Scottish surnames

Scottish surnames are surnames currently found in Scotland, or surnames that have a historical connection with the country.

History

The earliest surnames found in Scotland occur during the reign of David I, King of Scots (1124–53). These were Anglo-Norman names which had become hereditary in England before arriving in Scotland (for example, the contemporary surnames ''de Brus'', ''de Umfraville'', and ''Ridel''). During the reigns of kings David I, Malcolm IV and William the Lion, some inhabitants of Scottish towns were English and Flemish settlers, who bore English and continental personal names, with trade names and sometimes nicknames. One of the earliest sources for surnames in Scotland is the Ragman Roll. This document records the deeds of homage pledged by Scots nobles to Edward I, King of England in 1296. The surnames recorded within are for the most part very similar to those found in England at around the same date, consisting of local, patronymic and occupational names, and nicknames. Some of the local surnames with the roll are derived from places within Scotland; there are very few Gaelic surnames recorded in the roll. Reaney 2006: ''Introduction: Scottish surnames''

Categorisation

Patronymics

Many Scottish surnames originate from names that were originally patronyms. Patronyms are derived from the forename of the bearer's father (for example, the full name of a man named ''John Donaldson'' indicates that the father's name was ''Donald''). Patronyms change with every successive generation Black 1946: pp. xxiv-xxv. (for example, the patronyms of a grandson, father, and grandfather may be ''John Donaldson'', son of ''Donald Robertson'', son of ''Robert Williamson'').

The earliest patronyms recorded in Scotland are written in several different languages. In early Latin documents, such names were formed by the genitive case of the father's name preceded by forms of ''filius'', meaning "son" (for example ''Dugaldus filius Nigelli''); later the ''filius'' was only implied (for example ''Dugaldus Nigelli''). Other early records show patronyms using forms of the Welsh ''ap'', meaning "son"; and the Gaelic ''mac'', meaning son (for example, the names of ''Macrath ap Molegan'', and ''Gilmychel Mac Eth'' appear in the same document).

There are several prefixes and suffixes that may indicate whether a modern surname originated from a patronym: the English suffixes ''-son'', and ''-s''; and the Gaelic prefix ''Mac-''. In some cases, the ''-son'' was dropped from such surnames, and just the forename of an ancestor was used (for example ''Martin''). In some cases, the suffix ''-s'' was used, and according to Black, such names appear to have originated in England (for example '' Adams'').

The use of patronyms died out in the Lowlands after the 15th century, as they became solidified as surnames. It was not until the 18th century that they were given up in the Gaelic-speaking Highlands. As late as the first part of the 18th century, some men were distinguished not only by their father's name, but their grandfather's and great-grandfather's (for example, ''John Roy M'Ean Vc Ewin Vc Dougall Vc Ean'', a man from Lismore recorded in 1585). Patronyms were still common in Shetland in the first half of the 19th century. One of the most common surnames in Scotland is Simpson, which means the son of "Simon", in Gaelic the equivalent names are McSymon, and MacSymon.

Territorial names, topographical names

Many of the first surnames recorded in Scotland were those of nobles, or great landowners, whose surnames derived from the lands they possessed. These names are sometimes called territorial names, or habitation names. Many of these surnames were brought to Scotland by Anglo-Normans, whose surnames were derived from either lands in Normandy or in England (for example, ''Bruce'' is derived from Brix in Manche

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