Scots-Irish Family Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Origins and Meanings

Are you researching your family history and have stumbled upon a Scots-Irish surname? The heritage of the Scots-Irish people is rich and complex, reflected in the diverse origins and meanings of their surnames. This comprehensive list explores over 40 common Scots-Irish family names, delving into their historical roots and revealing the stories behind their unique meanings. Whether you're looking for information on your own last name or simply fascinated by the fascinating world of genealogy, this guide offers valuable insights into the rich tapestry of Scots-Irish ancestry.
1. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew, a name of Greek origin meaning "manly" or "strong."
2. **Armstrong:** Son of a strong man, derived from the Old English words "arm" and "streng."
3. **Bell:** Derived from the Old English word "bell," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."
4. **Bennett:** Son of Benedict, a name of Latin origin meaning "blessed."
5. **Black:** Derived from the Old English word "blæc," meaning "black" or "dark."
6. **Blair:** Derived from the Gaelic word "blair," meaning "field" or "plain."
7. **Boone:** Derived from the Old French word "bonne," meaning "good."
8. **Brown:** Derived from the Old English word "brūn," meaning "brown" or "dark."
9. **Campbell:** Derived from the Gaelic word "cam," meaning "crooked," and "beul," meaning "mouth."
10. **Carson:** Derived from the Gaelic word "carsa," meaning "rock" or "cliff."
11. **Clark:** Derived from the Old English word "clerc," meaning "clerk" or "scholar."
12. **Clayton:** Derived from the Old English words "clay" and "tūn," meaning "clay farm."
13. **Conley:** Derived from the Gaelic word "conlach," meaning "strong warrior."
14. **Crawford:** Derived from the Old English words "cræft" and "ford," meaning "craft ford."
15. **Cunningham:** Derived from the Gaelic words "con" and "ing," meaning "hound" and "son."
16. **Davidson:** Son of David, a Hebrew name meaning "beloved."
17. **Davis:** Son of David, a Hebrew name meaning "beloved."
18. **Dillon:** Derived from the Gaelic word "díleán," meaning "a place of willows."
19. **Duncan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "donnchadh," meaning "dark warrior."
20. **Edwards:** Son of Edward, an Old English name meaning "wealthy guardian."
21. **Evans:** Son of Evan, a Welsh name meaning "the Lord is gracious."
22. **Ferguson:** Son of Fergus, a Gaelic name meaning "manly" or "strong."
23. **Fitzgerald:** Son of Gerald, a Germanic name meaning "spear rule."
24. **Fletcher:** Derived from the Old English word "fleccan," meaning "to plait" or "to weave."
25. **Ford:** Derived from the Old English word "ford," meaning "a shallow crossing place in a river."
26. **Foster:** Derived from the Old English word "fostre," meaning "to nourish" or "to bring up."
27. **Franklin:** Derived from the Old French word "franc," meaning "free."
28. **Garrett:** Derived from the Germanic name "Gerhard," meaning "spear warrior."
29. **Gibson:** Son of Gib, a short form of the name Gilbert, meaning "bright hostage."
30. **Gill:** Derived from the Old English word "gīll," meaning "ravine" or "valley."
31. **Graham:** Derived from the Gaelic word "gram," meaning "gravel."
32. **Gray:** Derived from the Old English word "græg," meaning "gray."
33. **Greene:** Derived from the Old English word "grēne," meaning "green."
34. **Hamilton:** Derived from the Gaelic word "hamiltun," meaning "high settlement."
35. **Harris:** Derived from the Old English word "hari," meaning "army" or "warrior."
36. **Harrison:** Son of Harry, a Germanic name meaning "home ruler."
37. **Hayes:** Derived from the Old English word "hēah," meaning "high."
38. **Henderson:** Son of Henry, a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the home."
39. **Henry:** A Germanic name meaning "ruler of the home."
40. **Hill:** Derived from the Old English word "hyll," meaning "hill."
