Surnames M

is a Scottish patronymic name from an Old Norse given name Makkr , which was a form of Magnus . Occasionally, in the US, the name Mack is an shortened form of any of the many Scottish names that began with the patronymic designator Mc, or Mac. Maccus is a variation.

is a spelling variant of McAulay, a Scottish patronymic name Anglicised from the Gaelic Mac Amhalghaidh , meaning son of Amhalghadh. McAullay, McAuley, McAllay, McAlley, McCaulay, McCauley, McCally, Cawley , and Gawley are among the other variations.

is a Scottish patronymic name that is an Anglicicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Leoid , from the Old Norse nickname Ljotr meaning ugly. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, though. McCloud is another form of the name.

are both Irish patronymic names, Anglicised from the Gaelic O Madaidhin , which meant ‘descendant of Madaidhin’ whose name was derived from madadh meaning hound, mastiff. Variations are Madine, O’Madden, O’Maddane, O’Madagane, O’Madigane, Maddigan , and Madigan.

is an Irish patronymic name, Anglicised from the Gaelic O'Meadhra , which meant "descendant of Meadhra ." That name came from Gaelic meadhar meaning mirth, joy. Variations are Meara, O'Meara , and as an aphetic form Mara .

is an Irish patronymic name, Anglicised from O' Maille , meaning 'descendant of the nobleman' from mal meaning prince, champion. Variations include Malley, Mealley, Meally, Melly, Melia, O'Malley, O'Mally, O'Maillie , and others.

is an English place name for the man who lived near or on a marsh or fen, and is derived from Old English mersc meaning marsh. During the period when surnames were adopted, -er was pronounced as -ar, and most surnames of the time retained the ancient pronunciation. Through later academic study of entymology, the correct pronunciation of -er was returned to the language and taught as vocabulary.

originally cared for the lord's horses, and acted as an early vet and farrier. Later on, the term evolved to describe an official in a noble's household in charge of the military affairs. It's an English Occupational name, either way.

a patronymic form of the English and Scottish nickname Master, which described the man who behaved in a masterful way, or as an occupational name for the master of a craft. It is derived from Middle English maister > Latin magister. The name was borne in early times by people who were freeholders of enough land that they had laborers who helped them work the land. In Scotland, the eldest sons of Barons held this title, and the name may have been an acquired nickname for the servant of the eldest son of a baron.

English Patronymic Name, Matthew means 'gift of Yahweh' as does Matthias -- both were popular first names in early times, and it is almost impossible to determine which derivatives came from which name...at any rate, Matthews and Mathews are English Patronymic names (from the father) and Mathis is the German counterpart. Matthews with the double-t was more popular in Wales.

is a Scottish and Irish patronymic form of the surname Alexander, from the popular given name from Greek Alexandros meaning defender of men. Other forms of McAllister are McAlester, McAllester, McAlister, McAllaster, McCallister, Mac Alastair .

Scottish/English Patronymic Name. McArdle is an Anglicised version of gaelic Mac Ardghail which came from the given name Ardghal. That name is composed of ard meaning height + gal meaning valor, for high valor. Variations are McArdell and McCardle .

is a Scottish and Irish patronymic name, Anglicised from the Gaelic Mac Caba , from the name Caba meaning cape, which described the wearer of a distinctive cape.

is an Irish patronymic name, Anglicised from the Gaelic Mac Carthaigh , meaning 'son of Carthach' whose name meant 'loving.' Mccarty, McCartie, McCarhie, McCarha, and McArthy are variations.

is a Scottish patronymic name, Anglicised from the Gaelic Mac Coluim , which is a patronymic form of the name Columba. It is more frequently seen as McCollum , but also exists as variations McAllum, McCollam .

