Notes on Name Formation in Scots and Latin Renderings of Gaelic Names

            This article is intended to provide guidance on the formation of Gaelic names rendered in either Latin or Scots.  There are many reasons why a submitter might prefer a Scots or Latinized spelling.  Scots is generally easier to spell and pronounce than Gaelic.  Scots spellings also are closer to the modern spellings familiar to submitters. 

Examples in this article were extracted from The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (RPS), a fully searchable database containing the proceedings of the Scottish parliament from 1235 to 1707. The RPS database provides transcriptions of the original documents with the original language and spelling intact. 

Part I: Mac-, Mak- and Mc-

Gaelic uses literal patronymics in the form [mac] + [genitive form of the father’s given name].  When Gaelic names are rendered in non-Gaelic forms, the patronymic takes a variety of spellings. 

In Latin records, the patronymic marker appears as Mac-, Mak- or Mc-.  There is no space between the patronymic marker and the father’s name.  For example:

Maldoueni Mackenedi

Lawemundum McGreghere

Malcolmi McIuyr

Fergusium Mcdowale

Alexandro Makcane

Andream Macnayr’

            In Scots records, the patronymic marker appears as Mac-, Mak- or Mc-.  There is no space between the patronymic marker and the father’s name.  For example:

Fergus McDowell

Donald McNachtan

Robert Makillwitty

Molay Makill

Willie MacMorrin

Alexander MacClellan

There does not appear to be any clear rule for when Mc- or Mac- will be used by the author of a document.  In both Latin and Scots, Mak- appears most frequently before vowels, hard ‘g’ or ‘c’ sounds.  For example:

Molay Makill

Nicholl Makintailyeour Mauto

Alexandro Makcane

Ewino Makkymmyng de Stracardill

Alexandro Makcloyd de Danwagane

Johanne Makclane de Lochboy

Jacobus Makgill de Rankelour Nether

Robert Makillwitty

Nevertheless, there are instances of Mak- being used before other consonants as well:

Makrendald’ Wan’ de Large

Morphe Makphe de Colwinsnay

Ivor Moir alias Makthomas

            The College of Heralds’ current rule is that Mc- is a scribal abbreviation that must be expanded to Mac- for registration.  The data from the RPS supports this rule.  I found examples in both Scots and Latin records of Mac- and Mc- used interchangeably for the same name. 

Name Forms	Record Date	Language
MacDuf and McDuf	9 Feb 1293	Latin
Macnayr’ and Mcnayr’	25 Mar 1392	Latin
MacClane and McClane	1505	Latin
Makphe and McPhe	1531	Latin
MacQuhirrie and McQuhirrie	1 Dec 1585	Scots

Part II: Name Patterns

A.           Mac- Style Bynames With Locatives

The RPS provides numerous examples of Mac-style bynames combined with locative bynames, both in Latin and in Scots, from the late 15th century onwards.  In Latin, the form is de + [place name].  Scots examples use of, off and in before the place name.

Latin examples:

Johanne MacClane de Lochboy (1505)

Torculo Makloyd' de Lewis (1505)

Alexandro McCloyd de Dunwagane (1531)

Hectore McClane de Doward (1531)

Jacobus Makgill de Rankelour Nether (1572)

Scots examples:

Archbald McCoulach of Ardwele (1483)

Vchtre McDowell off D[er]regill (1494)

Lauchtlane McClane of Dowart (1504)

Thomas McDowel off Makcarstoun (1560)

James McKill of Rankeloure (1570)

Andro MacBrum in Kirkbein (1585)

Andro Mackynnay in Skinfurd (1585)

All of the examples of in + [place name] come from a single series of documents.  This formation may represent a scribal quirk.

B.           Mac-Style Bynames With Descriptives

Scots renderings of Gaelic names show a variety of descriptive bynames being used as part of the name.  Descriptives appear as stand-alone bynames, as well as in combination with other byname elements.  Where a Gaelic equivalent is available, I have provided both the Gaelic descriptive and the meaning.  Where no such equivalent could be identified, I used the translation provided by the RPS.

Name Found in Document	Record Date	Probable Gaelic Form
Allane McKintailyeour Roy	1496	Roy = Ruadh (red)
Donald Dow	1496	Dow = Dubh (black)
Donald Moire McMorich	1496	Moire = Mór (big, great)
Jhone Doue McKinglas	1496	Doue = Dubh (black)
Keuer Beg	1496	Beg = Beag (small)
Donald Fuktoure McFadzane	1496	Fuktoure = “the waulker”
Jhone Cannonocht McMorich	1496	Cannonocht = “the cannon”
Nicholl Makintailyeour Mauto	1496	Mauto = “the stammerer”
Donald McFinlay Roy	1641	Roy = Ruadh (red)
Donald McDonald Greasiche in Teannachcraige	1641	Greasiche = Ghreusaiche (shoemaker)
Donald Oig	1641	Oig = Òg (young, junior)
James McDonald Roy in Culkairne	1641	Roy = Ruadh (red)
Johne Croy McEayne	1641	Croy = Cruaidh (callous, harsh)
William McEayne roy in Keanlochglass	1641	Roy = Ruadh (red)
Donald Gorme McDonald	1645	Gorm = Gorme (blue)
Donnald Glas McRonnald of Keppoche	1645	Glas = Glas (green/gray)
Duncane Roy in Downy	1645	Roy = Ruadh (red)
Johne dow McGillie Chouneill in Keanadrochen	1649	Dow = Dubh (black)

I found far fewer Latin examples with descriptive bynames.  The same individual is found in a series of 1505 Latin documents as:

Donaldo Macrannaldbane

Donaldo Makranald' Bane

Donaldo McRanald Bane

Donaldo McRanald' Bane

Donaldo McRannald' Bane

Donaldo McRaynald' Bane

The byname appears to be a form of the Gaelic Bán meaning “fair, white.”

I also found several examples of what may be descriptive bynames.  However, additional research is required to confirm these name elements.

McDonald' Gallich' de Dunskawich' (1531)

Makrenald' Wan' de Large (1531)

C.           Multi-Generational Bynames

The RPS gives numerous forms of multi-generational bynames.  One of the two Latin examples uses both the Latin patronymic marker filius (in the accusative form in the documentary example) and the Gaelic patronymic marker Mc-.  The other Latin example uses the Gaelic patronymic markers.

Scots multi-generational bynames appear primarily during the grey period.  The grandfather’s name is found marked with both vic and Mc-

Examples:

Name Forms	Record Date	Language
Anneesium filium Duncani McGregere	1293	Latin
Lochmani Mckilcoli’ McErewer	1293	Latin
Alexander McEayne, vic Alister	1641	Scots
Finlay McFinlay, vic Eayne	1641	Scots
Finlay McWilliam vic Gillimichaell in Belnacoull	1641	Scots
Johne McDonald, vic Rorie	1641	Scots
William McEayne, vic Conill	1641	Scots
William McFinlay, vic Alister in Achnagall	1641	Scots
Alexander McDonnald alias Colkittoches sone	1645	Scots
Coill McGillespike McDonald	1645	Scots
Donald McInnes McAlexander of Glengarie	1646	Scots
Angus McEane McPhoull	1649	Scots
Donald McAlaster McWilliam McAllaster	1649	Scots
Donald McGeorge McReich	1649	Scots
Hutcheoun McAllaster McCondochie	1649	Scots
Hutcheoun McCondochie McEan	1649	Scots
William McHame McEanroy	1649	Scots
William McWilliam McThomas Abrach	1649	Scots
Rorie McEan McNeill	1649	Scots