Scottish Gaelic surname changes

[Shona]

At some point when researching your family tree, you will come across a variation in the spelling of a surname. Understanding that spelling can be fluid will make research easier. However, in parts of Scotland, in addition to variant spellings, you may come across name changes. In the 18th century, many Gaelic speakers in Scotland changed their surnames. Sometimes this was deliberate following the banning of tartan in the mid 18th century. In other cases, clerks and ministers (who may have had a poor command of Gaelic) recorded an ‘anglicised’ version of a Gaelic surname.

I remember searching a document for Edward Milloy and found him. However, I disregarded later entries for Iver McIllmaluaig, which I later learnt was the Gaelic version of Edward Milloy.

Listed below are some of the more dramatic name changes that I’ve come across when researching my family in the south-west of Argyllshire.

Please add any name changes that you have encountered.


Arnot McIlvrennenich, Brennan

Black Dubh
Blue McIlligurmine, McGurman, McIlgorne
Bridey McBride
Bradley Brolachan, O’Brolachan
Bowie Buidhe, Buie, Buoy, McIlbuy, Buidheach
Boyd Boideach
Brown McBrion

Calder McCaldrin
Carmichael McA’Lecechel, McIlmichael, McMichael
Christie Gillechriosd
Clark McInclerich, McA’Chlery, McCleirach
Cochrane McEachrane
Conley McIllconneltiche, McIlchonnelie, Connally
Cook McCook, McCuaig, McCoag, McCaig
Currie/Curry McVurich, McWhirrie, McCurry, McQuore, McGorry

Dewar Deoireach, Doirea
Docherty O’Dougherty
Downie McGildownie, McIldownie
Duffy McDubhsith

Ferguson McFergish, McKerras
Fraser Friseal

Galbraith McBretny, McBretnich, McIllvretnich, McVretnich, McVretny
Gibb McIllbhide
Gillies McIleish, McLeise
Gilchrist McIlchrist, McIllgriest
Gillespie GilleEasbaig
Graham McIlvernoch
Glass McIllglaish

Hay McGaragh
Hattan McIllchattan, McGillechattan
Hawthorn McO’Drain, O’Drain, Drean, Drain
Henderson McKendrich
Hendry McKendrich
Hutcheson McHutcheon

Kay/McKay Coidheach
Keith McKeith, McKichan, McKeich, Caidh
Kelly McA’Chalies, McO’Kelly, O’Kelly, O’Kaldie
Kerr McIllchere
King McRigh, McRee

Lang O’Loynachan, Loynachan
Little/Littleson McFiggan, McFigeinn
Livingston McLevin, McLibhiston, McLea, McOnlea
Love McKinven

Mair McA’Maoir
Malloy/Milloy McIlmaluaig
Martin(e) McIlmartin
Mathieson McMa, McMath
Morrison McVorran
Munro McInroich

Paterson/Paton McFater, McPhater, McPhadder
Purcell McSporran

Roy/Gilroy McIllruadh
Revie McIllreavie

Shannon McShannon
Shaw McIlheany
Sellars/Sillars McInarganach
Sinclair McNokarird
Smith McGowan

Thomson McAvish, McCavish, McOmish, McTavish
Tosh McIntosh

Stalker McA’Stoher, McInstocker, McStockair

Williamson McWilliam
Weir McA’Maoir
Wilkie McQuilkan

Young McGillog, McIllog, McGill’oig