41. **Hogan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "ó hógáin," meaning "descendant of Ógáin."
42. **Holland:** Derived from the Old English words "hōl" and "land," meaning "hollow land."
43. **Holmes:** Derived from the Old English word "holm," meaning "island."
44. **Hunter:** Derived from the Old English word "huntere," meaning "hunter."
45. **Jackson:** Son of Jack, a short form of the name John, meaning "God is gracious."
46. **James:** A Hebrew name meaning "supplanter."
47. **Johnson:** Son of John, a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious."
48. **Jones:** Son of John, a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious."
49. **Jordan:** Derived from the Hebrew word "yardēn," meaning "to descend."
50. **Kelly:** Derived from the Gaelic word "ceallach," meaning "bright" or "warlike."
51. **Kennedy:** Derived from the Gaelic word "cinn eideann," meaning "head of the race."
52. **King:** Derived from the Old English word "cyning," meaning "king."
53. **Kirk:** Derived from the Old Norse word "kirkja," meaning "church."
54. **Knight:** Derived from the Old English word "cniht," meaning "boy" or "servant."
55. **Lane:** Derived from the Old English word "lāna," meaning "lane" or "path."
56. **Lawrence:** Derived from the Latin name "Laurentius," meaning "from Laurentum."
57. **Lee:** Derived from the Old English word "lēah," meaning "meadow."
58. **Lewis:** Derived from the French name "Louis," meaning "famous warrior."
59. **Lindsay:** Derived from the Gaelic word "lios nan sìth," meaning "fort of the peace."
60. **Logan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "logain," meaning "hollow."
61. **Long:** Derived from the Old English word "lang," meaning "long."
62. **Lyons:** Derived from the Gaelic word "leóin," meaning "lion."
63. **MacDonald:** Son of Donald, a Gaelic name meaning "world ruler."
64. **MacGregor:** Son of Gregor, a Gaelic name meaning "watchful."
65. **McKinley:** Derived from the Gaelic words "mac" and "cinlaidhe," meaning "son of the warrior."
66. **McMahon:** Son of Máelmhóid, a Gaelic name meaning "devotee of God."
67. **Martin:** Derived from the Latin name "Martinus," meaning "warlike."
68. **Maxwell:** Derived from the Old English words "macc" and "well," meaning "son of the well."
69. **Miller:** Derived from the Old English word "millere," meaning "miller."
70. **Moore:** Derived from the Old English word "mōr," meaning "moor."
71. **Morgan:** Derived from the Welsh word "morgan," meaning "sea defender."
72. **Murphy:** Derived from the Gaelic word "murchadh," meaning "sea warrior."
73. **Murray:** Derived from the Gaelic word "muireadhach," meaning "sea warrior."
74. **Nelson:** Derived from the Old English words "neowol" and "sunu," meaning "new son."
75. **Newman:** Derived from the Old English word "niwe," meaning "new."
76. **Newton:** Derived from the Old English words "niwe" and "tūn," meaning "new farm."
77. **Nolan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "nuallán," meaning "champion."
78. **O'Brien:** Descendant of Brian, an Irish name meaning "strong" or "noble."
79. **O'Connell:** Descendant of Conchobhar, an Irish name meaning "lover of dogs."
80. **O'Neil:** Descendant of Niall, an Irish name meaning "champion."
81. **Parker:** Derived from the Old French word "parc," meaning "park."
82. **Patterson:** Son of Patrick, a Latin name meaning "nobleman."
83. **Payne:** Derived from the Old French word "paien," meaning "pagan."
84. **Pearson:** Son of Peter, a Greek name meaning "stone" or "rock."
85. **Perry:** Derived from the Old English word "pere," meaning "pear."
86. **Phillips:** Son of Philip, a Greek name meaning "lover of horses."
87. **Powell:** Derived from the Old French word "poulet," meaning "chicken."
88. **Price:** Derived from the Old English word "prīs," meaning "price."
