Surname MacCartins - Meaning and Origin
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MacCartins: What does the surname MacCartins mean?
The last name MacCartins likely traces its roots to Scotland, and is derived from the ancient Gaelic name Mac Cairtín. This name means “son of the devotee of Ciaran.” Ciaran is an old Irish name which may be derived from either ciar, meaning “black” or ciarán, meaning “little dark one.” The root of Ciaran has an unknown origin, and it may also be linked to one of the ancient clans of Ireland.
The surname MacCartins first began to appear in records in Ireland and Scotland during the late 12th century. It is likely that many families with this surname descended from a line of Celtic warrior nobility. The first recorded MacCartins were the MacCartney’s of the Barony of Scotstown in County Monaghan. This family was prominent in the area for many centuries and had close relations with other notable Irish families.
The surname MacCartins can now be found throughout the world, due to migration and emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is common to find that this last name has variations, such as MacCartney and MacCartney’s. The MacCartins family motto is “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “ever faithful.” Today, the MacCartins family is represented by branches in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCartins: Where does the name MacCartins come from?
The surname MacCartins is most commonly found today in Ireland, particularly in County Cork. It is rare in other parts of the world. The history of the MacCartins in County Cork goes back to the early 17th century when they were known as the MacCartaigh clan. The clan claim to descend from Eoghan MacCartin, a son of Brian Boru and King of Munster.
The MacCartins were originally located near Castletownbere in the Beara Peninsula. They were an important part of the local economy and contributed greatly to the fishing industry. They had a number of castles and strongholds in the area, such as Dunboy Castle.
Today, the MacCartins still live in County Cork, though the surname is much rarer. The modern MacCartins are very proud of their heritage and many still live in or around the Castletownbere area. They are still involved in the fishing industry and can be seen fishing off the west coast of Ireland. A number of MacCartins have made careers in politics, the arts, and other areas of public life.
Though the name is more rare outside of Ireland, there are a few MacCartins scattered around the world, from Australia to the United States. Most of these descendants of Eoghan MacCartin have kept the name, and the pride of their Irish heritage alive.
Variations of the surname MacCartins
The surname MacCartins is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name MacCairtin or MacCartin. Variations of this surname include MacCarten, MacCarter, MacCarten and MacCartney.
MacCairtin is an Anglicized version of the Irish language personal name Mac Artáin, meaning son of Artán. Its variants MacCartáin, MacCartín, and MacKeartin, are all based on the Irish Mac Artáin. This personal name is also found in Scotland, but there it is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac an t-Seanaich, meaning son of the ancestor.
The related Scottish surname MacCartney is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac an t-Seanaich meaning “son of the ancestor”. Variations of this surname include MacCarten, MacCarean, MacCarton, MacCarthy and MacKerron.
Outside of Scotland and Ireland, other variants of the surname MacCartins have been found in England, Germany, and the United States. Some of these variations include MacCartney, MacKertin, MacCardin and McCarthy.
The surname MacCartins is also found outside of the British Isles in countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Variations in these countries include Mackerton, MacCarsten, MacCartney and McCarthy.
No matter what its origin, spellings and variants of the surname MacCartins are all linked to the same Irish and Scottish roots.
Famous people with the name MacCartins
- Tamsin MacCarthy: Australian celebrity chef and author.
- John MacCarthy: American writer, artist, and actor.
- Rosemarie MacCarthy: Canadian children's author and illustrator.
- Winn MacCarthy: American voyager, author, and photographer.
- Jock MacCarthy: American painter and professor.
- Kieran MacCarthy: Canadian musician and songwriter.
- Siobhan MacCarthy: Irish-born, American-based actress and singer.
- Louise MacCarthy: British-Australian classical ballet dancer.
- Liam MacCarthy: Irish hurling commentator.
- Elaine MacCarthy: English actress and singer.
- Eunice MacCarthy: Irish historian, author, and scriptwriter.
- Seamus MacCarthy: Irish chef and restaurateur.
- Mora MacCarthy: Canadian dancer and choreographer.
- Martin MacCarthy: Irish folk singer and songwriter.
- Jim MacCarthy: British game show announcer.
- Joe MacCarthy: American Major League Baseball player.
- Agnes MacCarthy: English actress.
- Sean MacCarthy: American soccer player.
- Kevin MacCarthy: American actor.
- Daniel MacCarthy: Irish musician.