Scottish Last Names

Romy lovers, here's a new one for you! Romary is a surname with French and Scottish roots and has historically been a masculine given name in France. It would be a great choice on either sex, but feels slightly more feminine with the -mary ending and Romy nickname.

Chisholm is a habitational surname — if it's on your family tree, you have ancestors from Chisholme, Scotland, although they were originally of Norman and Saxon descent.

Surname that is occasionally used as a given name in tribute to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Findlay is a masculine name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Fionnlagh,' combining elements meaning 'fair' or 'white' and 'warrior' or 'hero.' Historically used as both a surname and given name in Scotland, Findlay maintains strong Celtic roots and evokes the rugged highlands. The alternate spelling Finlay is also common. The name experienced modest popularity in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom before gradually spreading to other English-speaking countries. In recent years, Findlay has gained attention as part of the trend toward traditional surnames as first names. It offers the approachable nicknames Finn or Lay, and conveys a sense of strength and heritage while still feeling contemporary. Findlay presents an appealing option for parents seeking a name with historical depth and Scottish character.

Mc- names beyond McKenzie are catching on, with Mccoy entering the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2023. Rugged but cool McRae might be another possibility.

Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.

Down-to-earth surname name with a drawl, also associated with cereal and dog food.

Ealair is the Gaelic form of Hilary, making McKellar an inventive way to honor a Hilary, Hillary, or Ellery in your life.

When Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves chose the old English surname and place name Livingston for their third child, they elevated it from half of a Stanley & Livingston joke to a modern possibility. Kind of. The only other well-known bearer of the name in the contemporary world is singer Livingston Taylor, brother of James, who is called Liv. Given that little Livingston McConaughey's older brother is named Levi, that uplifting nickname may be too close, though his parents apparently like its sound. An original choice.

Lennox is one of the hottest unisex names of recent years, and this spelling retains the appealing surname vibe and cool -x ending.

Americans may not realize Barclay is the phonetic spelling of the British Berkeley -- though both sound like old-fashioned butler names.

The Mc and Mac surnames are asserting themselves as first names and this is among the most usable. MacArthur or McArthur makes a perfect honorific for an ancestral Arthur and leads directly to the nicknames Mac or Art

This Irish surname packs a lot of attitude, projecting an image of spunk and sass. The Welsh singer Duffy, born Aimee Anne Duffy, is best known for her songs Mercy and Warwick Avenue.

At one time associated with the fictional detective Bulldog Drummond, this formal surname name does boast the cute nickname Drum.

Evocative of the sand dunes at the beach, Doone is a relatively rare surname found in Scotland, Ireland and England. It was recently used with this spelling by Olympic medalist Amanda Beard; photographer Diane Arbus named her daughter Doon, inspired, yes, by walks along the sand dunes during her pregnancy.

This somewhat boisterous Celtic name would be at home in a noisy pub or out walking on the moors. In Scotland, it was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.

Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander. Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.

Most parents would prefer to leave the car part parked in the garage.

This musical surname, associated with Bing Crosby and David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, & Nash could easily be used for girls, as names like Jagger and Bowie have been.

McKay is the Anglicized form of Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh" in Gaelic. Aodh is the origin of names such as Aidan and Hugh, making McKay a subtle way to honor people with those names.