Scotland's older regional divisions remain central to understanding where many surnames first took shape. These areas influenced language, Clan territories, and social organization. Though modern boundaries no longer follow these lines, the historic regions still offer valuable context for anyone tracing the origins of a Scottish surname.
Positioned along the frontier with England, the Borders region includes the historic counties of Selkirkshire, Roxburghshire, Ettrick & Lauderdale, Berwickshire, Peebleshire, and Berwick. Border life, marked by long periods of conflict and shifting alliances, shaped the development of many surnames in this area.
Exploring surnames such as Armstrong, Elliot, or Scott, one may notice themes that often reflect a defense-oriented, territorial life.
In the northeast, Grampian borders the Highlands and Tayside and includes the ancient counties of Aberdeen, Moray, and Banff. The region was home to several influential medieval families whose surnames and heraldic devices are well represented in northern armorial sources.
Fife lies along Scotland's eastern coast and contains the historic counties of Fife and Kincardine. Its longstanding connection to the Scottish crown helped shape the surnames still found in early charters.
The Highlands, Scotland's largest historic region, includes Caithness, Sutherland, Nairn, and parts of Inverness and Ross and Cromarty. Highland surnames, many of which appear in Gaelic form, often reflect heraldic themes linked to clan territory and tradition. Many of Scotland's most widely recognized surnames originated here, and heraldic symbols associated with them often reflect longstanding Gaelic traditions.
Located in the southeast, Lothian borders the Firth of Forth and includes East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, and Edinburgh. The region's medieval burghs and close ties to the Scottish crown influenced surname development and contributed to the heraldic record preserved in Lowland sources.
The Orkney Islands lie to the far north and were historically shaped by substantial Norse influence. In medieval records, they appear as the County of Orkney. Surnames from the islands often reflect this dual heritage, and heraldic themes from the region frequently feature maritime or Nordic elements.
Historically known as Zetland, the Shetland Islands sit northeast of Orkney. The region's Scandinavian heritage is visible in both local surnames and the heraldic symbolism tied to early families recorded in the area.
The Strathclyde region is another large geographical area, which is in the west. It is bordered to the north, by the Highland region, to the east, in descending order, by Tayside, Central, Lothian, and Borders, and in the south, by Dumfries and Galloway. The ancient counties contained within this region are Renfrew, Argyll, Lanark, Bute, and Ayr. The western part of the county of Peebles is also in this region.
The Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) lie west of the Highlands and historically included parts of Inverness and Ross and Cromarty. The region's strong Gaelic heritage is preserved in island surnames and in the symbolism associated with them.
The region of Tayside is in central eastern Scotland. This county includes Kinross, Angus, and Perth. Historical developments in monastic, market, and feudal life contributed to the surname patterns found in the region.