Quote Originally Posted by ForresterModern View Post
I have a large contribution of the family Knight into my heritage, but am not sure if it is of scottish origin (MacKnight of the MacNaughtons). Is or was Knight a derivation of the Scottish MacKnight or more commonly of English or other origin? Thanks.
It can be from three unrelated origins: 1) English occupational or nickname from Anglo-Saxon Cniht, 2) Anglicised from Mac Neachdainn (SCOTTISH GAELIC) or Mac Neachtain (IRISH). Both mean 'son of Neachdann', a personal apparently common among the Picts and the name of a Celtic water divinity. I'm not sure of the meaning, but some have suggested it means 'snow-white'. 3) Anglicised from Irish Mac an Ridire meaning 'son of the Knight'. This was a name adopted by some first generation Hiberno-Normans.