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MacRae

MacRae is a surname of Scottish origin. It is a patronymic derived from Gaelic names such as Mac Raidh or Mac Rath, meaning “son of Raidh/Rath,” with the modern spelling MacRae representing one of several anglicized variants. The name is closely related to McRae, MacCrae, and Rae, and can be found with various spellings across the Scottish diaspora.

The surname is particularly associated with Scotland and with communities descended from Scottish settlers abroad. In

Notable people bearing the surname MacRae have been active in politics, law, academia, sports, and the arts.

Variants such as McRae and MacCrae are encountered in official records and genealogical sources. See also McRae,

Canada,
descendants
of
Scottish
immigrants—especially
in
Nova
Scotia—have
helped
to
sustain
the
name,
as
have
communities
in
the
United
States,
Australia,
and
New
Zealand.
The
distribution
reflects
broader
patterns
of
Scottish
emigration
from
the
Highlands
and
western
Scotland
in
the
18th
and
19th
centuries.
The
name
has
also
been
used
in
geography
and
institutions,
reflecting
historical
family
ties
in
certain
regions.
MacCrae,
and
Rae
for
related
surnames.