In Scotland the Surname (Last Name or Family Name, and for ease from this point on Surname) comes from the following sources;
Name Types
|
Description
|
| A Patronymic |
This is a Surname derived from a Forename such as John, Peter, David, Ewan etc. |
| A Sobriquet |
This is a Surname derived from a Nickname, the classic examples in Scotland are Campbell from the Celtic, Scots Gaelic, Cam Beul - Crooked Mouth, given to Colin MacDiarmid of Loch Awe after a battle injury dislocated his jaw, Cameron from the Celtic, Scots Gaelic, Cam Sron – Crooked Mouth given due to the distinctive nose shape of the Cameron Chiefs and Macintyre from the Celtic, Scots Gaelic, Mac An T’Saor – Son of the Carpenter given to Macarill MacNeil by his uncle Somhairle (Somerled). |
| An Occunymic |
This is a Surname derived from an occupation such as Baker (masculine form) Baxter (feminine form), Brewer (masculine form), Brewster (feminine form), Door Ward. All three are derived from the Teutonic, Anglic, through the Celtic, Scots, language. |
| A Toponymic |
This is a Surname derived from a topographic feature that was prominent in the region that the family lived in, this includes Drummond from the Celtic, Scots Gaelic, Druim An – Little Ridge and Meldrum from Maol Druim – Tonsured (or Bald) Ridge. |
