MCNAUGHT
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Naught, Mcnaught
McNaught is a Scottish surname that originates from the Gaelic Mac Neachtain, literally meaning “son of Neachtan.” The prefix Mac or its shortened form Mc signifies a patronymic relationship, a common feature in Scottish surnames.
The personal name Neachtan itself is derived from the Gaelic word neacht, which is interpreted as “pure” or “clear.” In some accounts Neachtan is also linked to neach, meaning “champion” or “warrior,” thereby connoting bravery or prowess in battle.
Historical evidence for the name dates back to the mid‑13th century. One of the earliest recorded spellings appears in the Charters, Bulls and Other Documents Relating to the Abbey of Inchaffray as Gillecrist MacNachtan in the year 1247, during King Alexander XI’s reign. In 1357 the name is documented in a charter witnessed by Cristinus McNawyche of the monastery of Kilwinning, where the spelling McNaughten occurs.
Alternative origins are also cited. In one tradition the name is seen as a Donegal variant of the Irish MacKnight—an Anglicised form of Mac an ridire, meaning “son of the knight.” That lineage is associated with the Norman family of Fitzsimons who settled in County Meath. Other scholars regard the surname as an abbreviated form of MacNaughton, the Anglicised version of the Gaelic Mac Neachdainn, whose constituent- elements are mac (son) and Neachdain, a personal name derived from the Pictish Nechtan. The resulting meaning is again interpreted as “son of Nechtan”. These different paths show the diverse linguistic influences that shaped the name.
Numerous variants of the surname have evolved over time, including McNaughtan, McNaughten, McNauchtan, McNeight and McNutt. Some spellings, such as McNaughton and MacNaughton, represent the same patronymic lineage but display different Anglicisations.
McNaught originally clustered in Galloway in south‑west Scotland, which remains the name’s traditional homeland. From there the family spread across Scotland and, during the 18th and 19th centuries, emigrated to North America, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of Europe. Contemporary records indicate that it is moderately common in the United Kingdom but less frequent than many of the more prolific Scottish surnames.
While the surname is still best recognised as a Scottish patronymic, notable bearers of the name—or its close variants—include Bishop Andrew McNaughton, an educator and prelate in Canada, and Jesco‑style tennis professional Jorge McNaught of Panama. Their achievements exemplify the continued presence of the name on an international stage.
Typical given names associated with the McNaught surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Agnes
- Alison
- Anne
- Catherine
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McNaught in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 2,284 people named McNaught in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,776th most common surname in Britain. Around 35 in a million people in Britain are named McNaught.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McNaught
- Ken McNaught - Scottish football player
- Willie McNaught - Scottish football player (1922 to 1989)
- David McNaught - Football player
- Thomas McNaught - Filmmaker
- David McNaught - Canadian politician (1839 to 1922)
- William McNaught - Engineer, died 1881 (1813 to 1881)
- James McNaught - Scottish football player (1870 to 1919)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.