Scottish Surnames
N - Y
This is by no means a complete list; I'm sure there are others out there.
Mac = son of
Nairn Probably from Airn and Cairn, meaning "land of the new Irish";
when the Gaels landed in Kilmartin, Argyll, they would build a cairn and claim
the place as their own. Possibly associated with Clan MacKenzie.
Napier from "Lennox had na peer" meaning "no equal"; from a
statement by Alexander III. Records show this family in Scotland as early as
1140.
Neil associated with Clan MacNeil. Neal, Neill,
Neilson.
Nelson associated with Clans Gunn and MacNeil.
Neish associated with Clan MacGregor.
Nicholson
MacNeacail, Clann 'IcNeacail (Nicolsons). From the Lowlands of Scotland
around Dumfries, but also found on the Isles of Skye and Lewis as MacNichol, who
trace their ancestry to an ancient family of Vikings. Nicolson,
MacNichol.
Nisbet from the barony of Nesbit in Berwickshire;
first recorded was Philip Nesbit, a sheriff in 1493. Some of the family left for
Sweden in the 16th C. Nisbett, Nesbett.
Nish associated with
Clan MacGregor.
Niven associated with Clan Cumming and MacKintosh.
Nixon associated with Clan Armstrong.
Noble associated
with Clan MacKintosh.
Norie associated with Clan MacDonald.
Norman associated with Clan Sutherland.
O'Drain associated with Clan MacDonald.
Oliver
associated with Clan Fraser.
O'May associated with Clan Sutherland.
O'Shaig associated with Clan MacDonald.
O'Shannachan
associated with Clan MacDonald.
O'Shannaig associated with Clan
MacDonald.
Ogilvie Mac Ghille Bhuidhe. Ancestry traced to
Gillibride, second son of Ghillichriost, earl of Angus. He was given the barony
of Ogilvy c. 1163. Branches include Inverquharity and East Lothian.
Ogilvy.
Oliphant of Norman origin. David Holifard saved his
godfather, David I, at the Rout of Winchester in 1141. William Oliphant held
Stirling Castle against Edward I of England's seige.
Park associated with Clan MacDonald.
Parlane associated
with Clan MacFarlane.
Paton associated with Clans MacDonald and
MacLean.
Patrick associated with Clan Lamont.
Paul
associated with Clan Cameron and MacKintosh.
Pearson associated
with Clan MacPherson.
Peebles associated with/sept of Clan Hay
Peterkin associated with Clan MacGregor.
Petrie
associated with Clan MacGregor.
Philipson associated with Clan
MacDonald.
Pinkerton associated with Clan Campbell.
Piper associated with Clan Murray.
Pitullich
associated with Clan MacDonald.
Pollard associated with Clan
MacKay.
Polson associated with Clan MacKay.
Porter
associated with Clan MacNaughton.
Pratt associated with Clan Grant.
Preston related to the de Preston family of Ireland; documents show
an Alured de Preston in Scotland in the 13th C.
Pringle taken from
the name of lands in Roxburghshire; the family is first recorded during
Alexander III's reign. They were also one of the Riding Clans of the Scottish
Borders.
Purcell associated with Clan MacDonald.
Quirie associated with House of Gordon; integrated into Clan Gordon during the years following the invasion of Scotland from Normandy, France.
Raith associated with Clan MacRae.
Ramsay
Ramsaidh. First recorded in Scotland was Simon de Ramsay, an Anglo-Norman
who received lands from David I; after the Battle of Marston Moor and
Philiphaugh, William Ramsay was made the first earl of Dalhousie in 1633.
Randolf associated with Clan Bruce.
Rattray ancestry
traced to Adam de Rattreiff in the 13th C. They followed the Murrays of Atholl,
but were not a branch.
Reidfurd associated with Clan Innes.
Reoch associated with Clans Farquharson and MacDonald.
Revie associated with Clan MacDonald.
Riach associated
with Clans Farquharson and MacDonald.
Richardson associated with
Clans Buchanan and Ogilvie.
Risk associated with Clan Buchanan.
Ritchie associated with Clan MacKintosh.
Robb
associated with Clan MacFarlane.
Roberts associated with Clan
Robertson.
