These Irish surnames originate in Scotland, but which ones did you already know?
Ireland and Scotland have more in common than just their friendly nations, rugged landscapes, and fantastic sense of humour; in fact, many Irish names we hear daily have Scottish roots.
We are all familiar with plenty of surnames that we may think are Irish, but in fact, they are Scottish, or at least have a solid connection to Scotland, and some of these may surprise you.
So, if you were curious about which Irish names claim Scottish roots, take a look at this top ten list.
- These Irish surnames originate in Scotland, but which ones did you already know?
- 10. Campbell – the one with the crooked mouth
- 9. Boyd – an intriguing Scottish name
- 8. MacNeill – originating in the Hebrides Islands
- 7. Stewart – a popular Scottish name
- 6. Cunningham – a name from Ayrshire
- 5. MacDonald – a surname common in both countries
- 4. MacIntyre – son of the carpenter
- 3. MacGregor – a familiar surname in Ireland
- 2. MacAulay – an Irish name with Scottish roots
- 1. Murray – one of the top Irish surnames
10. Campbell – the one with the crooked mouth
While this name may be Scottish, it is also a name with a rather cheeky meaning. It comes from the Scots Gaelic words ‘cam beul’, which mean ‘crooked mouth’, so we can only guess that this was a name to describe someone’s awkward smile.
9. Boyd – an intriguing Scottish name
Since Boyd doesn’t have a Mac, it’s not apparent that it is from Scotland until you dig deeper.
There are a few theories about where and how the name originated. Some say it comes from Bute Island in Scotland, while others say it comes from the Celtic word ‘boidhe’ meaning ‘fair’.
8. MacNeill – originating in the Hebrides Islands
This ordinary Scottish clan’s name is not rare in Ireland, yet not many of us know that it hails from the Hebrides Islands in Scotland. As you might have guessed, this name means son of Neill and has many variations, most prominently, the spelling McNeill.
7. Stewart – a popular Scottish name
Stewart is a name with many variations and spellings since the name has travelled all over the world. While there are many Stewarts or Stuarts in Ireland, there are many more across the USA, UK, and Canada.
It originates from the word ‘stiùbhart’, meaning ‘steward’.
6. Cunningham – a name from Ayrshire
Many of us know someone with the surname Cunningham, and that is because many Scots brought the name to Ireland back in the day.
The name hails from Ayrshire, Scotland, but can be heard throughout Ireland, and this habitational name dates back to 1153, making it a very traditional one.
5. MacDonald – a surname common in both countries
MacDonald, commonly spelt McDonald in Ireland, is a name with Scottish roots, meaning son of Donald. This is one of the most famous last names in both countries, which is why many people are confused about where it originates from.
The most famous McDonald is, of course, the clown, Ronald. But his burgers have nothing on our Supermac’s!
4. MacIntyre – son of the carpenter
You might be surprised to learn that the surname Macintyre or McIntyre, as it can be spelt in Ireland, is a name that comes from across the Irish Sea as it is one we all hear every day.
This Scottish surname means ‘son of the carpenter’, and the English version of the name is Wright.
3. MacGregor – a familiar surname in Ireland
One of our leading Irish athletes may have this last name, but it is, in fact, a surname with strong Scottish roots. Believe it or not, the MacGregor family (clan) were among the first to play the bagpipes in Scotland way back in the 17th century.
2. MacAulay – an Irish name with Scottish roots
While we might all associate this name with the actor Macaulay Culkin, we can’t deny that this is a very popular Irish name with Scottish roots.
This is a name that both countries can claim since some say it’s derived from Scottish Gaelic and some say Irish Gaelic, making it an intriguing name overall.
1. Murray – one of the top Irish surnames
Another of the leading Irish names with Scottish roots is Murray, a name as typical in Ireland as John or Mary. Believe it or not, Murray comes from a place called Moray in Scotland, and it means ‘seaboard settlement’.
Irish and Scottish have mingled over the years, so it is no wonder that many Scottish names can be heard in Ireland to this day, and vice versa, for that matter.
They say a character tells a story, and that is certainly true when we look at the history and origin of these Irish names with Scottish roots.
