The Etymology and Meaning of Chattan

Undoubtedly the name Chattan, which has a stunning number of spellings such as Chatto, Kato, Cato. Shatto, etc, ought to bring great pleasure to desirous of a Scottish name rooted in Scottish culture.

The actual origination point of the name is much debated, but, for example, the Catti of the Gauls and Sutherland’s Catav aside, it is typically associated with Saint Cathan. Nonetheless, some have contended the pronunciation has “Chattan” sounding as “Hattan.”

The name Chattan comes from Cait, an ancient name of Gilchattan Mor, baillie of Ardchattan who was a follower of Saint Cattan.

The meaning of Chattan is clan of the cats.

Popularity of Chattan

While there are other male names that have dominated in the statistics of Scotland regarding the occurrences of names in Scottish society, Chattan has not been one of those, the name not making it into the top 100.

Historical Persons Named Chattan

Having celebrated connections to Scotland’s Isle of Bute as well as to his sister’s son Blane, this 6th Century Irish monk named Naomh Catháin but who is normally known as Cathan and variations thereof, including Chattan, was also begotten of the royalty of Dál Riata. The monk was revered as a saint in the Scottish Hebrides. Saint Cathan was admired because he was one of the very first missionaries to come to the Isle of Brute that was part of Dál Riata in northeastern Ireland. Cathan lived in a chapel that was founded by Clan MacLeod. Little’s known about Cathan who’s associated with nephew, Saint Blane.

In the Episcopalian religious system as well as in Roman Catholicism, he is recognised and revered, but mostly in the shadow of Blane.

There is also the Clan Cattan that was a confederacy of clans that formed in the 1600s. The Chattan Clan has 12 subclans. Each clan has his own chief who runs a the clans under the Scottish laws.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other Scottish boys’ names.