The words ‘Mc’ and ‘Mac’ mean the same: “son of”.
It’s either pronounced as ‘Mc’ without any sort of gaps or elaborate expression between the letters M and C, or ‘Mac’ with the space between M and C being occupied by an American ‘a’ sound. Generally starting with ‘Mc’ are more likely to be Irish, whilst surnames that start with ‘Mac’ are more commonly Scottish.
Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most common Irish and Scottish surnames that start with ‘Mc’ and explore what these ‘Mc’ names mean. The ‘Mc’ last names that we’ll discuss are all closely linked to the family, culture and the heritage of the Irish and Scottish nations.
To learn more about surnames, take a look at these Scottish surnames, or for something a little older these medieval surnames.
Scottish Surnames Starting With ‘Mc’
Let’s start off this list with some Scottish names that start with ‘Mc’.
1. McAdam (Scottish origin), McAdam is a Mc name for boys that originated in Ayrshire and means “son of Adam”.
2. McAllister (Scottish origin), McAllister is a surname for boys that means “son of Alexander”.
3. McAndrew (Scottish origin), McAndrew is a surname meaning “son of Andrew”.
4. McArthur (Scottish origin), McArthur is a Scottish surname for boys meaning “son of Arthur”.
5. McCaskill (Scottish origin),McCaskill is a Scottish surname meaning “son of the cauldron of sacrifices that we offer to our Gods”.
6. McAulay (Scottish origin), McAulay is a Scottish surname that comes from ‘MacAmhaoibh’; a Gaelic name, which means “ancestor’s descendent”.
7. McCallum (Scottish origin), McCallum is one of the variations of the name ‘Malcolm’, which means “the son of Columbia’s servant”.
8. McCartney (Scottish origin),McCartney is a Scottish surname that originated in Galloway and means “son of Art”.
9. McLintock (Scottish origin),McLintock means “the son of Saint Findon’s servant”.
10. McColl (Scottish origin), McColl is a Scottish surname that has its roots in Argyll and means “son of Colla”.
11. McConnell (Scottish origin), McConnell means “son of Donald”.
12. McDiarmid (Scottish origin), McDiarmid is a Scottish surname that means “son of Dermott”.
13. McDonald (Scottish origin),McDonald is one of the most common Scottish last names that start with ‘Mc’ and it means “son of Donald”.
14. McDonnell (Scottish origin),Just like McDonald, McDonnell is a Scottish name that means “son of Donald”.
15. McDougal (Scottish origin),McDougal is a Scottish surname that means “son of the dark stranger Dougal”.
16. McDuff (Scottish origin), McDuff is one of the Scottish origin names with ‘Mc’ as its beginning. It means “son of Duff”.
17. McEwan (Scottish origin), McEwan is a Scottish family name that means “son of Ewan”.
18. McFadden (Scottish origin), McFadden is an Anglicized version of the family name ‘Mac Phaiden’ that means “son of little Patrick”.
19. McPhee (Scottish origin),McPhee is a Scottish surname that means “son of Dubshithe”.
20. McGill (Scottish origin),McGill means “son of the stranger”.
21. McGregor (Scottish origin), This is one of the Scottish last names with ‘Mc’ as their beginning that means “son of Gregor”.
22. McKean (Scottish origin), McKean is a family name that means “son of John” or “son of Iain”.
23. McIntyre (Scottish origin), McIntyre is a Scottish last name from Glencoe that means “son of the carpenter”.
24. McCoy (Scottish origin),McCoy is a Scottish surname that means “son of Aodh”. In Gaelic language, ‘Aodh’ means “fire”.
25. McKenzie (Scottish origin), McKenzie is a last name that means “son of Kenneth”.
26. McKinley (Scottish origin), McKinley is a Scottish last name that means “son of Cionadh”. In Gaelic language, ‘Cionadh’ means “beloved of Aodh”. Aodh is the Celtic God of fire.
27. McLaren (Scottish origin),McLaren means “son of Laurene”.
28. McLean (Scottish origin), McLean is a Scottish family name that stands for a “follower of St. John”.
29. McLeish (Scottish origin),McLeish is a family name that means “Jesus’ servant’s son”.
30. McLennan (Scottish origin), McLennan is a Scottish last name that means “St. Finnan’s servant’s son”.
31. McLeod (Scottish origin),McLeod is a Scottish surname that means “son of Leod”.
32. McMillan (Scottish origin), McMillan is a Scottish last name that means “the tonsured one’s son”.
33. McNab (Scottish origin), McNab is a Scottish surname that means “father’s son” and “the abbot’s son”.
34. McNeill (Scottish origin),McNeil is a Scottish last name that means “son of Niall”. In ancient Gaelic, ‘Niall’ means “champion”.
35. McFall (Scottish origin),McFall is a Scottish surname that means “son of Paul”.
36. McQueen (Scottish origin), McQueen is a Scottish family name that means “son of Sweyn” and “son of Suibne”. In the Gaelic language, Sweyn means “servant” and Suibne means “pleasant”.
37. McCrae (Scottish origin), McCrae is a Scottish surname that means “son of grace”.
38. McTavish (Scottish origin),McTavish is a Scottish last name that means “son of Thomas”.
39. McVaxter (Scottish origin), McVaxter is a Scottish surname that means “son of Baxter”.
40. McKnockater (Scottish origin),McKnockater is a Scottish surname that means “son of Knockater”.
41. McIntosh (Scottish origin), McIntosh is a Scottish surname that’s now famous for the world’s most user-friendly PCs, laptops and mobile devices.
42. McInroy (Scottish origin), McInroy is a Scottish surname that means “son of Inroy”.
43. McCadie (Scottish origin), McCadie, a Scottish name, means “loved one”.
44. McAndrew (Scottish origin), McAndrew, a Scottish name, means “son of Andrew”.
45. McAskin (Scottish origin), McAskin, a Scottish radio personality with this last name has now become famous among younger generations.
