Scottish last names with origins and meanings
See where a Scottish surname comes from, or find one for a character.
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Scottish last names by origin
- MacDonald
- MacLeod
- MacKenzie
- MacGregor
- Mackay
- Stewart
- Smith
- Taylor
- Baxter
- Webster
- Reid
- Black
- Brown
- White
- Young
- Murray
- Ross
- Sutherland
- Buchanan
- Crawford
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Scottish last names by origin
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From a given name30
- Domhnall
- Leod
- Coinneach
- Griogair
- Aodh
- Fionghuin
- Amhlaibh
- Niall
- Dubhghall
- Artair
- Pàl
- Ìomhar
- Alasdair
- Parlan
- Lachlann
- Labhran
- Robert
- Thomas
- Andrew
- Henry
- Will
- Patrick
- Wat (Walter)
- Dick (Richard)
- James
- Adam
- David
- Sim (Simon)
- Gib (Gilbert)
- Fergus
From an occupation17
- steward
- smith
- tailor
- baker
- weaver
- miller
- hunter
- mason
- gardener
- forester
- fisherman
- carpenter
- abbot
- cook
- shepherd
- priest
- clerk
Not quite right? Describe what you're naming and Nomi finds names that fit.
From a nickname or trait9
- red
- black
- brown
- white
- young
- small
- big
- dark + stream
- grey-haired
From a region or town18
- Moray
- Ross
- Sutherland
- Buchanan
- Crawford
- Dunbar
- Galloway
- Moffat
- Lennox
- Dunlop
- Ogilvie
- Leslie
- Erskine
- Mesnières (Normandy)
- Lindsey (Lincolnshire)
- Hamilton
- Gordon
- Fife
About Scottish last names
Highland surnames start with Mac, son, and an ancestor's Gaelic name: MacDonald is Domhnall's son. Lowland names do the same with -son, as in Robertson. Others come from a trade, a nickname or a place in Scotland.
Frequently asked questions
No. Both mean son and both are found in Scotland and Ireland. Mc is a shortened spelling, not a sign of where a family comes from.
Smith, followed by Brown and Wilson.
Not always. Many families took the name of the clan chief whose land they lived on, without being related to him.
The son of the person named: Robertson is Robert's son, Watson the son of Wat, a short form of Walter.
70+ surnames in 4 groups. If none fit, describe the name you want in the search and get 20 new ideas.
Yes. Every name here is free to use, for a character, a story or a game.