Surname Macaree - Meaning and Origin
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Macaree: What does the surname Macaree mean?
The last name Macaree is of Irish origins and is found mainly in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone in Ulster, Ireland. It is thought to come from the Irish Mac Giolla Riabhaigh, which translates to "son of the follower of Riabhach". Riabhach is an old Irish word meaning "speckled", which suggests that Macaree is a nickname for someone with spotted or speckled hair. The first known record of the name was in 1659, when Andrew McArry was recorded in the will of a landowner in County Donegal.
It is possible that Macaree may be a variation of other names, such as MacAree, MacEry, or MacEree. All of these other names have similar etymological roots and possible historical connections. This suggests that the Macaree surname may have once been a family of closely related individuals.
Today, the Macaree name is still found mainly in Ireland and is considered to be among the most ancient of surnames. It is quite uncommon, with fewer than 500 people in the world bearing this name. The name typically carries a positive connotation, and individuals with the Macaree surname are said to be adventurous, cheerful, and resilient.
Order DNA origin analysisMacaree: Where does the name Macaree come from?
The last name Macaree is most commonly found in Ireland, including its Northern territories. The name Macaree is derived from the Irish Gaelic MacGearaigh, meaning “son of the vigilant one.” It is an anglicized form of the Irish language name Mag Fhir Bhig, meaning “son of Fionnbheag” or “son of the red haired one”.
The most common concentration of Macarees is in the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas of Ireland, particularly in counties Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Kerry. Within Ireland, the name is held by around 430 individuals. A small number of the name also reside in Britain, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Macaree name and their associated family emigrated to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, there are just over 520 individuals named Macaree living in the United States. In particular, the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and California have concentrations of Macarees. The name appears with greatest frequency in each of those four states.
In addition, there are a small number of Macarees living in Canada with the numbers being a mere fraction when compared to their population in the United States.
Overall, the last name Macaree remains most prevalent in Ireland, but is also present in other British Isles countries and English-speaking countries like the United States and Canada. It is a name steeped in Irish culture and tradition that continues to live on in its deeply rooted form family names.
Variations of the surname Macaree
The surname Macaree has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. In Scotland it is spelt as Macaire, while in Ireland it is spelt as MacCaire and MacKaire. It is also found in various forms in French, such as MacAire and MacAree, as well as in English, using a double ‘e’.
In the Scottish highlands, the surname typically changed dramatically with each generation. One family’s spelling may have been “McAiry” one generation and “MacAiary” the next, and so on. This is why the many variations in spelling can be found in the records.
In Ireland, variants of Macaree include MacCaire, MacKaire, MacCairey, MacKairy, and MacKara. In the Isle of Man, it appears as McCair, while in the United States and Canada the spelling is often written as MacKary.
Surnames that share the same origin include MacEyre, MacAiry, MacEer and MacAree. These spellings may also have variants such as MacEirie, MacEary, MacKarie, and MacKairey.
We can clearly trace Macaree back to a Gaelic root, ‘MacAir’, meaning ‘son of the air’, suggesting that the family originated in a mountainous area. Despite variation in spelling, it is clear the Macarees are all connected by the same root.
Famous people with the name Macaree
- Cameron Macaree: Hip-hop artist from South Africa.
- Suzi Macaree: Actress who starred in The Ringer, The Big Bang Theory, and Modern Family.
- Colan Macaree: Lead singer and composer of alternative indie band The Macaree.
- Val Macaree: Jazz saxophonist and composer.
- Dan Macaree: Pro-skateboarder and entrepreneur.
- Paul Macaree: Actor who starred in multiple BBC dramas and films.
- Maurice Macaree: Self-made businessman and investor.
- Timothy Macaree: Writer and director who is part of the London arts scene.
- Robert Macaree: Professor and author who has written extensively on the history of Scotland.
- Alison Macaree: TV and radio presenter from Australia.