The Art of Literary Nomenclature

ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Mack”, a shortened version of various Gaelic or Celtic surnames beginning with “Mc-” or “Mac-“, meaning “son of”, or used as a generic term for “man”. Also sometimes used as a diminutive for “Magnus”, “Malcolm”, “Max“, etc.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Mack, Mackie, Macky, Max, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Mac Lewis, a fellow Elk in Drouet’s lodge who does “heavy dramatics” and offers to help put together the lodge’s theatrical fundraiser, in Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie (published in 1900; set 1889-1890s).

Tagged: 1880s, 1900s, English, M, Scottish

§ One Response to Mac

• Most Common Names for Some Common Jobs | The Art of Literary Nomenclature says:

  May 12, 2015 at 3:23 am

  […] Emma, Henry, Herbert, and Theodore. – INSURANCE SALESPERSON: Brent, Clark, Dalton, Garrett, Mac, and Patty. – INTERIOR DESIGNER: Bonnie, Elise, Lynne, Marjorie, Martha, and Melinda. – […]

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