Surname MacCrorie - Meaning and Origin

MacCrorie: What does the surname MacCrorie mean?

The surname MacCrorie is of Scottish origin, typically associated with Scottish clans of the ancient Dalriadan kingdom. The name derives from the Gaelic term "Mac Ruaidhrí," where "Mac" means "son of" and “Ruaidhrí" is a personal name equivalent to "Rory," meaning "red king." Therefore, the surname MacCrorie essentially translates to "Son of Red King." This surname was popular among Scottish Highland families, particularly in regions such as Perthshire and Argyll. Like many surnames, it's likely to have been used to denote lineage and heritage initially. Over time though, these names started being used as family names, passed down through generations. Accents and spellings have evolved over centuries and across continents, resulting in various forms like McRory, MacRory, MacRorie, and others.

MacCrorie: Where does the name MacCrorie come from?

The surname MacCrorie originates from Scotland, specifically from the western region where the Gaelic culture was dominant during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Ruaidhrí, which can be translated as "red king." The prefix "Mac" signifies "son of," hence the surname can be interpreted as "son of Ruaidhrí."

It is relatively rare and, like many Scottish surnames, was dispersed around the globe through emigration, primarily to North America, Australia, and New Zealand. While the exact numbers are unclear, today it is likely most common in countries of the British Commonwealth such as England, Scotland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in the United States. Scotland, being the place of origin, likely holds a significant number of individuals with this surname even today. However, given the name's rarity, it is not considered common in any particular region.

Variations of the surname MacCrorie

The surname MacCrorie originates from Celtic roots, particularly from Scotland and Ireland. Variations in spelling are often due to different interpretations of regional accents in the original Celtic when translated into English. Some of the variant spellings for this name include MacRorie, MacRury, MacCrory, MacCrurie, MacGrory, MacGruer, MacGrew, McRorie, McRury, McRury, McCrory, McGrory, and many more.

The use of prefixes can also vary, changing between "Mac", "Mc", "M'" and others, all essentially meaning "son of" in Gaelic. The base of the name, varying between Rorie, Rury, Crurie, Grory, etc., seems to derive from the Gaelic surname Ruaidhrí, meaning "red king". All these variations have led to a multitude of similar surnames deriving from the same origin.

Additionally, there may be further variations known to exist from different regions of Scotland and Ireland, owing to local dialect influences on the name's spelling and pronunciation over generations. Therefore, while this list is comprehensive, it may not include every possible variation of the MacCrorie surname.

Famous people with the name MacCrorie

• Alexander MacCrorie: Canadian ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League from 1948 to 1954.
• Douglas MacCrorie: British Army officer and Member of Parliament.
• Malcolm MacCrorie: Canadian politician, serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1952 to 1955.
• John MacCrorie: American trumpet player.
• Angus MacCrorie: British Member of Parliament from 1955 to 1959.
• Rueben MacCrorie: Canadian doctor who served in the Military Medical Corps during World War II.
• Alan MacCrorie: Canadian Labour leader and politician from Cape Breton.
• Ida MacCrorie: Irish polio epidemic survivor who later wrote memoirs about her experiences.
• Kenneth MacCrorie: Scottish Presbyterian minister who served in Canada and the US from 1910 to 1943.
• Marion MacCrorie: Canadian politician, who served as a Member of Parliament from 1938 to 1945.

Other surnames

MacCrory