McNaughton
A Scottish clan surname meaning “son of Naughton,” ultimately from an old Gaelic personal name.
The #7,744 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 72,019 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McNaughton is an Anglicized Scottish Gaelic surname built on Mac, meaning “son of,” plus a personal name traditionally linked to Neachtan or Nectan. The name is usually explained as “son of Naughton,” with the personal name going back to an older Gaelic/Pictish root rather than a descriptive word. The historical spellings vary widely, including MacNaghten, MacNaughten, and MacNaughton.
History
The surname is strongly associated with Clan Macnaghten of Argyll, an old Highland clan recorded in medieval Scottish tradition. The excerpts place the clan in Argyllshire by the 13th century and connect its chiefs with local hereditary offices and lands. Later records show the surname spreading beyond Argyll into other parts of Scotland and, eventually, the wider English-speaking world.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century clan history says the Macnaughtons used a trailing azalea as their badge.
From the historical record
“mAC neAccAin, MacNaghten, MacNaghton, MacNaughten, MacNaughton, MacCracken, MacNaught, MacNeight, Mac Kneight, MacKnight, Mac Night, Mannight, Menaght, Menautt, Minett, Minnitt, &c.”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames