Use of "Mac" or "son"

[JSFMACLJR]

Mc and Mac means "Son of". "O'" means "Grandson of". ie: O'Neil.
Generally, the Irish used "Mc" and the Scottish used "Mac". ie: McKay vs. MacDonald. This is not a rule.. but a generalization.

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It's actually a false generalization. Mc and Mac were used indiscriminately, at least in the Highlands. My MacLean forebearers left the Isle of Mull as McLeans, with not a bit of Irish blood. Two generations later, some of the family had changed the spelling to MacLean.

The spelling of surnames just didn't bide by any set rules. Mac, Mc, M'--these were all used amongst the Highland clans.

Regards,
Sandford