is a Scottish patronymic name, Anglicised from the Gaelic Mac Dhomhnuill , which meant "son of Domhnall" whose name came from Celtic elements dubno meaning world + val meaning might, rule. When the name is of known Irish origin, it is taken from the Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Mac Conaill , meaning "son of Conall" whose name was taken from Celtic elements con, cu meaning hound + gal meaning valor. Variations include MacConnel, McConnal . Whannell and McWhannell are Scottish

is the patronymic form of the Scottish surname Cormack, an Anglicised form of the given name Cormac, from the elements corb meaning raven + mac meaning son. Cormick is a variant and Cormican is a diminutive form. McCormack, McCormick , and the Gaelic Mac Cormaic are patronymic forms; literally "son of raven's son."

are variations of the same surname, both Scottish Patronymic names derived from the Gaelic -- Mac Dhamhnuill , which means 'son of Domhnall ,' a given name from the Gaelic elements dubno meaningworld + val meaningrule. Other variations are McDonnell, McDonaill, McDonall , and McDaniel.

is a Scottish and Irish Patronymic name from the Anglicised form of Gaelic Mac Gobhann (Scottish) and Mac Gabhann (Irish) both from occupational nicknames for the village smith. It is also occasionally derived in Scotland from Mac Owein , a patronymic form of the given name Owen or Ewen. Variations include McGowing, McGowen, McGoune, Magowan, McAgown, McEgown, McIroine , and Gowans.

English Occupational Name...Mercer was the one who dealt in silks, velvet, and expensive materials, although the term was sometimes applied to merchants in general.

is an English matronymic name derived from the given name Muriel, which in itself came from Celtic muir meaning sea + gael meaning bright. Muriel was a popular name in East Anglia where it was introduced by Breton soldiers with William the Conqueror. Norsemen also brought the name to Northern England from Ireland. Variations include Merril, Merrel, Merrall, Murril, Murrell, Murrills, Merrells, Merralls, Murrells, Mirralls.

is an English and Scottish Place name derived from a place so-named in the former county of Dumfries, from the Gaelic word magh meaning plain, field + fada meaning long. Variations are Moffett, Moffitt, Muffatt, Muffett, Meffat , and Mefet.

is an English patronymic name derived from the Old Norse given name Mundi, a shortened form of several compound names with the element mundr meaning protection. Occasionally, it is a nickname for someone who had a particular association with that day of the week, such as having his feudal service due that day. Monday was considered a lucky day to be born, and some may have derived the nickname that way. Finally, Monday is sometimes of Irish origin, an Anglicised version of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Eoin , meaning "son of the servant of Eoin," and the confusion of the Irish in translating Giolla Eoin and Luain (the latter is Monday in Gaelic). Mondy, Mundy, Munday are variations.

is an English Place name for the man who lived on a moor, in a fen, or any of the various settlements with this name -- derived from their location near the moor or fen. It comes from the Old English mor . Occasionally, Moore is a nickname for the person with swarthy complexion, from Old French more meaning Moor/Negro, and sometimes Moore is derived from the Gaelic O'Mordha (descendant of Mordha , a name that meant 'great' or 'proud' in Gaelic) and Anglicised to Moore. Lastly, Moore can be a Scottish or Welsh Nickname for the big man, from Welsh mawr meaning big, great.

is a Patronymic name of Welsh, Scot, and Irish origin -- from an old Celtic given name ( Morien in Wales) composed of elements meaning sea + bright. Morgan is one of the most common, and oldest of the Welsh names. There is a Scottish Clan Morgan established in medieval times with connections to the McKays , and was likely developed independently of the Welsh surname. The Irish version is from O'Murchan or O'Morghane , from the Gaelic O'Murchain.

is an English and Scottish Place name derived from several places called that, and originated in the Old English elements mor meaning marsh, fen, moor + tun meaning enclosure, settlement. It was a name to describe the man who lived at the settlement by the marsh or moor.

is an Irish Patronymic name, an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name O'Maolain , which meant 'descendant of Maolan' whose name meant 'devotee' or 'tonsured one.' O'Mullane is a variation of Mullen, as are Mullens, Mullin, Mullins, Millin, Mullings, Mullane, Mulhane, Mullon, Millens, Milling, Mollan,Moylan, Melane, O'Moylane, O'Mullane, O'Mollane , O'Melane .