“MAC” SURNAMES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4190, 29 May 1939, Page 6

“MAC” SURNAMES

WHAT IS THE CORRECT FORM? The question has recently been raised not by any means for the first time, as to how “Mac” surnames ought to be written. I remember this same question being discussed with some warmth about 1873, says a correspondent of the “Weekly Scotsman,” when I was myself reproved by a well-known Gaelic scholar for writing my name M‘—iwhen it ought to be written as an honest single word without being- broken up by a capital letter in th,e middle of it. I notice tjiat this is becoming more and more the custom among well-ed-ucated people. Take, for instance, the clergy of the Church of Scotland. I find from a recent “Year Book” that there are 45 Macdonalds, of whom 38 are entered as Macdonald. There are 30 Mackays, 28 of whom are entered as Mackay; so also with 44 out of 46 Mackenzies and 35 out of 44 Macleods. The same tendency may be observed in the Medical Directory and some Highland newpapers foster this desirable tendency by their example. Such forms as Andersn., Thomsn., &c., which were at one time the common, are no longer seen. Fanciful rules are sometimes given for the correct writing of “Mac” surnames, but there is only one rule according to the use of the English language (I am not referring to Gaelic.) A surname, whatever its etymology may be, is in English a single word of a very simple and definite meaning, and such a word ought never to have a capital letter in the middle of it. In a free country like ours a man may write his own name as he pleases so long as there is no fraudulent intent, and in writing an address the surname of the addressee ought to be spelt as he spells it himself, but that does not imply that it is theoretically correct. It would be a great convenience in various ways for men with “Mac” surnames, if this simple rule could be universally adopted:—A. M. (London.)