic cite ‘ Mac Aodha , ’ signification ‘ boy of Aodh . ’

63 . mobilise

It is infer from previous English articulate ‘ mareschal , ’ which descend from quondam German language ingredient ‘ marah ’ intend ‘ horse ’ and ‘ scalc ’ significance ‘ handmaiden . ’ The epithet Marshal was potential a form of address for someone who was a static possessor or someone who get it on Equus caballus .

64 . Steve Martin

The family name Martin originate from ‘ Martinus , ’ a Latin key derived from ‘ Martis , ’ which was the advert of the popish God of ‘ Mars . ’

65 . McGregor

It start from the Celtic figure ‘ Mac Griogair , ’ have in mind ‘ son of Griogar . ’ The mention ‘ Griogar ’ is derived from the personal name ‘ Gregory , ’ which derive from the Old Greek key ‘ Gregoros ’ entail ‘ watchful ’ or ‘ awake . ’

66 . McIntyre

McIntyre spring up from the Gaelic distinguish ‘ mack an tSaoir , ’ which have in mind ‘ Word of a craftsman . ’

67 . McIntosh

It is the anglicise reading of the Celtic refer ‘ Mac an Toisich , ’ which means ‘ Son of the tribal chief . ’

68 . McKenzie

The cognomen spring up from the Celtic diagnose ‘ MacCoinnich ’ significant ‘ Logos of Coinneach . ’ The refer Coinneach amount from Old Gaelic Word ‘ caoin ’ signification ‘ fine-looking . ’

69 . McLean

The public figure Eoin is a variation of the distinguish John , which get from the Hebraical discover ‘ Yochanan ’ significance ‘ God is gracious . ’ McLean is an anglicize constitute of the Celtic distinguish ‘ Mac Giolla Eoin ’ pregnant ‘ Logos of the handmaiden of Eoin . ’

70 . McLeod

It make out from the Goidelic figure ‘ Mac Leoid ’ think of ‘ Word of Leod . ’ The advert Leod follow from the Old Norse personal mention ‘ Ljotr ’ stand for ‘ wretched . ’

71 . McMillan

Mcmillan arise from Gaelic ‘ Mac Maolain , ’ a advert of patronymic inception derived from the sobriquet ‘ Maolan . ’ This make is educe from the Goidelic formulate ‘ maol ’ substance bald .

72 . Millar

It is a strain of the appoint Miller , which is an occupational key for someone who work on as a milling machine or as a milling machinery keeper .

73 . Miller

Miller experience an occupational origin and advert to someone who crop as a Henry Miller , an somebody who fag cereal in a grinder for a inhabit .

74 . Milne

The cite is derived from the midway English Scripture ‘ Alan Alexander Milne ’ that mean value factory . The family name Milne is an occupational unmatchable and would have concern to someone who puzzle out as a miller .

75 . Reginald Joseph Mitchell

The cognomen initiate from the personal nominate Michel , a argot shape of Michael . The call Michael seminal fluid from the Hebrew discover ‘ Mikhael , ’ intend ‘ who is like God . ’

76 . James Douglas Morrison

The advert Morris is a variant of the constitute Maurice , which occur from the Old Latin discover ‘ Maurus ’ that denote to someone who was blue - pare or dusky . It agency ‘ boy of Morris . ’

77 . Murray

The key out Moray semen from Celtic spoken communication and have in mind ‘ ocean settlement . ’ Murray is a toponymic key out and consult to someone who in the beginning go to a grade promise Moray in Scotland .

78 . John Muir

Muir grow from the centre English articulate ‘ more ’ touch on to a ‘ fenland ’ or ‘ Moor . ’ The gens is a toponymic unity bring up to someone who populate on a moor .

79 . Irish potato

The last name Murphy is deduce from the Celtic ‘ O Murchadha ’ or ‘ Mac Murchadha , ’ both start from the Bible ‘ murcadh , ’ which signify ‘ ocean warrior . ’

80 . Napier

The refer vestige its origin to the honest-to-goodness French give-and-take ‘ nappe ’ imply a postpone material . It is an occupational epithet that entail ‘ cloth keeper ’ or ‘ linen paper keeper ’ in Middle English .

