Duncan Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Duncan last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Duncan last name
Meaning of the Duncan last name: brown warrior. Duncan comes from the Gaelic personal name Donnchadh, from donn, "brown", and cath, "battle". It was the name of two early kings of Scots, including the Duncan I killed by Macbeth in 1040, and was popular in the medieval Highlands. As a surname it became common in Perthshire, Angus and the north-east of Scotland, and the Robertsons of Atholl are known in Gaelic as Clann Donnchaidh. Another early bearer was Donnchadh, Earl of Fife in the 12th century, and the personal name was widespread among both Gaelic and Lowland families. In the Lowlands it was spelled Duncan from the 13th century. The surname also arose independently in Ireland, where it anglicized Ó Duinnchinn and Mac Donnchadha. Duncan families emigrated in large numbers to Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Scottish settlers carried the name to Ulster in the 17th century, and it is still common in Northern Ireland.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Duncan name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Duncan name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Canada, Australia and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Duncan name FAQ
What does the Duncan name mean?
Brown warrior. Common variants include Duncanson, Dunkin, Donaghy.
Where does the Duncan surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Canada, Australia and the United States.
Is there a Duncan coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Duncan crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Duncan coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.