Scottish Border surnames such as Armstrong, Elliot, Graham, Scott and Kerr grew from kin groups shaped by life on the Anglo-Scottish frontier. Learn how Border Reiver family names developed, where they were concentrated and how to research a possible connection.
Tag Archives: Family history
Scottish Norman surnames arrived with families connected to the Anglo-Norman world in the 12th century, then became part of Scotland’s own political, regional and family history. Learn the background to names including Bruce, Fraser, Sinclair, Hay, Graham and Balliol.
Scottish place-name surnames often began as labels for people associated with a village, estate, region, river or landscape feature. Learn how names such as Douglas, Crawford, Leslie, Moffat, Sutherland and Elgin developed, and why a shared surname does not always prove shared ancestry.
Scottish occupational surnames preserve clues to the trades that once identified an ancestor, from Stewart and Baxter to Fletcher, Walker and Taylor. Learn how job titles became inherited family names and why their use varied across Scotland.
Looking for Scottish last names that start with X? The short answer is that they are extremely rare in Scottish naming records and surname lists. This guide explains why, what turns up instead, and which related Scottish surnames and spellings are worth checking.