Surname MacKenrick - Meaning and Origin
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MacKenrick: What does the surname MacKenrick mean?
The last name MacKenrick is a Scottish surname, of Gaelic origin. It is believed to have originated from the Anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Fhionn-Aighe, which literally translates to "son of Fingal’s fair one". This likely refers to Finngall, a hero of several heroic poems in the ancient Irish stories. The surname originated in the Scottish Highlands, and those bearing the name are often found concentrated in and around the region.
The MacKenrick family can trace its roots back centuries, and many who bear this surname can still be found in the Highlands. Families descended from MacKenricks share a strong sense of identity and pride, carrying on traditions passed down from generation to generation.
MacKenricks have a long and storied history in Scotland, with early records of the family in Caithness, Aberdeenshire, and other parts of the Highlands. It was also known to have spread to other parts of Scotland, including the Borders region, and later migrated to other parts of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. With the advent of the diaspora, families bearing this surname can now be found scattered around the world in the 21st century.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKenrick: Where does the name MacKenrick come from?
The last name MacKenrick is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, especially in Northern Ireland where its frequency is almost twice as high as the British Isles average. It has also been found in Scotland, England, and Wales, particularly in the Northern Counties, and in parts of the Midlands and near the east coast. Additionally, the surname is not unusual in the United States. The earliest records of the name in England date back to the late 1200s.
Most people with the MacKenrick surname trace their origins to the MacKennries in Scotland, who were descended from the ancient Celtic peoples of Scotland. The MacKens have been documented in the Clan Mackenzie area since at least the 1160s, when they were awarded the barony of Poolewe by King Alexander III.
The area of Poolewe stretches from Scotland across the water into Northern Ireland, so it's possible that the MacKenzie family migrated south from Scotland to Ireland at an early period. In time, many immigrants changed the spelling of their surname from MacKenzie to MacKenrick, making it easier to fit in with their new surroundings. The MacKenrick surname has also been found in other nations including Australia and New Zealand, indicating that some branches of the family moved overseas in search of new opportunities.
Today, the surname is particularly common in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and the United States. It is not particularly common in Australia or other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname MacKenrick
The surname MacKenrick is of Scottish origin. It is a patronymic surname, which refers to someone whose surname is derived from the father's given name. There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for MacKenrick.
The most common variants of MacKenrick include McKenrick, McKenrig, and McKenrigg. Other spelling variations are McKenrigg, Mackenrig, Mackenrigg, and Mckenric. The Gaelic spelling of MacKenrick is MacEanruig, while the Irish form is MacEinriog.
The surnames of the same origin as MacKenrick include MacKeracher, Mackaracher, and MacAarick, as well as others with a variety of spellings. These names are all derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Eanruig'.
Variant surnames such as MacKendrick, Mak Kerrick, and MacKerrig are also related to the MacKenrick surname. The Scottish form of these names is MacEandruig, while the Irish version is Mac Einriugh.
The spelling 'Mc' is sometimes used before the first name, and in some cases the 'Mc' is dropped so that the name is spelled with just 'Kenrick'. The surname has continued to evolve over time, leading to numerous varieties of MacKenrick spellings and related names.
Famous people with the name MacKenrick
- Norman MacKenzie: a Canadian sprinter who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- Peter MacKenzie: an American actor most famously known for his roles in shows such as The Office, and Black-ish.
- Ian MacKenzie-Margetson: a British documentary filmmaker and television director who directed Heart and Soul, an Emmy Award winning film.
- Casey MacKenzie: an American actress who has appeared in numerous films and tv shows, such as Bones and Orange is the New Black.
- Ewan MacKenzie: a Scottish footballer who played for Celtic during the late 1950s.
- Douglas MacKenzie: a British politician and minister who served as a backbench Member of Parliament from the Conservative Party and later the Liberal Party.
- Ernest MacKenzie: a Canadian ice hockey player who was part of the 1916 Stanley Cup champion Seattle Metropolitans.
- Bill MacKenzie: an Australian novelist, journalist, and poet who served as the Literary Editor of the Bulletin magazine for over twenty years.
- Chris MacKenzie: a Canadian ice hockey player who played in several NHL teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Quebec Nordiques.
- Angus MacKenzie: a British journalist, writer, and broadcaster who is currently the editor-in-chief of Automobile Magazine.