Surname McNaught - Meaning and Origin

McNaught: What does the surname McNaught mean?

The surname McNaught is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "MacNeachdainn", which means the "son of Nechtan". Nechtan is thought to be an ancient personal name derived from the Gaelic word "necht", meaning "pure or clear". Hence, McNaught could signify as the "son of the pure or clear one". The usage of the prefix "Mac", meaning "son of", is common in Scottish surnames and indicates a patronymic nature of the name. The McNaught surname was primarily found in Galloway in South West Scotland, which was their ancient homeland. Over centuries, family members migrated across Scotland and around the world, leading to the spread of the McNaught surname. Variations to this name such as Naughton, Macnaught, and McNaughton can also be found. Noteworthy individuals with the surname McNaught include Bishop Andrew McNaughton, an educator and bishop from Canada, and Jorge McNaught, a professional tennis player from Panama.

McNaught: Where does the name McNaught come from?

The surname McNaught originates from Scotland, derived from the Gaelic personal name Neachtan. It's often prefixed with "Mac" or "Mc", both of which mean "son of", therefore the full name connotes "son of Neachtan". The name Neachtan itself signifies "pure" or "clear".

Though the McNaught family traces its ancestry back to Pictish roots in ancient Scotland, the name is now dispersed and can be found in various parts of the world today. With the Scottish diaspora to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of Europe over the centuries, many families bearing the surname McNaught have settled far from their original homeland. Therefore, the name is quite common in areas such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In Scotland, it still retains its presence particularly in the region of Galloway. However, it is still only moderately common overall, and so it isn't one of the most prevalent surnames you'll encounter in these regions.

Variations of the surname McNaught

The surname McNaught originates from Scotland and is derived from the personal name "Neach," loosely meaning "pure" or "clean." Variants and alternate spellings of McNaught range from fairly similar to significantly different, reflecting the progression and evolution of language over centuries. Some of these variants include MacNaught, MacNaughton, MacNaghten, MacNechten, and McNaucht.

Similarly, surnames like McNutt and MacNight may also be linked to McNaught, although their origins could be distinct. Surnames that have the same origin as McNaught often begin with "Mac" or "Mc," indicating "son of" in both Scottish and Irish traditions.

Anglicization of this surname, as occurred when native Gaelic speakers began using English, also led to variations such as Noght, MacNaight, and Naughton. In some cases, these Anglicized versions have taken on a life of their own and may be found as distinct surnames.

Additionally, phonetic spellings based on the pronunciation of the name, as well as misspellings in historical records, both factor into the range of related surnames and spellings associated with McNaught. These include Naughten, Nought, or Naughton among others. However, associations between these surnames and McNaught should be made cautiously without genealogical evidence.

Famous people with the name McNaught

• John McNaught: A prolific Scottish author, historian and poet. He is best known for his work on Scotland’s medieval history.
• Carasin McNaught: An American rhythm and blues guitarist and vocalist. He has recorded for various labels including Stax, Chess Records and Scepter Records.
• Margaret McNaught: An American author and illustrator who specializes in creating picture books for young readers.
• David McNaught: A Canadian actor and producer best known for his appearances in the Canadian films such as "Cold Souls" and "The Pawnbroker".
• Tom McNaught: An Australian former cricketer who represented Australia in Test and first-class matches between 1948 and 1955.
• Laura McNaught: An English model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crownedMiss England 2019.
• Benny McNaught: A Scottish former professional footballer who spent most of his career with Celtic.
• Colin McNaught: A New Zealand racing driver who competed in seven Formula One races during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
• John McNaught: A former Canadian Army officer andJack of all trades who has served in various capacities, ranging from unconventional warfare to senior intelligence adviser.
• Jean McNaught: An American actress who has worked in television and Broadway theater. Her Broadway credits include roles in productions such as "Mary Poppins" and "Rent".

Other surnames

McNaughtenMcNaughton