Davidson

Gaelic: Mac Dhaibhidh

Motto: Sapienter si sincere
“Wisely if sincerely”

Badge: Red whortleberry

Pipe Music: Tulloch Castle

Name Origin: Gaelic Daibhidh (David)

Famous Davidsons:
Jaye Davidson – Actor (The Crying Game, Stargate)
John Davidson – Actor/Entertainer (Hollywood Squares, That’s Incredible)
Eileen Davidson – Actress (The Young & the Restless, Days of Our Lives)

Unlike many Highland clan names which begin with the Gaelic 'mac' meaning 'son of', the son of David took the non-Gaelic form and became Davidson. There are a number of different Davidson lines but the most significant was from Badenoch. They may have been a branch of the Comyns (Cummings) who were defeated by Robert the Bruce and became known as Clan Dhai when the Comyn name was prescribed around 1320.
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Davidson clan include Davie, Davis, Davison, Dawson, Day, Dean, Dow, Kay, McDade, McDaid, MacDavid. Davidson was the 24th most frequent surname at Scotland’s General Register Office in 1995.

 

Back to Family History Page