Surname MacKerchar - Meaning and Origin
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MacKerchar: What does the surname MacKerchar mean?
The last name MacKerchar is derived from the Scottish surname MacKerchar. The surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Ghiolla Chathair which in English translates to "the son of the servant of St Catherines".
The origin of the MacKerchar surname can be traced back to Scotland’s Argyll province, which lies in the southwestern part of the country. It is believed that the MacKerchars were descended from an old Gaelic family that worked as servants of St Catherines church in the village of Lismore.
The derivation of the MacKerchar surname is unique in that it does not simply indicate a physical location, but rather an origin story, where an individual was named for having served in the house of a religious figure.
Today, many MacKerchars still reside in Argyll and the surrounding areas of Scotland such as Inverness. For the past few centuries many other MacKerchars have settled overseas to places like the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where they have passed on the name to second and third generation descendants.
The MacKerchar surname is an interesting reminder of Scotland's history, and the stories of how those with the surname came to settle in places far away from their homeland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKerchar: Where does the name MacKerchar come from?
The last name MacKerchar is found most often in areas with Scottish heritage. It may have originated with a Mackintosh family that moved from the Highlands of Scotland to central Scotland.
Today, it is most commonly found in Scotland, where many who bear the name are descendants of the original Mackintosh clan. It is also seen in the United States, Canada and Australia, where members of the Mackintosh family were amongst the first European settlers.
In Scotland, the most common places where the name is seen are Argyll, Perth & Kinross, and the Angus, Aberdeen & Dundee regions. In America, the surname is seen in states such as Maine, New York, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Idaho. In Canada, the name can be found in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia, whereas in Australia it is more common in the state of Queensland.
Despite the changes and migration in location of the original Mackintosh clan, the MacKerchar surname remains a strong reminder of its Scottish roots.
Variations of the surname MacKerchar
The surname MacKerchar has a few variants, spellings and surnames that share the same origin. The most common variants are MacKercher, McKerchar, Makechar, Makkerchar, and Mackarcher. These variants can also be seen as surnames due to spelling variations throughout the years.
The original Scottish spelling of MacKerchar is an anglicization of the Gaelic surname “MacGriogair”, meaning “son of Greogair”. Greogair is derived from the pre-11th century Old Norse term GrekaR, which was used to describe a son of Griogair or Gregory. In the Dalriadan regions of the Scottish Highlands, the surname further evolved into MacGrieger and MacErear.
Other variants of MacKerchar include MacEarer, MacKeir, MacKaire, MacKercher, MacKever, MacKeur, Mackir, MacKyer, Mackercher, McKercher, McKeur, and McKier. Some of these are labeled as Irish variants, though they can also be found in Scotland.
There are also variant spellings of the variant surnames, such as MacEarer, MacEarrar, and MacErer. Lastly, there are some spellings which are more convoluted, such as Mackacar, MacKerrish, and MacKerish.
All of these variants, spellings and surnames stem from the same origin and have evolved over the years due to phonetic shifts, linguistic influences, and regional dialects. As a result, MacKerchar is a very diverse surname and has many variations.
Famous people with the name MacKerchar
- Caitlin MacKerchar: Caitlin MacKerchar is an Australian actor, voice artist and author, best known for her roles in the CBC/Netflix series Idle Threats and as a principal in the Netflix original series About a Boy.
- Morag MacKerchar: Morag MacKerchar is a Scottish musician, singer and composer who has released two full length albums ‘Plain Speaking’ and ‘Aftertaste’.
- Donald MacKerchar: Donald MacKerchar was a surefooted outdoorsman and Conservation Officer in New Zealand.
- Alice MacKerchar: Alice MacKerchar is an award-winning British film and television producer, director and writer.
- James "Jem" MacKerchar: James "Jem" MacKerchar was a Scottish rugby union player and British Army officer who was killed in action during the First World War.
- Jamie MacKerchar: Jamie MacKerchar is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian.
- Adrianna MacKerchar: Adrianna MacKerchar is an American professional soccer player who plays for the Sky Blue F.C. in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
- Robert MacKerchar: Robert MacKerchar is a former professional wrestling referee, working for World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.
- Ewan MacKerchar: Ewan MacKerchar is a Scottish occupational neurologist, consultant clinical neurophysiologist currently based at the University of Glasgow and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London.
- William MacKerchar: William MacKerchar was a Scots-born American minister who wrote the lyrics for the popular and iconic hymn "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".