46. McVicar (Scottish origin), McVicar is a name that epitomizes “success”.
47. McCaig (Scottish origin), McCaig means “son of Caig”.
48. McAffer (Scottish origin), McAffer is a Scottish name and it means “a casual friend”.
49. McCodrum (Scottish origin),McCodrum means “Codrum’s son”.
50. McCrimmon (Scottish origin),McCrimmon is a Scottish name for “son of Crimmon”.
51. McCrossan (Scottish origin), McCrossan is a Scottish title and it means “son of Crossan”.
52. McCuaig (Scottish origin),McCuaig means “famous cook”.
53. McCuish (Scottish origin), McCuish is a Scottish name and it means “cook”.
Irish Surnames Starting With Mc
In this list, we’ll take a look at some that start with ‘Mc’
54. McBride (Irish origin), McBride is an Irish surname that means “St. Brigid’s servant’s son”.
55. McCabe (Irish origin),McCabe is an Irish surname that is meant for mercenaries serving various Irish lords.
56. McCann (Irish origin), McCann is an Irish surname that has its origins in the ancient Gaelic language.
57. McCarthy (Irish origin),McCarthy is an Irish surname that was used to describe people who have descended from one of the most famous chieftains of the twelfth century: Carthac.
58. McCormack (Irish origin),McCormack means “son of Cormac”.
59. McAvoy (Irish origin), McAvoy is an Irish surname that means “yellow son” or “woodsman”.
60. McKee (Irish origin),McKee is an Irish surname that means “worshipper of the Gaelic God of Fire; Aodh”.
61. McGinn (Irish origin), McGinn means “son of the foreigner”.
62. McGovern (Irish origin), McGovern is an Irish surname that means “son of summer”.
63. McGowan (Irish origin), McGowan means “son of the smith”.
64. McGrath (Irish origin),McGrath is an Irish surname that means “the wealthy man’s son”.
65. McHugh (Irish origin), McHugh means “son of Hugh”.
66. McErney (Irish origin), McErney is an Irish surname beginning with ‘Mc’ that means “son of the Lord”.
67. McKown (Irish origin),McKown is an Irish surname that means “the son of Eoghan”.
68. McLaughlin (Irish origin), McLaughlin is an Irish surname that has its roots in the ancient Gaelic language.
69. McMahon (Irish origin),McMahon means “a bear’s son”.
70. McNally (Irish origin),McNally is an Irish surname beginning with ‘Mc’ that means “a poor man’s son”.
71. McNamara (Irish origin), McNamara means “the sea hound’s son”.
72. McNulty (Irish origin), McNulty is an Irish surname that means “son of Ulster”.
73. McQuaid (Irish origin), McQuaid is an Irish surname that means “son of Uaid”.
74. McQuillan (Irish origin),McQuillan means “little Hugh’s son”.
75. McAllister (Irish origin),McAllister is an Irish surname starting the ‘Mc’ that means “Alasdair’s son”.
76. McAuley (Irish origin), McAuley is an Irish masculine surname that means “Amhalghadh’s son”.
77. McCabe (Irish origin), McCabe is an Irish masculine surname that means “Caba’s son”.
78. McCaul (Irish origin), McCaul is an Irish surname that means “battle chief”.
79. McGahan (Irish origin), McGahan means “horse”.
80. McGillicuddy (Irish origin), McGillicuddy was a surname given to members of the MacGillycuddy clan.
81. McOspaic (Irish origin),McOspaic was an Irish surname given to the young ones who bore ‘Ospac’s son’ as their birthright.
82. McRaghnaill (Irish origin), McRaghnaill is one of the Irish language’s contemporary masculine surnames and it means “Raghnall’s son”.
83. McCreary (Irish origin), McCreary ranks among one of the most popular Irish language names of all the ‘Mc’ names on this list; it means “son of Ruaidhri”.
84. McSitric (Irish origin),McSitric is one of the most commonly used ‘Mc’ names in the Irish language and it means “Sitreac’s sons”.
85. McSorley (Irish origin),McSorley is an Irish name that’s known for “Somhairie’s son”.
86. McSeveney (Irish origin),McSeveney is a surname starting with ‘Mc’ that means “son of Suibhne”.
87. McCorkell (Irish origin), McCorkell means “son of Thor’s cauldron”.
88. McAmhalghaidh (Irish origin),McAmhalghaid means “Amhalghaid’s son”.
89. McIomhair (Irish origin),McIomhair is a surname starting with ‘Mc’ that means Iomhair’s son.
90. McSitric (Irish origin),McSitri is a popular surname that means “Sitreac’s son”.
91. McConaughey (Irish origin), McConaughey is an Irish surname that has caught on after the success of Matthew McConaughey’s ‘True Detective’ and ‘Dallas Buyers Club’.
92. McAllen (Irish origin),McAllen is a surname that means “son of Allen”.
93. McAlpin (Irish origin), McAlpin is a nickname that means “business”.
94. McArdle (Irish origin),McArdle is an Irish surname known for its courage and bravery.
95. McCarthy (Irish origin),McCarthy means “loving person”.
96. McLoughlin (Irish origin), McLoughlin is a surname and it means “Viking”.
97. McKenna (Irish origin), McKenna means “fire-sprung”.
98. McKinnon (Irish origin),McKinnon means “son of Kinnon”.
99. McKilligan (Irish origin),McKilligan means “son of Killigan”.
100. McLure (Irish origin), McLure is a popular Irish surname that means “son of Lure”.
has lots of great names articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for ‘Mc’ names then why not take a look at this list of royal last names, or for something different take a look at these cool last names for characters.
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