Surname MacGregor - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacGregor: What does the surname MacGregor mean?
The surname MacGregor is of Scottish origin and it means "son of Gregor." The name Gregor comes from the Latin name "Gregorius" which means "watchful or alert". The Mc or Mac prefix in Celtic names traditionally means "son of," thus MacGregor is most commonly understood to mean "son of the watchful or alert one". This name is associated with Clan Gregor or Clan MacGregor, a Highland Scottish clan known for their tumultuous history in Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries. Notably, during certain periods, owing to inter-clan conflict, the use of the MacGregor surname was banned in Scotland and they were legally persecuted. Despite the many adversities faced by the clan, the MacGregor name is preserved and is now worn proudly by many around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGregor: Where does the name MacGregor come from?
The last name MacGregor is associated with the traditional clan of the same name, which originates from Scotland. The MacGregor Clan is among the oldest clans of Scotland and is believed to have descended from the 5th century Irish-Scots, the Michelruadh in Loch Awe, Argyll. Following the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the government tried to suppress and outlaw the clan which led to many of its members emigrating from Scotland.
Today, the name MacGregor is most common among those descended from the line of the chiefs of Glenstrae. A significant number of those with the last name have also emigrated to North America, Australia, and New Zealand from Scotland. In the United States, MacGregors are particularly numerous in Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
The population of those with the last name MacGregor is around 16,000 around the world, with notable concentrations in the United States (around 13,000), Canada (around 1,800), and Australia (around 700).
MacGregor is a surname of proud Scottish heritage and is represented in many places around the world today.
Variations of the surname MacGregor
The MacGregor surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include MacGregor, Macgreckar, Macgreggor, MacGragor, MacGruder, MacCregar, McDonald, MacGrager, MacGregg, MacCraggie, McGregor, MacGrigor, McGreegor, McGrakor, Gregory, Gregor, Gregson, Gregorius, Gregg, Grieg, MacGrigor, Macgregar, Macgrecker, McKercher, MacKregar, MacKreger and MacKregor.
The MacGregor surname comes from ‘son of Gregory’. The Mac- prefix indicates the patronymic roots of the surname. It was originally borne by an ancient Scottish clan from Argyllshire, with many branches in the Highlands. The main clan comes from Scotland’s Atholl district. Other branches of the clan emanated from Ireland; they are thought to have been established during the Plantation.
Alternate spellings of MacGregor can be attributed to many factors, including how the name was recorded in ancient parish records, as well as manual sounding out of names by a clerk or clerk recording them. Variants and other surnames of the same origin may be due to the fact that some families with the same ancestry branched off and adopted different surnames throughout the years. Variants and other surnames of the same origin may also be attributed to spelling variations that were adopted over time due to the evolution of language, phonetics and local accents.
Famous people with the name MacGregor
- Ewan McGregor: Scottish actor, best known for his roles in Star Wars, Trainspotting, and Moulin Rouge!
- Gregor MacGregor: a Scottish soldier, who later became a Venezuelan war hero
- Sir Malcolm MacGregor of Sleat: the 14th chief of the MacGregor clan
- Kenneth MacGregor: British actor
- Sir John MacGregor: former politician and Cabinet minister in the UK
- Jimmy MacGregor: Scottish folk singer
- Ewan MacGregor: lead singer of the indie-rock band Forward Russia
- Roderick MacGregor: American actor
- Tom MacGregor: Canadian actor
- Alexander MacGregor: Australian actor