MacGregor
A Scottish clan surname meaning “son of Gregor,” traditionally linked to the descendants of Gregory, son of King Alpin.
The #6,565 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 59,823 Americans shares it.
Etymology
MacGregor is a Gaelic patronymic: Mac means “son of,” and Gregor is a personal name related to Gregory. Older sources often explain it as the descendants of Gregor, traditionally identified with a line descending from Gregory, son of Alpin, king of Scots. In plain terms, the name means “son of Gregor” or “descendant of Gregor.”
History
The name is famously tied to Clan Gregor, one of the best-known Highland clans of Scotland. Because the clan was proscribed for periods in Scottish history, many members and descendants used other surnames, which helped spread related forms such as MacAdam and Greer. The surname remains strongly associated with Scottish identity and clan history.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The MacGregors are one of the Scottish clans most often associated with the saying “My foot is on my native heath and my name is MacGregor.”
From the historical record
“prosperity. McGREGOR. The descendants of G-regor, who was the son of Alpin, King of Scotland. A family of great antiquity, and of distinguished ancestors. (See Gregor.) McGUIRE. The son of Guaire or Godfrey. Gmire was a son of Alpin, King of Scotland. McHARD or McHARG. (Welsh, Cor. Br., and Gaelic.) The son of the…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names