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What does your surname mean?

As every genealogist knows, we're all the product of our family's history. But genetics aren't the only thing that we pass down the generations. Used to identify our familial bonds, surnames link us to even our most distant ancestors. If your curious about your family history, doing a surname search is a great place to start.

The origin of your last name can reveal a lot about your earliest ancestors' birthplaces, occupations and more.

Look for your surname

Surname of the Week

Scott

If you meet a Scott, tell them...

The Scott surname is believed to be Scottish, where it is still one of the most common surnames. Scott is thought to have most often been given to those who hail from Scotland. More rarely the surname Scott can come from the Old French description of a scout or spy.

Interesting facts about Scotts

How common is your surname?

34th most common surname in the UK

We have 696,000 records for the Scott surname. The oldest one dates back to 1100.

Who were Scotts most likely to marry?

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Scotts.

What are the most common Scott first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Scott family members

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