MacGregor is a Scottish surname and given name that has a rich history and significant meaning. The name originated from the Gaelic word "Mac Gille Brighe," which translates to "son of Gregor." Gregor itself means "vigilant" or "watchful."
The MacGregor clan was one of the most powerful and influential clans in Scotland during the Middle Ages. They were known for their courage, determination, and military prowess. The clan's chief was often a close advisor to the Scottish monarch, and they played a significant role in shaping Scottish history.
Over time, the name MacGregor became popular as a given name, especially among families with Scottish heritage or those who admired Scottish culture and history. Today, it is still commonly used as both a surname and a given name throughout Scotland and other parts of the world where Scottish communities have settled.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Scottish names like MacGregor, partly due to popular media portrayals of Scottish history and culture, such as the television show "Outlander." The name continues to be associated with strength, bravery, and loyalty, reflecting the qualities of the historic MacGregor clan.
Over the span of nearly four decades (1974-2019), the name Macgregor has seen varying popularity in terms of births per year, with a total of 282 recorded births during this period. The name reached its peak popularity in 2000 and 2018, each year seeing 17 and 11 births respectively. Conversely, there were years when the name's usage was quite low, such as 1974 with only 5 births and several other years where fewer than 10 babies were named Macgregor. Overall, the popularity of the name Macgregor appears to have been relatively stable over time, with no significant upward or downward trends evident in these statistics.