Scottish Last Names
- Lindsey
- Reid
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"red-haired"Description:
The Reid spelling is surprisingly more popular than the naturey Reed for both boys and girls, though more than 95% of little Reids are male.
- Ewing
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"noble, well-born"Description:
A surname very rarely heard as a first, associated with Hall of Fame basketball star Patrick Ewing and, in the 1980s, the oil-rich Ewing family on the nighttime soap, "Dallas"
- Brody
Origin:
Irish, English, and ScottishMeaning:
"broad eye or broad island"Description:
The energetic Brody is a name that claims different meanings and origins depending on whether you're looking at its Irish, Scottish, or English history -- and Eastern Europeans claim a version too. This spelling is much more popular for boys, but has seen some use for girls in recent years, including volleyball player Gabrielle Reese's daughter. An alternate spelling is Brodie.
- Stokes
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"person from Stoke"Description:
Stokes is ultimately an English surname, although it's been used in Ireland and Scotland for generations as well. It's a variation of Stoke, a habitational surname, as there were many towns named Stoke in England. The origin of the word stoke, however, is contested. Some say it simply means "place," while others contest it designated a small hamlet. There's also evidence that connects it to the Old English word stocc, meaning "tree trunk."
- Macrae
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of grace"Description:
MacRae -- or McRay or McCrae -- is a Scottish surname-name whose meaning is most often given as son of grace or sometimes son of luck. The hero of Lonesome Dove's last name was McCrae. A good honor name for a Ray or Rae, it can also be shortened to Mac.
- Mckay
Origin:
GaelicMeaning:
"son of Aodh"Description:
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.
- Forrester
Origin:
Surname nameMeaning:
"woodsman"Description:
A slight elaboration on Forrest, with the same woodsy charm.
- Finlay
Origin:
Irish and ScottishMeaning:
"fair-haired hero"Description:
Finlay is a Scottish royal name (it belonged to Macbeth"s father) that was revived by several celebrity parents. Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn, Daniel Baldwin and Lisa Marie Presley all did a gender switch on Finlay when they named their daughters Finley.
- Galloway
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"stranger"Description:
A rare but distinguished Scottish name. The original Galloway is a region in south-west Scotland, and the meaning ("stranger-Gaels") refers to its mixed population of Scandinavian and Gaelic-speaking people. It later became a surname and a sturdy breed of cattle. Galloway could be a fresh addition to better-known Scottish places like Murray and Ross.
- Hamill
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"scarred"Description:
Though we usually think a name's image in contemporary culture supersedes its ancient meaning, this is a case where the definition could undermine a child's self-esteem.
- Brisbane
Origin:
Scottish surname and Australian place nameMeaning:
"break bone"Description:
Influencer couple Rachel and Jordan Flom put Brisbane on the baby name map when they used it for one of their triplet sons, born in 2024. Australian place names — from Adelaide to Sydney to Victoria — have long been favorites among parents, but Brisbane has a more modern, gender-neutral appeal.
- Findlay
- Hutchings
Origin:
Scottish surname, related to HUGHMeaning:
"mind, intellect"Description:
Hutchings, rarely heard as a first name, is a semi-patronymic denoting 'son of Hugh'. What it's got going for it is cute nickname Hutch, a cousin of Hitch and Huck.
- Dunbar
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"castle headland"Description:
Clear and strong, if a little heavy.
- Airlie
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"place name"Description:
This Scottish surname and Scottish and Australian place name has a pleasant airy and breezy sound to it. Camden mayor Lara Symkowiak chose the name for her daughter born in 2016.
- Halliday
Origin:
Scottish surnameMeaning:
"holiday"Description:
This ancient Scottish surname may be pagan in origin, referring to a "holy day", but today it makes an attractive and unique Scottish name for girls. Halliday has many spelling variations and traveled throughout the British Isles and to France, where it has royal associations, and eventually to the new world. Johnny Hallyday was a French pop star.
- Maclain
- Carrington
Origin:
English, Scottish surnameMeaning:
"from Carrington"Description:
This habitational surname works as a modern way to honor a Carrie, Carolyn, or Caroline.
- Mckenzie
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of Kenneth"Description:
Form of Mackenzie