Surname MacCarty - Meaning and Origin
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MacCarty: What does the surname MacCarty mean?
The last name MacCarty is a patronymic surname derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Carthaigh, meaning "son of Carthach.” It is found most predominately in the County of Cork, Ireland.
Two distinct ancient families of the name existed in Ireland, with the oldest tracing its ancestry to Rughroe MacCarthy Reagh, Lord of Carbery, who lived in the 13th century. The other family, anciently known as Clan Cian, initially formed part of the larger MacCarthy Mór sept and spread throughout Munster, with many settling in West Cork.
During the 17th century, a branch of the West Cork MacCartys settled in Cork city and another in Clonakilty. Through the 18th and 19th centuries, the MacCarthy name thrived in the country, with some members becoming prominent landed gentry and others prominent in politics and the military.
The MacCarthy name remains popular to this day, and many people proudly retain it both in Ireland and across the Irish diaspora. It’s a reminder of the family’s long and proud history, and its ancient origins as one of the great Irish clans.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCarty: Where does the name MacCarty come from?
The last name MacCarty is most common in Ireland today. According to various sources, Ireland contains the highest concentration of people with the last name MacCarty in the world.
The MacCarty name is derived from MacCarthy, which was once the most common name in Ireland. This surname is descended from the Gaelic name MacCarthaigh, meaning "son of Carthach". Records from the 16th century show that MacCarthaigh and its variants thrived in Ireland; the name is found in ancient texts written in Latin and Irish, and there are mentions of distinct families of the same name throughout the country.
In modern times, the MacCarty name is especially popular in Cork County - home to the original MacCarthaigh family. Members of this county also spread to other parts of the country, such as County Limerick and County Tipperary. Additionally, many MacCarty immigrants have spread the name to other countries, including the United States, Australia, and Canada.
The MacCarthaigh family was known for their impressive poetry, literature, and scholarship, a legacy that continues today through many of their descendants who still bear the MacCarty name.
Variations of the surname MacCarty
The surname MacCarty has several variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin. The original Gaelic form of the name MacCarty is ‘MacCárthaigh’, from the old Irish word for "loving".
The most common variant, and the form most in use today, is MacCarty. This spelling is particularly associated with regions of Ireland such as Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford. It is also seen in other countries, where it may be spelled 'McCarthy' or 'McCarty'.
The less common and more archaic forms of the name, no longer in active use, include MacCathmhaoil, MacCart, MacCarte, MacCharthaigh, MacChartey, MacCorte, and MacCortey. These variants are largely regional in nature and can usually be found to be associated with a particular county or clan.
Other surnames which are derived from the same root word include MacCawly, MacCarthy, MacCarroll, MacCrate, and McKeon. Variations on these names, such as MacCartrey, McCarr, or McCarroll, are also seen from time to time.
In summary, the surname MacCarty has multiple variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of the same origin. Although there are occasional exceptions, the most common of these is the modern form ‘MacCarty’.
Famous people with the name MacCarty
- Desmond MacCarty: British poet, playwright, and novelist
- Terence McCarty: Canadian actor, comedian, and writer
- Liam MacCarty: Irish actor, writer, and producer
- Erin MacCarty: US actress and singer
- Barry MacCarty: British artist and lecturer
- Ryan MacCarty: US athlete and Olympic medalist
- Naomi MacCarty: Australian TV presenter
- Gavin MacCarty: Scottish gaelic singer
- William MacCarty: American musician and songwriter
- Kenneth MacCarty: British historian and author
- Patrick MacCarty: Canadian entrepreneur and motivational speaker
- Matthew MacCarty: Australian actor and theatre director
- Jamie MacCarty: British television presenter
- Siobhan MacCarty: Irish musician and composer
- Abigail MacCarty: British journalist and novelist
- Dee MacCarty: New Zealand poet and fiction writer
- Tom MacCarty: American film producer
- Jennifer MacCarty: American artist and sculptor
- Ciaran MacCarty: Irish sports commentator
- Mark MacCarty: Welsh actor and singer