100 Scottish Last Names or Surnames With Meanings

The families in Scotland originated between the 9th and the 12th century. The last names also came into existence around the 12th century. Scottish last names, or surnames, carry a rich history rooted in the culture, geography, and ancestry of Scotland. These names often reveal clues about one’s lineage, clan associations, or even a family’s place of origin. Many common Scottish last names derive from ancient Gaelic names, Norse influences, or descriptors of a person’s occupation or status within a clan or community. The Scottish surnames also have great meaning to them. Here is the list of 100 such Scottish surnames and meanings.

100 Scottish Surnames or Family Names With Meanings

The family names in Scotland have really interesting meanings. Each Scottish surname carries a unique story, reflecting Scotland’s families’ diverse heritage and traditions. Here’s a Scottish surnames list A-Z, to help you understand Scotland’s ancestral legacy.

1. Abercrombie

This is a habitational surname that refers to a place called Fife in Scotland. The word means ‘the confluence of rivers at a bend’.

2. Aikin

This is a common Scottish last name; it means ‘red earth’.

3. Aird

This Scottish surname is a Gaelic habitational surname, which means ‘height’ or ‘lofty’.

4. Aitken

The last name is derived from the Hebrew word Adam, which means ‘man’.

5. Alexandar

It is a very popular surname indeed. The surname means the ‘protector of the mankind’.

6. Allan

This is a surname that has been derived from an old Gaelic word which means ‘rock’. The name means ‘little rock’.

7. Anderson

The name is Greek, and means ‘the son of Andrew’. This surname means somebody who is masculine.

8. Archie

This surname is a short version of Archibald. The name means ‘holy and bold prince’.

9. Armour

This occupational surname has a French origin,  and it means ‘those who make arms’.

10. Arthur

This old Celtic name means ‘a strong king’ or ‘a king/man who is as strong as a bear’.

11. Auchter

Auchter, derived from Gaelic meaning “field” or “high ground,” typically refers to families originating from upland areas or farming regions in Scotland.

12. Bagby

This habitational last name is most popular among people from North Yorkshire.

13. Bannerman

It is an occupational surname which has been derived from an Anglo-Norman French word ‘banere’, which means ‘flag bearer’.

14. Barclay

This is a habitational surname in Scotland that originated from Old English. It means ‘birch-wood’.

15. Bell

This is another occupational surname for people who used to make bells or ring bells at the Church. This last name originated from the Middle English word ‘belle’, which has the same meaning.

16. Black

This is a surname derived from the Middle English word ‘blake’. It refers to those who have dark coloured hair or have a dark complexion.

17. Blackwood

Blackwood is a habitational surname and is given to those people who originate from the Blackwood region of Scotland.

18. Boyce

This Scottish last name is derived from the Old French word which means ‘wood’. This surname is mainly bestowed upon a family that used to live near the woods.

19. Braid

This is another habitational name which generally demarks people who belong to the place called Braid in South Edinburgh.

20. Bran

This surname is derived from a Gaelic word ‘bran’, which means a ‘raven’.

21. Brown

This surname is frequently available among the English and Scottish. The name refers to people who have brown hair or near dark complexion.

22. Burns

Burns is the last name that is mostly borne by people who originate from a place near the stream. The name is derived from the Old English word ‘burne’ which means ‘stream’.

23. Butchart

This surname originates from an Anglo Saxon personal name ‘Burgheard’. In Old English, the name means ‘brave’.

24. Cairns

This surname originates from another Gaelic word ‘carn’, and it means a ‘heap of rough stones’.

25. Cameron

This is one of the famous Scottish last names that derived from a Gaelic phrase ‘ cam beul’. It means ‘crooked mouth’.

26. Campbell

The name Campbell, of Gaelic origin meaning “crooked mouth,” is one of Scotland’s most famous clan names, associated with Clan Campbell of Argyll.

27. Christie

Christie is a patronymic name that means ‘someone who bears Christ himself’ or ‘son of Christopher’.

28. Crawford

This surname is originated in the Old English, and it means ‘river crossing’. This last name is mostly borne by people belonging to the Crawford region.

29. Craig

This is another Scottish surname that means ‘rock’ or ‘stone’. Mostly people belonging to a rocky mountain are given this last name.

30. Cunningham

There was a region called Cunningham in Scotland and this surname was given to the people who belonged to that place.

31. Davidson

The name literally means ‘son of David’. In Hebrew, the word ‘David’ means ‘beloved’. So, the meaning of the name is ‘beloved son’.

32. Dickson

Dickson means ‘the son of Dick’ and ‘Dick’ is the other name of Richard. The word means ‘brave ruler’. So, the name means ‘son of a brave ruler’.