89. **Quinn:** Derived from the Gaelic word "cuán," meaning "descendant of Conn."
90. **Ramsey:** Derived from the Old English words "ram" and "ēa," meaning "ram island."
91. **Reed:** Derived from the Old English word "rīd," meaning "reed."
92. **Reynolds:** Derived from the Old French word "reinald," meaning "wise ruler."
93. **Rice:** Derived from the Old English word "rīce," meaning "powerful."
94. **Roberts:** Son of Robert, a Germanic name meaning "bright fame."
95. **Robinson:** Son of Robin, a short form of the name Robert, meaning "bright fame."
96. **Rogers:** Son of Roger, a Germanic name meaning "spear fame."
97. **Ross:** Derived from the Gaelic word "ros," meaning "headland" or "promontory."
98. **Russell:** Derived from the Old French word "roussel," meaning "red."
99. **Ryan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "ríon," meaning "king."
100. **Sanders:** Son of Alexander, a Greek name meaning "defender of mankind."
101. **Scott:** Derived from the Old English word "scēotan," meaning "to shoot" or "to throw."
102. **Sexton:** Derived from the Old English word "seax," meaning "knife."
103. **Shannon:** Derived from the Gaelic word "sionna," meaning "old."
104. **Shaw:** Derived from the Old English word "scēa," meaning "wood."
105. **Shepherd:** Derived from the Old English word "scēaphierde," meaning "sheepherder."
106. **Simmons:** Son of Simon, a Hebrew name meaning "hearing."
107. **Smith:** Derived from the Old English word "smið," meaning "blacksmith."
108. **Snider:** Derived from the Old English word "snīðan," meaning "to cut."
109. **Snyder:** Derived from the Old English word "snīðan," meaning "to cut."
110. **Spencer:** Derived from the Old French word "espencier," meaning "dispenser" or "steward."
111. **Stewart:** Derived from the Old English word "stiward," meaning "steward."
112. **Stone:** Derived from the Old English word "stān," meaning "stone."
113. **Sullivan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "suibhne," meaning "good."
114. **Taylor:** Derived from the Old English word "tailleur," meaning "tailor."
115. **Thomas:** A Hebrew name meaning "twin."
116. **Thompson:** Son of Thomas, a Hebrew name meaning "twin."
117. **Thornton:** Derived from the Old English words "þorn" and "tūn," meaning "thorn farm."
118. **Turner:** Derived from the Old English word "turnere," meaning "turner."
119. **Vance:** Derived from the French word "vannes," meaning "gates."
120. **Vaughan:** Derived from the Welsh word "faw," meaning "hawk."
121. **Walker:** Derived from the Old English word "wealcere," meaning "walker."
122. **Wallace:** Derived from the Gaelic word "uallas," meaning "strong."
123. **Walsh:** Derived from the Gaelic word "uaisle," meaning "noble."
124. **Walter:** A Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army."
125. **Ward:** Derived from the Old English word "weard," meaning "guard."
126. **Warren:** Derived from the Old French word "warin," meaning "protector."
127. **Watson:** Son of Walter, a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army."
128. **Weaver:** Derived from the Old English word "wēavere," meaning "weaver."
129. **Wells:** Derived from the Old English word "well," meaning "spring."
130. **West:** Derived from the Old English word "west," meaning "west."
131. **Wheeler:** Derived from the Old English word "hwēolere," meaning "wheelwright."
132. **White:** Derived from the Old English word "hwit," meaning "white."
133. **Williams:** Son of William, a Germanic name meaning "resolute protector."
134. **Wilson:** Son of William, a Germanic name meaning "resolute protector."
135. **Wise:** Derived from the Old English word "wīs," meaning "wise."
136. **Wood:** Derived from the Old English word "wud," meaning "wood."
137. **Wright:** Derived from the Old English word "wyrhta," meaning "worker."
138. **Young:** Derived from the Old English word "geong," meaning "young."