As is well known, fixed surnames did not become the rule in the Lowlands till the 14th or 15th century, and not till much later in the Highlands.
(1) The typical method of designating an individual with the Gael was by his pedigree. Thus, Iain Mac Alasdair mhic Uilleim, John the son of Alexander the son of William. John's son Donald would be Dòmhnull Mac Iain mhic Alasdair mhic Uilleim, and so on indefinitely, except that practical convenience limited the number of ancestors embraced in the name, as ordinarily used, to one or two. This system of naming by patronymics was modified in various ways, doubtless to secure greater definiteness of designation; and the modification took place sooner in the districts bordering on the Lowlands ... than in the remoter parts of the Highlands.
(2) Descriptive epithets were tacked on to the patronymic. This habit was practically universal and applied to all classes, high and low, from the chief to the humblest cottar. The great Marquis of Argyll was known as Gillespie Grumach (gloomy), Robert Macgregor as Rob Roy (red), Finlay Farquharson as Finlay Mor (big), and so on. These epithet names should, of course, have disappeared with the death of the individual, but in the Highland borders they tended to become fixed as true surnames, and to be borne by descendants of the original holder. Hence the Roys, Moirs, Beggs of Aberdeenshire, and other names of the same kind which will be referred to below. The origin of such wide-spread names as Cameron ("crooked nose") and Campbell ("wry mouth") is to be explained in the same way. They were transferred as designations to the whole clan from some early chief who had been so described. Bodily characteristics or peculiarities supplied the majority of these nicknames, or by-names as they are more generally called.
(3) The patronymic was also often supplemented by a name indicating the trade, rank or profession of the bearer, such as gobha (smith), taillear (tailor), greasaich (shoemaker), brocair (badger hunter, whence Brockie), &c.
Besides his patronymic and by-name, the Highlander possessed his clan name, and sometimes even his sept name also. Two examples, taken at random from Braemar about 1700, will make clear what is meant. The full designation of one James Keir ran thus in Gaelic: "Seumas Ciar alias Seumas MacChoinnich alias Seumas Beg." Ciar is the clan name (if the Keirs can be called a clan), MacChoinnich is the patronymic, and Beg is the by-name. His descendants might conceivably call themselves by any of the three. Similarly with "Dòmhnull MacLaomuinn alias Mac Gille Dhuibh alias MacPhàraig Breabair," the first is the clan, the second the sept of the clan, the third the patronymic, and the fourth the by-name ("weaver"). Each of these four, it may be remarked, is represented to-day, as Lamont, MacIldowie, Paterson, and Brebber.
It must not be supposed, however, that in ordinary life the Highlander carried about such a weight of denominations. He was satisfied with his patronymic or by-name (besides of course his Christian name), and rarely used his clan name, except on formal or important occasions, or when he left his native district.
Taken from Francis D. Diack's notes to the second edition of John Grant Michie's Deeside Tales (Aberdeen 1908).