33. Docherty

This name is common among the Irish and Scottish people. The last name has a Gaelic origin and means ‘stern’.

34. Donaldson

This is another patronymic last name, and it means ‘son of Donald’. The Old Gaelic, Donald means ‘ruler of the world’.

35. Duncan

This last name comes from an old Gaelic name ‘Donnchadh’; it means ‘a dark-haired warrior’.

36. Dunsmore

This is an Old last name which was bestowed upon people who used to belong to the old Scottish place called Dundemore.

37. Elgin

Elgin is a place that is situated in the Moray region of Scotland. The people who belong to this place are given this last name.

38. Falla

This is a toponymic last name. It was given to the people who belonged to Fala, a region in Scotland.

39. Faulkner

This surname is derived from a Middle English name which means ‘falcon keeper’. Mostly those who used to own and train falcons were given this name.

40. Ferguson

Soccer fans will be familiar with this name. Ferguson means ‘son of Fergus’. The Gaelic name means a ‘man of vigour’.

41. Findlay

Findlay has its origin in an Old Gaelic word ‘fionn’ which means a ‘light-skinned warrior’.

42. Forbes

This surname was given to people belonging to a place called Forbes that is situated close to Aberdeen in Scotland. The meaning of the name is ‘field’.

43. Fowler

This name is another occupational surname that was given to the ‘bird catchers’.

44. Gibson

Another last name that made Scotland proud in the field of Cinema is Gibson. This patronymic last name means’ son of Gib’. Gib, a word derived from the Old German word Gilbert, means ‘bright pledge’.

45. Gilchrist

Another last name that is very famous around the world thanks to the Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist, who actually belongs to Scotland. The name comes from an Old Gaelic phrase ‘giolla Chriost’, which means ‘servant of Christ.’

46. Gilmore

Gilmore is a famous last name; it means ‘servant of Mary’.

47. Gordon

This welsh name means ‘a spacious fort’.

48. Graham

This last name finds its origin in the Old English, and it means ‘gravelly homestead.’ This name was mostly given to people who belonged to the Grantham region in England.

49. Grant

The origin of this last name belongs somewhere in the Norman-French words, and it means ‘tall’.

50. Gray

The surname denotes people having grey hair or beard or clothes.

51. Hamilton

This is a toponymic surname as it suggests and denotes people who belonged to the Hamilton region. The name means ‘crooked hill’.

52. Henderson

Another known surname amongst soccer lovers, Henderson is a patronymic surname that means ‘son of Hendry’. Originating from old German, the name means ‘ruler of the home’.

53. Hill

This surname already is clearly topographic. It refers to people who belonged to the hillside.

54. Hughes

This name has an Old Anglo-Norman origin. It means ‘someone with a great heart or spirit’.

55. Innes

This topographic surname has an Old Gaelic origin. The name means ‘island’ and was given to the clan of Innes, in the Moray County in Scotland.

56. Jack

This is another Scottish surname with the same meaning as Jones. The medieval name also means ‘God is gracious’.

57. Jamieson

Jamieson means “son of James” and indicates descent from someone named James, a name commonly found across Scotland.

58. Johnston

Johnston, meaning “John’s town,” originated from places in Scotland named after a person called John, often signifying a community founder or leader.

59. Jones

One of the most famous last names Jones has its origin in Scotland. The word is derived from Hebrew and means ‘God is gracious’.

60. Kendrick

This is an Anglicised form of a Gaelic name ‘Mac Eanraig’ and means ‘Son of Henry’. The last name actually means ‘ruler of the home.’

61. Kenneth

Derived from the Gaelic “Cináed” or “Coinneach,” Kenneth means “handsome” or “born of fire,” and often refers to historic Scottish nobility.

62. Kelly

Kelly is another topographic surname denoting people belonging to the Kelly regions in Scotland. The name in Cornish literally means the ‘grove’.

63. Kerr

The name Kerr, meaning “left-handed,” is often associated with Scottish Border families and known for its links to fierce and skilled warriors.

64. Lawson

This is also a patronymic surname. It means ‘son of Laurence’.

65. Leishman

Leishman originally meant “servant of the court,” indicating families with historical roles in law or governance within Scottish communities.

66. Mackay

Mackay, from the Gaelic “Mac Aodh,” meaning “son of fire” or “son of Hugh,” is tied to Clan Mackay, known for its northern heritage.

67. Marshal

Derived from the Old French word for “horse servant” or “stable master,” Marshal often indicates a family’s equestrian background.

68. Martin

Martin, of Latin origin meaning “of Mars” (the god of war), became popular in Scotland and is associated with martial strength and courage.

69. McDonald

Made popular all over the world by the famous food chain, McDonald is a Scottish surname that means ‘son of the ruler of the world’.

