This list of Scottish Gaelic surnames shows Scottish Gaelic surnames beside their English language equivalent.
Unlike English surnames (but in the same way as Slavic, Lithuanian and Latvian surnames), all of these have male and female forms depending on the bearer, e.g. all Mac- names become Nic- if the person is female. Some of the Scottish Gaelic surnames are Gaelicised forms of English surnames; and conversely, some of the English surnames are Anglicised forms of the Gaelic surnames. In some cases the Gaelic and English names do not share an etymological origin. Several surnames have multiple spellings; this is sometimes due to unrelated families bearing the same surname. A single surname in either language may have multiple translations in the other. In some English translations of the names, the M(a)c- prefix may be omitted in the English, e.g. Bain vs MacBain, Cowan vs MacCowan, Ritchie vs MacRitchie. Also, the prefixes Mac- and Mc- are interchangeable, although individuals may have a preference as to which form is used in their own surname.
Surname list Note that certain names may appear multiple times on this list; use the 'find' or 'search' function in your web browser to quickly look up certain names.
A-C Scottish Gaelic surname English surname NotesRef AileanachAllan, Allanach, MacCallanAllanach in Wester Ross.AilpeanachMacAlpineAllanachAllan, Allanach, MacCallanAllanach in Wester Ross.AmbarsanAndersonIn Sleat.AnamAnnanAndarsanAndersonAnndrasdanAndersonArasgainErskine"Arascain" in old orthography.Ariss ArisAriss BànachRobinBainMember Clan John ArisIn Wester Ross.BaranBarronBarrachDunbarBeiteanBeaton, BethuneIn Ross.BhàsaVassBhodhsaVassBlacachBlackBlàrBlairBlàrachBlair, MuirBochananBuchananBoid, BòidBoydBòideachBoydBràigheachMacGillivrayBreacBreckBreathnachGalbraith, Walsh, WelshBrothaighBrodieBruisBruceBrùnBroun, BrownOn Tiree.BrusBruceBuideachBudgeBuidheachBowie, BuieBuildsBudgeBuiseidBissetCailbhinCalvinCaileanachCallanach, MacCallanCaimbeulCampbellCaimbeulachCampbellCamranCameronCamshronCameronCamshronachCameronCananachBuchananCanonachBuchanan, MacPhersonMacPherson in Skye.CaoidheachKay, MacKayCaolaisdeanKelsoOn Arran.CatachCatach, CattoCatanCattenachCatanachCattenachAlso a member of Clan Chattan.CeallachKellyCeanadachKennedyCeannaideachKennedyCearrachKerrOn Arran.CeiteachKeithCiarKeirCiarachKeirCiogachEggoIn Aberdeenshire.CoineaganCunninghamCrannachCrannaIn Aberdeenshire.CriatharachCrerarIn Loch Tay and Strathspey.CuimeanachComyn, CummingCuimeinComyn, CummingCuimeineachComyn, CummingCàidhCaie, Kay, KeithKeith in Caithness.CèampKempIn Wester Ross.CèampachKempIn Wester Ross.CòmhanCowan, MacCowanCreag, CreagachCraig
D-M Scottish Gaelic English Notes RefDalaisDallasDeòirDewarDeòireachDewarDòmhnallach, DòmhnullachMacDonaldDruimeanachDrummondDruimeinDrummondDruimeineachDrummondDruiminnDrummondDubhDow, BlackDubhachMacDuffDùbhghlasDouglasDùghallachCoull, Dowell, MacDougall, MacDowallDùghlasDouglasDùghlasachDouglasDunaidDunnetDunaidhDownieDonnchadhDuncan For the etymology of the surname Duncan this web page cites: Dictionary of American Family Names.EabarcrombaighAbercrombieFearghasdanFergusonFionnlasdanFinlaysonFlimeanFlemingFoirbeisForbesFoirbeiseachForbesFlachnànFlanaganIn Ayrshire.FòlaisFoulis, FowlisFrisealFraser, FrazerFrisealachFraser, FrazerGallGallGallachGall, Gallie, GollachGeadaisGeddesGeadasachGeddesGearailteachFitzgeraldGiliosGilliesGillAndraisGillandersGillEasbaigArchbold, Archibald, Bishop, GillespieGillEasbuigGillespie, ArchibaldGilleChriosdGilchrist, ChristieGilleChrìostGilchrist, ChristieGill'IosaGilliesGiobsanGibsonGlasGlass, GrayGobhaGow, SmithGranndGrantGranndaGrantGranndachGrantGreumGraeme, GrahamGreumachGraeme, GrahamGriogalMacGregor, McGregor, GregoryIn Wester Ross.GriogalachMacGregor, McGregor, GregoryIn Wester Ross.GriogarachGregg, Greig, Greer, Grierson, MacGregor, GregoryGuaireNobleGuinneGunnGunnachGunnGutraidhGuthrieGòrdanGordonGòrdanachGordonHoovínÌomharachIverach, IvoryLatharnachLarnachLathurnaLorneLeamhanachLennoxLeamhnachLennoxLeòideachCloud, MacLeodLobhdainLothianIn Glen Lyon.LoganachLoganLoudainLothianIn Glen Lyon.LìosLeesOn Arran.LìosachGillies, LeesAlso used for someone from Lismore.LùtairLuther
Mac- Mac- (son of) is by far the most common element in Scottish Gaelic surnames.