Surname MacRiverty - Meaning and Origin
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MacRiverty: What does the surname MacRiverty mean?
The last name MacRiverty is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Riabhaigh, which has the literal meaning of "son of Riabhach." Riabhach is thought to be derived from the ancient Celtic word for riverbank or riverbank dweller.
The MacRiverty family is said to have come from Ulster in the late 1500s with the migration of many Irish people to Scotland during the Plantation period of British colonization. In Scotland, the name was adapted to MacRiverty and the family found their way to County Mayo in Ireland, where they still remain today.
The MacRivertys were an important family in County Mayo. They were landowners and merchants and largely benefited from the expansion of the linen industry. The family also has a long history in the arts, producing many renowned scholars, poets, and musicians.
The MacRiverty family is a large, influential clan and can be traced back to the 12th century. Still in existence today, the MacRivertys have made many contributions to Irish culture and history. They are a proud, established family and their surname proudly continues to be handed down from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisMacRiverty: Where does the name MacRiverty come from?
The last name MacRiverty is particularly common in the United Kingdom (UK). In England, the name is most prevalent in Lancashire, where around 1 in every 4,000 people carry the name. In Scotland, it is most common in the urban hubs of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Additionally, there are some small pockets of MacRiverty households in rural areas of both Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Many MacRivertys who had originally emigrated from the UK have also been located in the United States. Records show that in 1895, there were over 8,000 people with this surname in the US. Many of them had previous roots in Scotland and Ireland. It is believed that most of these families have since settled in the Northeast and Midwestern states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
However, today, even though there are still MacRivertys living in the US, the name is much more common in the UK. Even in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it is believed that there have been various families that have settled in urban areas, and their descendants are still living in those areas today. For example, the city of Belfast has a particularly large population of MacRivertys still living in the area.
Overall, the surnam MacRiverty has a long history, but is primarily seen in the UK, particularly in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England.
Variations of the surname MacRiverty
The surname MacRiverty has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The spelling MacRiverty is sometimes confused with the similar sounding surname MacRuperti, however the two are distinct surnames.
The surname can also be found spelled MacRafty, MacRafferty, MacRafferty, McGillRafferty, MacGillreverty, and MacGillreviorty.
Within Scotland and the Ulster counties of Ireland, the surname MacRiverty is commonly a version of the surname MacRafferty. The surname MacRafferty is derived from Mac Raith Bhiadhaigh, meaning ‘son of the judge’ from Gaelic.
In Irish mythology, MacRafferty was a chieftain of Munster who fostered the hero Cú Chulainn. The surname can also be linked to several branches of the O’Rourke clan in counties Cavan, Leitrim, and Sligo.
The surname McRaventy is another spelling found in North America primarily around the time of the American Revolution. It is thought to be an Americanized version of the Irish surname MacCraveny, similarly derived from Mac Craith Bhiadhaigh. It is found in records for some emigrants to Anerica in the early 17th century.
The surname Riverty is an Anglicized form of the Irish surnames MacGreal and MacGreil, which is derived from the Irish word ‘greal’ meaning ‘laurel’ or ‘joy’. This can also be found as McReality and its variants.
In summary, the surname MacRiverty may be variantly spelled MacRafty, MacRafferty, McGillRafferty, MacGillreverty, MacGillreviorty, McRaventy, Riverty, MacCraveny, McReality, and its various variants. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic names Mac Raith Bhiadhaigh, Mac Greal, and Mac Greil.
Famous people with the name MacRiverty
- Mariah MacRiverty: American singer, songwriter and actress.
- Phil MacRiverty: American football player for the Seattle Seahawks.
- Olivia MacRiverty: British actress and philanthropist.
- Quentin MacRiverty: American actor and filmmaker.
- Joey MacRiverty: Canadian hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens.
- Tom MacRiverty: American former basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
- Mike MacRiverty: Australian professional golfer.
- Michael MacRiverty: British athlete who won silver at the 2008 Olympic games in the javelin.
- Sean MacRiverty: Irish mixed martial artist.
- Beverly MacRiverty: American artist and writer, best known for writing the Comforting Words series of books.
- Liz MacRiverty: Canadian politiciand and environmental campaigner.
- Katherine MacRiverty: Canadian-American biochemist and Scientist who won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2013.
- Pete MacRiverty: American music producer and sound engineer.
- Ryan MacRiverty: American filmmaker and internet celebrity.
- Alex MacRiverty: Australian actor and musician, known for his roles in the TV series, Neighbours and Home and Away.