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ArchivesRe: Why does a surname need to specify that it's unisex?
in reply to a message by Dwave_The_Pebble
Because lots of cultures or languages have masculine and feminine forms as it were
MacLeòid is the masculine and NicLeòid is the feminine form. So MacKenzie (MacCoinneach) means son of (Kenneth). If you were calling a girl this it should be NicKenzie (or NicCoinneach) tho to be fair in most of Scotland Gaelic is not spoken so it is moot.
Magnusdottir is the correct form for a daughter of Magnus rather than Magnusson. Just as Addison, Davidson mean son of (Adam, David). Iceland still preserves matronymics and patronymics. So do other languages, not least Russian.
Usually names like Soutar, Hunter, Carter and other trade related names are the masculine form. Technically speaking there would have been feminine versions for trades open to women as well.
MacLeòid is the masculine and NicLeòid is the feminine form. So MacKenzie (MacCoinneach) means son of (Kenneth). If you were calling a girl this it should be NicKenzie (or NicCoinneach) tho to be fair in most of Scotland Gaelic is not spoken so it is moot.
Magnusdottir is the correct form for a daughter of Magnus rather than Magnusson. Just as Addison, Davidson mean son of (Adam, David). Iceland still preserves matronymics and patronymics. So do other languages, not least Russian.
Usually names like Soutar, Hunter, Carter and other trade related names are the masculine form. Technically speaking there would have been feminine versions for trades open to women as well.
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