Surname MacAskill - Meaning and Origin

MacAskill: What does the surname MacAskill mean?

The surname MacAskill is of Scottish origin and has Gaelic roots. The name is derived from the elements "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Askill" is an Anglicized form of the old Norse personal name "Ásketill". The original name consisted of two elements, ‘As’ meaning ‘god’ and ‘ketill’ meaning ‘kettle’ or ‘cauldron’, which was frequently used metaphorically to mean ‘helmet’. Thus the name Ásketill could be interpreted as ‘divine helmet’ or 'helmet of the gods'. Over time, the Old Norse name Ásketill was transformed into the modern Gaelic name Aisgall in Scotland and Asketil in England, which were further Anglicized to Askill and Haskell respectively. This surname is found most commonly on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

MacAskill: Where does the name MacAskill come from?

The last name MacAskill is of Scottish origin, belonging to the category of 'Patronymic' surnames. It's derived from the Gaelic name "MacAsgaill," which means "son of Archibald." The MacAskill clan was originally found in the Hebrides, an island group on the west coast of Scotland.

In the present day, the surname MacAskill can be found not just in Scotland but also in regions where Scots have migrated to in significant numbers, such as North America, especially in Canada, particularly Nova Scotia, and the United States. For instance, the renowned strongman Angus MacAskill from the 19th century was a well-known Nova Scotian. Furthermore, the surname MacAskill can also be found in other parts of the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand. However, it remains a relatively uncommon surname across the world.

Variations of the surname MacAskill

The surname MacAskill is derived from the Gaelic name MacAsgaill, which translates to "son of Asgaill". Asgaill itself is an ancient Norse personal name. MacAskill is primarily associated with the Scottish Islands of Skye and Harris in the Hebrides. It is worth mentioning that the Hebrides had a strong Norse influence; hence, the Norwegian origin of the name.

There are numerous ways to spell this surname due to regional dialects and translations over the centuries. Some of these variants include McAskill, MacAskill, MacAskill, MacAsgill, MacAskell, MacAsgell, McCaskill, and even McCaskell and McCascill.

It's important to note that prefixes such as "Mac" and "Mc" are interchangeable, with both signifying "son of" in Gaelic. Therefore, whether the name is spelled as MacAskill or McAskill, the meaning and origin remain the same.

All these different variants have stemmed from migration and regional dialects, with certain spellings being more common in specific areas. Despite the variations, they all bear the same Gaelic origin. The spelling variations have more to do with phonetic adjustments made to facilitate pronunciation rather than a change in origin or meaning.

Famous people with the name MacAskill

• Danny MacAskill: Scottish professional trials cyclist and internet personality, best known for his video stunts and street trials videos circulated on YouTube.
• Ewen MacAskill: Scottish journalist and former defence and diplomatic editor for The Guardian.
• Calum MacAskill: Scottish lawyer and curator who creates multimedia installations exploring the complexities of the human experience.
• Finlay MacAskill: Scottish international competitive cyclist and Team GB Olympic cyclist.
• Gavin MacAskill: Scottish internet entrepreneur and software engineer, co-founder of Amazon-owned Twitch.tv
• Jenna MacAskill: Scottish harpist and composer best known for her contemporary folk music.
• Sheridan MacAskill: Scottish professional racing driver and endurance racer, competing in various categories including GT3 and 24 hours racing.
• Stuart MacAskill: Scottish author, entrepreneur, and keener of rare books.
• William MacAskill: British philosopher and ethics professor at Oxford University, specialising in areas of humanitarian aid and global poverty.

Other surnames

Macaskie