Surname MacCuarta - Meaning and Origin
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MacCuarta: What does the surname MacCuarta mean?
MacCuarta is an Irish surname that originated from the English name McIntyre. It is a combination of two Gaelic words, “Mac” meaning “son of” and “Cuarta” meaning “fourth”. The surname MacCuarta was traditionally used to denote the fourth born son in a family.
Traditionally MacCuarta families originated in counties Donegal, Tyrone and Sligo in Ulster, Ireland. It is one of the many old Anglo-Norman surnames that were introduced into Ireland after the Norman invasion in the 12th century and is one of the 20 most common surnames in Ireland today.
The surname MacCuarta has had its share of famous bearers. Stephen Cuarta was a composer in 15th century England, and Abraham MacCuarta was a United Irishman during the 1798 Rebellion, eventually dying in exile. The surname is also connected to Clan Macintyre whose head was known as the MacNamara which means ‘Son of the Fourth’.
The surname MacCuarta thus speaks of a proud Irish heritage, and is a marker of the fourth born son in many families. It has been carried with pride through the generations and is enjoyed by many families today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCuarta: Where does the name MacCuarta come from?
The last name MacCuarta is most commonly associated with Ireland and Scotland today, although not exclusively. It was first brought to the British Isles in the late 12th century by early settlers from the Scandinavian region. It can generally be seen as originating from the Gaelic Mac O'Cuairte, meaning son of the court of justice.
The MacCuartas are thought to be descendents of the Dalriadan Scots, being an ancient people that colonised the Argyll and Bute region of Scotland, along with the areas that are now County Donegal and County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
The bulk of the MacCuarta families can still be found in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Individuals with the MacCuarta surname can be found around the world, especially in the United States, Canada and Australia. However, they are mainly concentrated in Ireland, with concentrations in the Irish counties of Donegal, Tyrone, Antrim, Cork and Fermanagh, as well as Scotland counties of Ayrshire, Inverness-shire, Lanarkshire and Bute.
Due to the Norman colonization of Ireland, the MacCuarta clans were scattered and the name is now more commonplace in the populations of America and other countries. The MacCuarta family remains proud of its Irish heritage and identity wherever they can be found.
Variations of the surname MacCuarta
MacCuarta is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Uighirt, which translates to “son of the son of Uigar”. The variant spellings of this surname include MacCuirta, MacCuria, McCurrah, McCurie, and MacUigart.
The Mac Uigar sept come from the Clan MacKay in the Highland region of Scotland. This clan was able to secure their place through their would-be ancestors intermarriage with the MacLeods, leading to their rise in power.
In the 19th century, the name MacCuarta began to appear in various records as the spelling was beginning to be modernized. This indicative of the fact that the name had developed through generations of oral tradition and was in the process of settling into the new variation.
Surnames that are closely related to MacCuarta are Uigar, MacCurta, MacUirie, MacUigar, MacUirirt, and MacUustrie. Other spellings such as MacQuirte, MacQuirrie, and MacQuurta also have been used interchangeably with MacCuarta.
The name MacCuarta is likely to have arisen from an ancestor with the Gaelic name Uigar from the Highlands and Islands. Over the years, the name has adapted into various spellings and surnames, as it traveled with generations moving across different parts of Scotland.
Famous people with the name MacCuarta
- Prof. Blas MacCuarta Liceras: Spanish professor of sociology and law at the University of Oviedo.
- Tullio MacCuarta: Italian politician and catholic activist.
- Maggie MacCuarta: Australian artist, specialised in painting, printmaking, illustration and photography.
- Arne MacCuarta: Norwegian film producer.
- Paul MacCuarta: American actor.
- Roy MacCuarta: Zimbabwean cricketer.
- Kevin MacCuarta: Irish professional boxer.
- Phil MacCuarta: British rugby union player.
- John MacCuarta: American lawyer and jurist.
- Maria MacCuarta: Spanish actress.
- Elena MacCuarta: Mexican journalist and television presenter.
- Alexandre MacCuarta: Portuguese restaurateur, chef, and cookbook author.
- David MacCuarta: Chilean composer and conductor.
- Juan Pablo MacCuarta: Colombian politician and economist.
- Ares MacCuarta: French musician.
- Iain MacCuarta: Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist.
- Derrick MacCuarta: Canadian rock manner and multi-instrumentalist.
- Fernanda MacCuarta: Argentinian fashion designer.
- Kyle MacCuarta: New Zealander rugby player.
- Tazio MacCuarta: British entrepreneur and philanthropist.