McNaught or MacNaught or Macnaught is a Scottish surname which is a shortened form of McNaughton. The latter surname derives from Mac Neachtain, a Gaelic patronymic for the Pictish name Nechdan meaning 'pure'. Another variant of the name is MacKnight (also Macknight and McKnight). The MacNaughts of Kilquhanty were a branch of the Clan Macnaghten.
Notable people Anita McNaught (born 1965), British-New Zealand journalist and TV presenter Erin McNaught (born 1982), the 2006 Miss Australia Euphemia McNaught (1902–2002), Canadian painter Ian McNaught-Davis (fl 1950s-1980s), BBC TV presenter James McNaught (1870–1919), Scottish footballer, 1901 FA Cup winner with Tottenham. Jane Macnaught, producer of British TV soap Coronation Street John McNaught (1902–1970), Canadian radio broadcaster and writer John McNaught (1964–1997), Scottish footballer Johnny McNaught (1892–1972), Scottish footballer John Watson MacNaught (1904–1984), Canadian politician Judith McNaught (born 1944), American writer Ken McNaught (born 1955), Scottish footballer Kenneth McNaught (1918–1997), Canadian historian Robert H. McNaught (born 1956), Scottish-Australian astronomer William McNaught (1883-1953), English music critic and teacher, son of William Gray McNaught William McNaught (Glasgow) (1813–1881), engineer who compounded a beam engine William McNaught (Rochdale), (flourished 1840s-1870s), engineer of Petrie and McNaught, who invented a variable cut off gear and governor for a Stationary steam engine William Gray McNaught (1849-1918), English music critic and teacher William Kirkpatrick McNaught (1845–1919), Canadian politician Willie McNaught (1922–1989), Scottish footballer (father of Ken)
See also 3173 McNaught, asteroid discovered in 1981 Numerous comets discovered by Robert H. McNaught Comet McNaught-Russell, comet 130P/McNaught-Hughes, comet McNaught Syndicate, American newspaper syndicate founded 1922 McKnight, a related surname
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