Scottish Surnames

Scottish surnames divide themselves into two classes, Highland, and Lowland. In very few instances were they assigned before the eleventh century, and indeed by far the larger proportion, since the thirteenth century. They have originated in various ways. Some are derived from localities, as Maxwell, Nisbet, Ralston ; baptismal names, as Anderson, Bennett, Lawrence ; trades, as Baxter, Fletcher, Nasmyth ; offices, as Bannerman, Grieve, Walker; professions, as Clerk, Freer, Kemp; peculiarities of body and mind, as Fairfax, Laing, May; armorial bearings, as Cross, Heart, Horn ; nativity, as Fleming, Inglis, Scott; and from many other sources. Highland surnames are chiefly patronymics, with various prefixes and additions, as Farquhar, Mackenzie, Robertson ; but there are some exceptions, a few being derived from localities, as Lennox, Murray, Ross ; a good number from peculiarities, as Cameron, Campbell, Grant; and some from armorial bearings, and offices, as Frazer, Skene, Stewart. Lowland surnames having been adopted mainly through Norman influence, are most frequently local, as Carmichael, Ridell, Rutherford; but many are derived from baptismal names, as Dickson, Henderson, Syme ; from peculiarities, as Armstrong, Brown, Douglas; from armorial bearings, as Foulis, Heron, Lillie ; from office, occupation, and trade, as Baillie, Hunter, Lorimer.