What are the important differences between Irish and Scottish surnames?

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What are the important differences between Irish and Scottish surnames?

Notably, how to be sure one is not the other so far as usage is concerned, but historical origins are also of interest to me.

2007-10-15 23:52:21 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages

2 answers

typical irish surnames begin with O'
typical scotish surnames begin with Mc or Mac

2007-10-15 23:55:27 · answer #1 · answered by Agent 47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Irish has both Mac/Mc and O' meaning son, there is also UÃ.

Generally you would have to know the history of the particular sept. There are some spelling differences like Gallagher(Irish) and Gallacher(Irish or Scottish), Doherty(Irish) and Docherty(Scottish).

2007-10-16 02:58:59 · answer #2 · answered by eorpach_agus_eireannach 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