Robertson Robasdan, MacDhonnchaidh, Mac Raibeirt,
Clann 'IcDhonnchaidh, Clann Donnchaidh, Na Robasdanaich (Robertsons). The
ancestor was Duncan or Donnachaidh Reamhair, who led the clan for Robert Bruce
at Bannockburn and was himself descended from Celtic earls of Atholl. The name
came from a later chief, Robert, during the reign of James I. They also fought
with the Stuarts in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745. Donnachaidh,
Dobinson, Macrobbie, MacRobert, MacRobie, Roberst, Robson, Roberts.
Robinson associated with Clans Gunn and Robertson.
Robison associated with Clans Gunn and Robertson.
Robson
associated with Clans Gunn and Robertson.
Rollo lands of Duncrub
were received by a John Rollo in 1380. Robert, the 4th baron, supported James
Francis Stuart (Old Pretender) in 1715, but was forced to surrender.
Rome associated with Clan Johnstone.
Ronald associated
with Clans Gunn and MacDonald.
Ronaldson associated with Clans Gunn
and MacDonald.
Rorison associated with Clan MacDonald.
Rose Rςs, Rois, Na Rςsaich (Rose(s)). Traced back to the
Roses of Kilravock in Nairn during the reign of King David I. Hugh Rose built
Kilravock Castle in 1460; Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at the castle before the
1746 Battle of Culloden.
Ross Ros, Na Rosaich (Ross(es)).
Claims Norman descent and possibly descended from Gilleon na h-airde. One of his
descendants was Fearcher MacinTagart, who helped put down a rebellion for the
Crown in 1215. The Ross family who held lands in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire in
the 12th C. may be descended from Godfrey de Ros from Yorkshire. Vass,
Wass.
Roy associated with Clan Robertson.
Rusk
associated with Clan Buchanan.
Ruskin associated with Clan
Buchanan.
Russell- connected to the French name Rosel. The Russells
of Aden in Aberdeenshire trace ancestry to an English baron who came with Edward
III of England and stayed in Scotland after the siege of Berwick. Allied with
with Clan Cumming.
Rutherford a once rich and powerful Border
family who took their name from the lands of Rutherford in Roxburghshire. The
name appears in documents of William the Lion and Alexander II. Daniel
Rutherford (b. 1749, Edinburgh) discovered nitrogen.
Ruthven
ancestry traced to Swan, son of Thor, son of Swein, who held lands in Perthshire
and Clydesdale; Thor took the name de Ruthven. Patrick Ruthven was one of the
Scottish lords involved in the murder of Mary, Queen of Scots' secretary, David
Rizzio. His son, the first earl of Gowrie, kidnapped the young king and held him
for ten months in what is known as the Ruthven Raid. The king escaped and Gowrie
was executed in 1584. Because of the later Gowrie Conspiracy, the name was
proscribed for forty years until its reinstatement in 1641.
Sanderson associated with Clan MacDonald.
Sandison
associated with Clan Gunn.
Saunders associated with Clan
MacAlister.
Schaw a Lowland surname recorded in the 13th C.; the
northern branch of the clan descended from Shaw, son of Gilchrist, grandson of
the 6th chief of Clan Mackintosh. The other branch is descended from Adam,
second son of Rothiemurchus. Shaw.
Scobie associated with
Clan MacKay.
Scott Scotach, Scot. A Border clan whose
ancestry traces to Uchtredus filisus Scoti of the 12th C. His two sons, Richard
and Michael, were the heads of two branches of the family; linked by marriage to
the duke of Monmouth and the powerful Douglas dukes of Queensberry. Sir Walter
Scot, the writer, was connected with Hugh Scott of Polwarth. The Scotts were a
powerful Border clan in the 16th C., with the ability to raise 600 warriors to
battle.
Scrimgeour first mentioned in 13th C. Fife documents. Two
documents of 1298 grant Schyrmeschur, son of Colin, son of Carun, the honor of
carrying the king's banner in war, and made him a constable of the Castle of
Dundee.
Semphill from Renfrewshire and ancestry is traced to Robert
de Semple, c. 1280. They were hereditary sheriffs of Renfrew.
Seton
the family played an important role in Scottish affairs and built splendid
houses, including Seton Castle where Mary, Queen of Scots, lived after Rizzio's
murder.
Shannon associated with Clan MacDonald.
Sharp
associated with Clan Stewart.
Shaw Mac Ghille-Sheathanaich.
Associated with Clan Chattan.
Sherry associated with Clan
MacKinnon.
Sim associated with Clan Fraser of Lovat.
Sime associated with Clan Fraser of Lovat.