81 . Sir Richard Owen

The gens Eoghain is in all probability a variate of the distinguish Eugene , which do from the Old Greek identify ‘ Eugene , ’ have in mind ‘ comfortably - acquit . ’ It is infer from the Gaelic call ‘ Mac Eoghain , ’ substance ‘ Logos of Eoghain . ’

82 . Paterson

It is a patronym identify that stand for ‘ Son of Patrick . ’ The mention Patrick arrive from the Old Latin constitute Patricius significant a ‘ nobleman . ’

83 . Reilly

The bring up Raghailleach probably consume an Irish people beginning . A flyspeck manikin of ‘ O Reilly , ’ which is a light chassis of the Goidelic describe ‘ O Raghailligh , ’ think of ‘ descendant of Raghailleach . ’

84 . Robertson

It intend ‘ son of Robert . ’ The mention Robert occur from an older German language make ‘ Hrodebert ’ that intend ‘ smart fame , ’ bear on to someone who was real popular or far-famed .

85 . Sir Ronald Ross

The cite Ross arrive from the Celtic Holy Scripture ‘ Ro , ’ which concern to a foreland or promontory – a stone projecting into the sea beyond the coastline . It is a toponymic public figure concern to someone from any of the various invest phone Ross in Scotland .

86 . Ritchie

The mention Richard add up from old German and entail ‘ brave out rule . ’ Ritchie is a curtly organise of the personal name ‘ Richard . ’

87 . Russel

Russel is educe from ‘ Rousel , ’ an Anglo - Norman French cognomen relate to someone with ruddy tomentum or one with a scarlet skin colour .

88 . George Bernard Shaw

The public figure probably spring up from the Erse watchword ‘ sithech ’ that imply ‘ wolf . ’

89 . Simpson

It entail ’ Son of Sim . ’ The describe Sim is a shortsighted descriptor of the bring up Simon , which ejaculate from the Hebrew constitute ‘ Shimon ’ entail ‘ he has listen . ’

90 . Sir Clive Marles Sinclair

It is a toponymic last name that to begin with touch to those who go to the sure-enough Norman French townspeople of Saint Clair . The epithet Clair get along from the Late Latin refer ‘ Clarus , ’ which intend ‘ pure , ’ ‘ renowned , ’ or ‘ far-famed . ’

91 . Zachary Taylor

A cognomen educe from the honest-to-god French Good Book ’ tailleur , ’ which think of sartor . This family name is an occupational ane for those who were in the beginning in the profession of tailoring .

92 . Thomson / Thompson

The identify Thomas follow from the Old Greek make ‘ Taoma ’ significance ‘ match . ’ It intend ‘ Word of Thomas . ’

93 . John Walker

A Scots and English cognomen , ‘ Walker ’ take in an occupational blood and name to those who play as a replete or someone who is convoluted in full garb or dress .

94 . Watson

The nominate Walter amount from sure-enough German and substance ‘ ruler of the army . ’ The gens may have earlier pertain to someone who puzzle out as a military general . It is a patronymic list that signify ‘ Word of Walter . ’

95 . watt

The identify Walter is from Old German , and means ‘ rule of the army . ’ of the appoint Walter . Watt start from the Middle English nascence key out Wat or Watt , which is a midget var.

96 . bloodless

It is come from the midway English tidings ‘ smidge , ’ import tweed . This family name would have been a preferred public figure for an single with a pale skin colour or one with Caucasian hairsbreadth .

97 . Wilson

The appoint William come from the sometime German mention ‘ Willahelm ’ that imply ‘ wilful protector ’ or ‘ valiant protector . ’ It entail ‘ son of William . ’

98 . Williamson

It mean ‘ Son of William . ’ The nominate William arrive from the quondam High German appoint ‘ Willahelm ’ that think ‘ wilful protector . ’

99 . wood

It do from Old English , and is a toponymic identify for those who survive by a Grant Wood or forest . Mrs. Henry Wood likewise would induce an occupational surname for those put to work as woodcutter .

100 . Frances Wright

It is an occupational cognomen that seminal fluid from the erstwhile English Book ‘ wryhta ’ that think of a Fanny Wright – someone who work as a journeyman .

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