Escoto
A surname meaning “the Scotsman” or “Scottish person,” used in Spanish for someone from Scotland or of Scottish descent.
The #6,469 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 58,820 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Escoto comes from Spanish escoto, a word for a Scot or Scottish person, ultimately from Latin Scotus, meaning “Scot.” In surnames, it likely began as an ethnic label for someone identified with Scotland or Scottish ancestry. It could also have been applied more loosely in Hispanic usage to a foreigner associated with that origin.
History
The surname is documented in Spanish naming practice as an ethnic byname alongside other national labels such as Francés and Inglés. As with many such surnames, it probably began as a descriptive identifier and later became hereditary. The form is uncommon today, but it fits the broader medieval and early modern pattern of surnames formed from people’s places of origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Spanish surnames built from nationality words often started out as nicknames before becoming fixed family names.
From the historical record
“asimismo apellido, como: Alemán, Alamon ó Ahmando, Biarnes, Borgoñon, Coque (uscoque), Escote ó Escoto, Francés, Gascón, Inglés, Picardo, Sabaii (Sabaudus, de Sahaudia , hoy Saboya), Valon, Va}vna ó de la Varona (GaroDa, antigua- mente Gcuunna ó Varanna); y aun bastaba con la residencia temporal para adquirir…”
— Ensayo histórico etimológico filológico sobre los apellidos castellanos