Simon
associated with Clan Fraser of Lovat.
Simpson associated with Clan
Fraser of Lovat. Simson.
Sinclair Mac na Ceardadh.
The clan's founder was William Saint Clair, son of Robert De Saint Clare of
Normandy. Records show a Henry de Sancto Claro supported Robert Bruce and signed
a letter to the pope in 1320. It is said that William St. Clair built Roslin
Castle; the Highland Castle of Mey was a Sinclair stronghold built in 1568.
Sinclare, St. Clair, Sinclaire, St. Claire, Sinkler.
Skene
the ancestor of the clan received the barony of Skene from Malcolm Canmore. The
Skenes of Skene died out in the 19th C. Skeen.
Skinner
associated with Clan MacGregor.
Small associated with Clan Murray.
Smart associated with Clan MacKenzie.
Smith Mc a'
Ghobhainn, Clann a' Ghobhainn (Smiths). Associated with Clans MacKintosh and
MacPherson.
Snodgrass of local origin, deriving from the name of
the dwelling place or locality where a bearer once lived. In one instance, the
name can be traced to the lands named Snodgrasse in Ayrshire, and the name
literally meant, "a dweller at the smooth, grassy land". In medieval Scotland it
was common practice to identify a man with the area from which he hailed and to
refer to him in this manner. Thus a resident of Snodgrasse usually adopted the
name of their native soil as their family name. There was also a certain civic
pride involved in registering one's native town as one's family name. Early
instances of the name were generally prefixed with "de" meaning "of", a
preposition used to denote surnames of local origin. The earliest instance of
the name occurs in the Scottish Rolls and the listings are entered in Scots
Gaelic one Adam Snorgyrs is listed as being the bailie (bailiff) of Are (Ayr) in
1372. The modern form of the name began to appear during the 16th C. one Patrick
Snodgrass was admitted Burgess and Freeman of Glasgow in 1578. In Glasgow the
surname frequently appears as Snodgers where a notable family of this name
resided during the Middle Ages they were recorded in the Glasgow Protocol Books
as being significant maltmen and brewers. One Margaret Snodgers inherited this
firm from her brother John in 1621. *extensive info provided by JCSnodgrass.
Somerville derived from a town in Normandy. David I gave lands in
Lanarkshire to William de Somerville when he came to Scotland with him. Folklore
says another William de Somerville got the lands for killing a monster that was
terrorizing the area.
Sorely associated with Clans Cameron and
MacDonald. Sorley.
Spalding from the town of Spalding in
Lincolnshire. First recorded in 13th C. documents. Peter de Spalding, a burgess,
helped the attackers of Berwick in 1318. Robert Bruce game him lands in Angus.
Spence associated with Clan MacDuff.
Spens said they
are descended from Duncan, 4th earl of Fife. Patrick de Spens had lands in
Berwickshire in the 15th C; and John de Spensa of Perth held land in Menteith.
Spittal associated with Clan Buchanan. Spittel.
Sporran associated with Clan MacDonald.
Stalker
associated with Clan MacFarlane.
Stark associated with Clan
Robertson.
Stenhouse associated with Clan Bruce.
Stewart
Stiωbhart, Na Stiωbhartaich (Stewarts). The Royal House of Steward has
a family tradition that they are descended from Banquo, thane of Lochaber; but
the family has been traced to Alan, Seneschal of Dol, a Celtic noble and are
basically a Lowland family. Alan's third son, Walter Fitz Alan was High Steward
of Scotland under David I. Walter's grandson, Walter, adopted the title Steward
as a surname. Bruce's grandson, Robert Stewart, was the first of the Royal House
of Stewart. Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), son of James
Francis (the Old Pretender), is the best known of the family. His uprising was
ended at Culloden Moor in 1746, and he died in Rome in 1788. Stewart was changed
to Stuart after Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Stuart, Steuard, Steuart.
Stirling first appears as a surname in the 12th C. John Stirlin of
Moary swore fealty in 1291, and the Stirlings of Keir were established there in
the 12th C. Stirlin.
Storie associated with Clan Ogilvie.
Stringer associated with Clan MacGregor.
Sturgeon
connected with the Dumfries area as early as the 1500s, with Andrew and John
Sturgioun noted in records as witnesses in Dumfries in 1544. Allied with Clan
Maxwell.
Summers associated with Clan Lindsay.
