Macaulay

Macaulay is a surname of Scottish origin, derived from Gaelic forms such as Mac Amhlaidh or Mac Amhligh, meaning “son of Amhlaidh,” a form of Olaf. The name has several Anglicized spellings, including MacAulay, and is most common in Scotland, particularly in the western Highlands. Through emigration it is also found in Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

Macaulay is also used as a given name, though less commonly. A well-known bearer is Macaulay Culkin (born 1980), an American actor best known for his roles in the Home Alone film series.

Notable people with the surname Macaulay include Catharine Macaulay (1731–1791), an English historian who wrote about the early modern period; Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–1859), a British historian and Liberal politician whose History of England is widely cited; and David Macaulay (born 1946), an American author and illustrator known for children’s books explaining architecture and engineering, such as The Way Things Work and Castle.

The name remains associated with Scottish heritage and has been carried into various fields, including history, literature, and popular culture, reflecting broader Anglophone connections through the modern era.