ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mac and Mc together

Mac and Mc are two prefixes that are commonly used in surnames, which are people's last names. These prefixes mean "son of" and are used to indicate a person's ancestry or family.

Let's say your last name is McDonald. The "Mc" at the beginning of your name means "son of Donald." This tells people that your family comes from a line of people named Donald.

Similarly, if your last name is MacKenzie, the "Mac" at the beginning of your name means "son of Kenzie." This means that your family comes from a line of people named Kenzie.

The difference between "Mac" and "Mc" is mainly a matter of regional variation. "Mac" is typically used in Scottish surnames, while "Mc" is more commonly found in Irish surnames.

So, when you see someone with a name that starts with Mac or Mc, it just means that they come from a family with a specific ancestry or heritage.