Sutherland Sutherlarach. Derived from the placename
Sutherland, which the Norsemen of Caithness and Orkney called Southland.
Ancestry is traced to the Celts who retreated before the Norse invaders. Hugh
Freskin received the lands of Sutherland from King William the Lion in 1197. The
first duke of Sutherland, George Granville Gower, built the town of Golspie. His
is blamed for excessive Clearance evictions that drove most of his tenants
overseas.
Suttie associated with Clan Grant.
Swan
associated with Clan Gunn.
Swanson associated with Clan Gunn.
Swinton possibly of Anglian origin. Hugh of Swinton and his son
Duncan received the thanedom of Arbuthnot from Walter Olifard. In the 15th C.,
some of this family went to France, where the name changed to Vincton.
Syme associated with Clan Fraser.
Symon associated
with Clan Fraser.
Taggart associated with Clan Ross.
Tarrill associated
with Clan MacKintosh.
Tawesson associated with Clan Campbell.
Tawse associated with Clan Farquharson.
Thain
associated with Clans Innes and MacIntosh.
Thomson MacThςmais,
Clann 'IcThςmais (Thomsons). Thompson.
Todd associated
with Clan Gordon.
Tolmie associated with Clan MacLeod.
Tonnochy associated with Clan Robertson.
Torry
associated with Clan Campbell.
Tosh associated with Clan
MacKintosh.
Toward associated with Clan Lamont. Towart.
Train associated with Clan Ross.
Trotter "messanger".
Trotter of Prentannan was head of the Border clan with this name in
Berwickshire. Those associated with Morton Hall in Midlothian date their origin
back to the reign of Robert II.
Turnbull tradition says the name
comes from William of Rule, who saved Robert Bruce from a wounded bull. Because
of this incident, he became known as Turn-e-bull.
Turner associated
with Clan Lamont.
Tweedie said that this old clan originated from a
water spirit of the River Tweed. They held their lands of Drumelzier for 300
years until the land was taken away by Charles I.
Tyre associated
with Clan MacIntyre.
Ure associated with Clan Campbell.
Urquhart
Urchurdan. From the lands of Urquhart on Loch Ness. William Urquhart, a
sheriff of Cromarty, married a daughter of the earl of Ross in the 14th C. The
family seat at Craigston Castle has been held since 1604.
Vass associated with Clans Munro and Ross.
Wallace Uallas. "Strathclyde Briton", a native Gaelic name.
It's well known in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire in the 13th C. First records of the
surname mentions a Richard Wallace (or Wallensis) in the 12th C. Malcolm Wallace
was patriot William Wallace's (1274-1305) father. William led the revolt against
the English and was brutally executed in London. It is said that he took up arms
after his wife was murdered by the English. Wallis.
Walters
associated with Clan Forbes.
Wardlaw probably of Anglo-Saxon
origin, although their name was taken from Wardlaw nearly Beauly. Henry Wardlaw
of the 15th C. was bishop of St. Andrews and founded the University of St.
Andrews.
Wass associated with Clans Munro and Ross.
Watt
associated with Clan Buchanan.
Weaver associated with Clan
MacFarlane.
Webster associated with Clan MacFarlane.
Weir from a Norman name from Vere, France; the first Scottish
record of the name mentions a Radulphus de Ver, who was captured at Alnwick with
William the Lion. His descendants, the Weirs of Blackwood, only appear in
records in 1400. Some of the Macnairs of Cowal anglicized their name to Weir.
Wemyss from a placename, the lands of Wemyss in Fife. First
recorded of this name was Michael de Methkil, aka Michael de Wemy.
Whannell associated with Clan MacDonald.
Wharrie
associated with Clan MacQuarrie.
Wheelan associated with Clan
MacDonald.
White associated with Clans MacGregor and Lamont.
Whyte associated with Clans MacGregor and Lamont.
Wilkie
associated with Clan MacDonald.
Wilkinson associated with Clan
MacDonald.
Will associated with Clan Gunn.
Williamson
associated with Clans Gunn and MacKay.
Wilson associated with Clans
Gunn and Innes.
Wood a placename, "one living near a wood"; very
widespread in Scotland, the most important branches of the family settled in
Morayshire and in the Borders near Lanarkshire.
Wright associated
with Clan MacIntyre.
Wylie associated with Clans Gunn and
MacFarlane.
Yule associated with Clan Buchanan. Yuille, Yuille.