70. McLean

McLean means “son of Leann” and represents descendants of Clan MacLean, a clan known for its presence in the Hebrides.

71. McLeod

McLeod, from the Gaelic “Mac Leòid,” meaning “son of Leod,” is a well-known Scottish clan originating from the Isle of Skye.

72. McMillan

McMillan, derived from the Gaelic “MacMhaolain,” meaning “son of the bald man,” is a historic Scottish surname with strong Highland roots.

73. Millar

Millar, originally an occupational name meaning “miller” or “grain grinder,” represents families involved in traditional milling industries.

74. Miller

Miller is a variation of “Millar” and signifies a person who worked at or owned a mill, a common occupation in Scotland.

75. Milne

Milne, from the Middle English word for “mill,” is another occupational surname tied to the milling trade in Scottish communities.

76. Mitchell

Mitchell, of Hebrew origin meaning “who is like God,” became widely used in Scotland, often signifying a religious or spiritual family background.

77. Morrison

Morrison, meaning “son of Maurice,” is tied to Clan Morrison, which originates from the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Lewis.

78. Muir

Muir means “moor” or “bog,” describing families who historically lived near moorlands or open lands in Scotland.

79. Murphy

Murphy, originally an Irish name meaning “sea warrior,” is also found in Scotland, often linked to coastal regions.

80. Murray

Murray comes from the Gaelic “Muireach,” meaning “sea settlement,” and signifies families from coastal or riverside areas of Scotland.

81. Napier

Napier is thought to mean “linen keeper” or “cloth merchant,” and historically indicated families involved in the textile industry.

82. Owen

The origin of this surname lies in Old Gaelic, and it means ‘well-born’.

83. Paterson

Paterson, meaning “son of Patrick,” is a common Scottish surname associated with devotion to the patron saint, Saint Patrick.

84. Reilly

Reilly, an Irish-origin name meaning “courageous” or “valiant,” is also found in Scotland, especially in regions close to Ireland.

85. Ritchie

Ritchie, meaning “brave ruler,” is a Scottish surname derived from the name Richard and signifies leadership and courage.

86. Robertson

Robertson means “son of Robert” and is tied to Clan Robertson, one of the oldest clans in Scotland with a rich history.

87. Ross

Ross, derived from the Gaelic word for “promontory” or “headland,” often describes families from coastal areas or highland regions.

88. Russel

Russel, originally meaning “red-haired” or “reddish,” is a descriptive Scottish surname linked to families with red hair.

89. Shaw

Shaw means “wood” and historically described families living near or within woodlands or forested areas.

90. Simpson

Simpson means “son of Simon,” a common name in Scotland, indicating descent from a family member named Simon.

91. Sinclair

Sinclair, meaning “from Saint-Clair,” originates from a Norman-French town and was adopted by a noble Scottish family.

92. Taylor

Taylor is an occupational surname meaning “tailor,” associated with families involved in sewing or tailoring in Scottish communities.

93. Thomson

Thomson, meaning “son of Thomas,” is a popular Scottish surname signifying descent from a person named Thomas.

94. Walker

Walker was an occupational name for a “cloth worker” or “fuller,” tied to families involved in textile and fabric production.

95. Watson

Watson means “son of Walter,” a common surname in Scotland linked to families descended from a Walter.

96. Watt

Watt, also meaning “son of Walter,” is a variant of Watson and a widely used surname in Scottish communities.

97. White

White is a descriptive surname often referring to a person with fair hair or complexion, common across Scotland.

98. Wilson

Wilson means “son of William,” a popular surname in Scotland, reflecting descent from a family member named William.

99. Wood

Wood is a surname signifying families who lived near or worked in wooded areas or forests.

100. Wright

Wright is an occupational surname, meaning “craftsman” or “builder,” traditionally associated with skilled labourers in Scottish society.

FAQs

1. Are there Scottish surnames with meanings tied to nature?

Many Scottish surnames are nature-related, reflecting Scotland’s landscapes and seascapes.

For example, “Ross” means “headland,” and “Murray” (from “Muireach”) translates to “sea settlement,” indicating coastal origins. A list of Scottish surnames often includes nature-inspired names, highlighting Scotland’s deep connection to its land and geography.

2. What are some unique Scottish last names?

Unique Scottish last names often have strong ties to the country’s Gaelic roots, Norse influences, or clan history. Surnames like “MacGregor” (meaning “son of Gregor”) and “Auchter” (meaning “high ground”) are examples of rare names that carry ancestral or geographical importance. These names often reflect a specific region or family lineage.

These were some of the popular as well as rare Scottish surnames with their meanings. Now you know when we suggest a surname, it is just not a name, but a treasure trove of hidden facts of generations gone by and a rich heritage passed down!

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