Variant spellings, septs, and associated surnames of Clan Mackay
If you know you're one of us, you're one of us. If you're not sure, read on.
As we were (and in some cases still are) a Gaelic speaking clan, lots of variety was introduced when we started putting our names down in English. Also note that in the United States, the McKay spelling is extremely common. Any name seen below with Mac can also be spelled Mc. There are also septs (other surnames) that have joined or in other ways become part of the clan.
Most common:
In the United States and especially in the Central Region the most common spellings are:
Mackay, McKay/MacKay, McKee, McCoy, Bain/Baines/Bayne, Mackie/McKie, Key/Keyes/Kay, McGee/Gee, McPhail, McFall/McFaul, Nelson/Neilson, Polson/Paul/Paulson, Reay, Quaid/Quade/McQuaide, Gilliam
A more complete list:
Aberach, Abrach, Aed, Allan, Allanson, Allen, Aoidh, Aue, Ave, Ay, Aye, Ayson, Bain, Baine, Baines, Bane, Bayin, Bayn, Bayne, Baynes, Baynne, Bean, Beanes, Beine, Bene, Bhaine, Cay, Caw, Coid, Coy, Eason, Easson, Esson, Eye, Faill, Fall, Ghie, Gilliam, Heth, Iye, Kae, Kay, Keay, Kee, Key, Keye, Keyes, Keys, Kie, M'Cay, M'aKie, M'Gy, M'Kay, M'Kee, M'Ky, Mac'Key, Mac'Ky, Macaedh, Macaedha, Macaenghusa, Macahay, Macajee, Macai, Macakey, MacAllan, MacAllen, MacAidh, MacAiodh, MacAodha, MacAoidh, MacAth, MacAw, MacAy, MacBain, MacBayne, MacCa, MacCaa, MacCaid, MacCaidh, MacCaoidh, MacCaw, MacCawe, MacCay, MacCee, MacCey, MacCie, Maccky, Maccoy, MacCoid, MacCoy, MacCue,MacDhia, MacEda, MacEke, MacEth, MacEthe, MacFaell, MacFail, MacFal, MacFale, MacFall, MacFaul, MacFauld, MacFaull, MacFayle, MacFoill, MacFyall, MacGaa, MacGaughey, MacGaw, MacGay, MacGe, MacGee, MacGeehee, MacGhee, MacGhie, MacGye, MacHeth, MacIdh, MacIeie, Macilvain, MacIsall, MacIye, MacKa, MacKaa, MacKaay, MacKai, MacKau, MacKaw, MacKawe, MacKay, MacKaye, MacKaw, MacKCoy, MacKe, MacKeay, MacKee, Makees, MacKeiay, MacKeiy, MacKer, MacKew, MacKey, MacKhee, MacKiewicz, MacKie, MacKieson, MacKiye, MacKkcee, MacKcie,Makke, Makkee, Makkey, Makkie, Makkoy, Makky, Mca, Mcacay, Mcay, McBain, McBayne, McCa, McCaa, McCaw, McCay, McCee, McCie, McCoy, McCoye, McEy, McFall, McFaul, McGe, McGee, McGeiiee, McKay, McKee, MacKphaill, MacKy, MacKye, MacPaill, MacPaul, MacPhael, MacPhaell, MacPhail, MacPhaile, MacPhaill, MacPhale, MacPhaul, MacPhaull, MacPhayll, MacPhell, MacPhial, MacPhiel, MacQha, MacQua, MacQuade, MacQuaid, MacQue, MacQuey, MacQuhae, MacQuid, MacQuiod, MacVail, MacVain, MacVale, MacVane, MacWhaugh, MacWhaw, MacWhey, MacWhy, MacYe, Mackie, Makaw, Makay, Makca, Makcaw, Makcawe, Makcoe, Makfaill, Makfale, Makfele, Makie, Makkaw, Makkcae, Makke, Makkee, Makkey, Makkie, Makphaile, Maky, Morgan, Morgund, Murgan, Neelson, Neillsone, Neilson, Neilsone, Neilsoun, Neilsoune, Neleson, Nelesoun, Nelson, Nelsone, Nelsonne, Nelsoun, Neylsone, Nickphaile, Nielson, Nilson, Nilsone, Nilsoune, Nylson, Pal, Paul, Paule, Paull, Paulson, Paulsoun, Poilson, Poilsone, Poilsoun, Pol, Pole, Poleson, Pollard, Pollsoun, Polson ,Polsone, Polsoun, Polsun, Polyson, Polysoun, Poulson, Quaid, Quay, Quoid, Reay, Scobie, Strathnaver, Vail, Williamson