Duncan (surname)

Duncan is a Scottish and Irish surname. For the etymology of the surname "Duncan" this web page cites: "Dictionary of American Family Names". Another opinion is that the Gaelic "Donnchadh" is composed of the elements "donn", meaning "brown"; and "chadh", meaning "chief" or "noble". In some cases when the surname originates in County Sligo, Ireland, it is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name MacDonough or Mac Donnchadha and "Ó Duinnchinn", meaning "descendant of "Donncheann"". The Gaelic "Donncheann" is a byname composed of the elements "donn", meaning "brown-haired man" or "chieftain"; and "ceann", meaning "head". The surname Duncan is represented in Scottish Gaelic as "MacDhonnchaidh". The surname also originated from the given name Duncan.