Surname MacCourts - Meaning and Origin

MacCourts: What does the surname MacCourts mean?

The surname MacCourts is an Irish surname that originated in County Louth in Ireland. It is of anglicized origin and was created when a Gaelic personal name was combined with a Gaelic patronymic suffix. The Gaelic personal name “MacCuarta” was the original form of the surname, which translated to mean “son of Court” or “son of Curt”. The names Curt and Court were first derived from a Norse name, which made the surname a combination of both French and Scandinavian origins.

In the 17th century, many MacCourts emigrated from Ireland to Scotland because of the plentiful jobs available in the coal mining industry. The MacCourts were particularly well-known in East Kilbride, Scotland where they settled in great numbers. Other emigrated to England, the United States, and Canada. Later on, some members of the MacCourts clan settled in New Zealand.

The MacCourts are a tight-knit family, known for their strong family ties and connection to their Irish roots. The surname has a strong sense of loyalty and honor, and it was not uncommon for members of the clan to have a strong sense of community.

Today, the MacCourts surname is found all over the world. It is most common in Scotland and Australia, but can be found in various forms such as McCourt, McConkie, and McCarten. It is a testament to the dedication and loyalty of the original MacCourt family.

MacCourts: Where does the name MacCourts come from?

The last name MacCourts is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the United States, MacCourts is primarily found in the east coast region and the Midwest. In Canada the surname is found more frequently in the province of Quebec. Generally in the United States, the island of Ireland is regarded as the homeland for the last name. This is the most likely origin of the name in North America.

There are also a number of individuals with the last name MacCourts living in Scotland, especially in central Scotland. According to records, the earliest MacCourts in Scotland can be traced back to the 15th century.

In the greater region of the United Kingdom and Ireland, MacCourts is a fairly uncommon last name. While it is not amongst the 20 most popular surnames in the region, there is still a strong presence of the name in the region.

Overall, it is likely that the last name MacCourts originated from a very small geographic area in Ireland spread to other parts of the world through emigration. At present, the last name's most common appearance in North America is likely due to this form of simply resettlement.

Variations of the surname MacCourts

The surname MacCourts is a derivative of the Gaelic name of MacCuarta. It has Gaelic roots and is believed to have originated from Scotland and Ireland. It also has variants in spelling such as MacCourt, MacCuart, McCourt, McCuirt and MacCoirt. Similarly, it has several variant surnames such as MacCurt, MacCarty, McCartney, and MacKurt.

MacCourts is a patronymic surname, meaning that it was derived from the father’s given name, and in the case of MacCourts, it would have been composed of a person's father’s name plus the old Gaelic word “cuarta” which is believed to mean “strong” or “powerful".

The traditional distribution of MacCourts is mainly in Scotland and Ireland, but the name is gaining popularity in other parts of the world. In the United States, the spelling of the surname has typically been MacCourt or McCourt, while in Australia it is usually spelled MacCuart.

Variation in spelling of MacCourts is a typical convention of surnames. Those who emigrated from Scotland and Ireland to destinations such as the United States, would often Anglicise their name to the closest spelling in order to make it more pronounceable. Today, people with the surname MacCourts are widely scattered across the globe and it has sprouted several variant spellings and surnames.

Famous people with the name MacCourts

• Howard MacCouRt: an American Olympic water polo player who competed for the United States in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Lorne MacCouRt: a stand-up comedian and actor who appeared in films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Liar Liar.
• William Louis MacCouRt: a former member of the Colorado Senate and a leader in the early settler movement on the American Great Plains.
• Thomas MacCouRt: an Irish-born soldier best known for his service during the American Civil War, in which he served as a brigadier general in the Union Army.
• Michael MacCouRt: an Australian-born actor and voice actor whose most notable roles include those in Disney films such as Chicken Little and Cars.
• Sandra MacCouRt: a Canadian figure skater who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, where she placed twelfth overall.
• Marian Wallace MacCouRt: a children's book author and illustrator who created the beloved Madeline children's series.
• Mark MacCouRt: an internationally acclaimed musician and composer who has composed music for films such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
• Gordon MacCouRt: an American college football coach, who was head coach for the University of Washington football team from 1972 to 1976.
• Frank MacCouRt: an American author and playwright best known for his acclaimed autobiographical play Bailegangaire.

Other surnames

MacCourtMacCourty