The most recognisable Scottish surnames begin with Mac (“son of”): MacDonald, “son of Donald.” Alongside these clan names sit descriptive nicknames (Campbell, “crooked mouth”; Cameron, “crooked nose”), occupations (Stewart, “steward”) and place names (Murray, Gordon).

Frequently asked questions

What does Mac mean in Scottish surnames?

Mac (or Mc) means u201cson ofu201d u2014 MacDonald means u201cson of Donald.u201d

What are common Scottish surnames?

Smith, Brown, Wilson, Campbell, Stewart, MacDonald and Robertson are among the most common in Scotland.

All last names A–Z