Surname MacRoarty - Meaning and Origin
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MacRoarty: What does the surname MacRoarty mean?
The surname MacRoarty is typically a derived from the Irish surname Mac Ruaraty, which is derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Robhartaigh, meaning “son of Robhartach.” Robhartach was a first name among the ancient Gaels, a group of Celtic people that settled in Scotland and Ireland. The name was popular in Ireland until the 16th century, when it was anglicised from the Gaelic to MacRoarty.
The MacRoarty surname is primarily found in Northern Ireland and is traditionally associated with the county of Donegal. In county Donegal, the MacRoarty name was a sept of the powerful O’ Neill clan, which was the ruling clan in the area for centuries. The O’Neill clan would later be supplanted by the O’Donnells in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Today, the MacRoarty surname is quite common in the area and is fairly widespread across Ireland, Scotland, and the United States. In the US, the name can be found throughout the Midwestern and Eastern regions, with most bearers of the name living in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Despite its ancient Gaelic origins, the MacRoarty surname today is still associated with nobility and honor. For centuries, the name has been associated with strength and courage, and its bearer continues to enjoy a privileged place in Irish society. The legacy of MacRoarty lives on and is sure to continue for centuries more.
Order DNA origin analysisMacRoarty: Where does the name MacRoarty come from?
The last name MacRoarty is found today primarily in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Although it has been found in North America, it is much more common in Ireland and the UK.
The MacRoarty surname is believed to be descended from the O'Ruartaigh clan, who were a branch of the O'Neill family in Antrim, Ireland. The O'Ruartaigh family settled in Donegal in the 15th century, and MacRoarty is thought to come from the Irish MacRúaidhrí.
MacRoarty is an Irish name, and simple research shows that it is widespread in Ireland with its highest concentrations in counties Donegal, Antrim and Derry. In other parts of the United Kingdom the surname is more scattered.
Scotland has a few MacRoarty families in the Aberdeen area, as does England, with the highest concentration in London. In Australia the surname is generally seen in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
In North America, the MacRoarty surname is found on both sides of the border. It is found in both Canada and the United States, with its highest concentrations in the states of New York, Texas, Massachusetts and California.
In modern times, many people with the surname MacRoarty have moved to different parts of the world, though their roots remain in Ireland and the UK.
Variations of the surname MacRoarty
The surname MacRoarty has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
MacRoarty is an Irish name, and is most commonly connected to the O'Raourtigh sept. This name is believed to derive from the Irish prefix ‘O’ which means ‘grandson of’ and ‘Ruartagh’, a personal name meaning ‘famous ruler’.
One of the most common alternatives for MacRoarty is simply Roarty. Variations of this spelling are Rorty, Roertigh, Rory, Rourk, Rourke, O’Rourk and Rourke.
The most common alternative spelling is MacRory. Variations of this spellings are McRory, MacRuary, MacRurey, MagRory and MacRoya.
The MacRoarty family has developed several alternate surnames. Some of them include McRorty, MacRorty, McCorty, McCourt, McCreadie, MacCreedie, MacGreadie and Megreadie.
The most common names associated with MacRoarty are McRory, Roarty, Rourke, and Rorty, but there is a wide range of spellings and variants that have evolved. All of these spellings are connected to the same origin and are likely to be branches of the same family tree.
Famous people with the name MacRoarty
- Paul MacRoarty: British actor, director and producer.
- Kevin MacRoarty: American actor, known for his roles in The Greatest Showman, House of Lies and The Newsroom.
- Joseph MacRoarty: Irish priest of the Catholic Church and Archbishop of Armagh.
- Mary MacRoarty: Irish-American playwright, poet and actress.
- Liam MacRoarty: British actor, known for his roles in Lawrence of Arabia, The List of Adrian Messenger and Doctor Who.
- Cian MacRoarty: Irish model and fitness trainer.
- Catherine MacRoarty: Canadian painter and sculptor.
- Sam MacRoarty: American country singer-songwriter.
- Liam MacRoarty: Irish folk singer-songwriter, music producer, actor and presenter.
- Paul MacRoarty: Scottish entrepreneur and property developer, founder of RBS Group.