Surname MacTaggart - Meaning and Origin
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MacTaggart: What does the surname MacTaggart mean?
The last name MacTaggart is of Scottish Gaelic origin and carries the meaning "son of the priest." It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac" meaning "son" and "Taggart," an Anglicized form of "t-Sagairt" meaning "priest." The surname traditionally refers to individuals who are descendants of a cleric or priest. The last name is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the region of Argyll, and also in Ireland. Over time, variants of the surname have come into usage such as MacTaggert, McTaggart, Mactaggart, among others. The name serves as an important link to ancient times when Gaelic was the primary language among Scottish and Irish residents and son’s names were often derived from the professions of their fathers.
Order DNA origin analysisMacTaggart: Where does the name MacTaggart come from?
The surname MacTaggart is common in Scotland, Ireland and Australia. It is most heavily concentrated in Scotland, particularly in the northern Highlands and Western Isles. The surname is derived from speakers of the Scottish Gaelic language, and is a patronymic form of the Gaelic name Mac an Tsagairt (son of the priest).
In Scotland, the MacTaggart clan have featured prominently since the 10th Century. They were associated with the Clan Chattan and Clan Mackintosh. During the Scottish Civil War, the Clan formed part of the clan battle of Perth in 1715. They also fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1745, the last battle fought on British soil.
The Scottish spelling of the surname is MacTaggart. The Irish spelling is McTaggart, and is found in Counties Antrim and Down. In Australia, the surname has been carried by a number of prominent political figures, such as John McTaggart, first Labor Premier of South Australia.
The surname is still common in Scotland, Ireland and Australia, and almost certainly found in other countries around the world due to emigration of people with the surname in former centuries.
Variations of the surname MacTaggart
The MacTaggart surname has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants for MacTaggart include MacTaggar, MacTager, MacTaggert, MacTaggərt and MacTaggəd. These are all derived from the Gaelic word "Mac an t-Sagairt" which means "son of the priest". Other variations of the surname can include MacTogher, MacTimore and, in the United States, MacTear.
Alternative spellings also exist for the surname MacTaggart such as MacTaggard, MacTegart, MacTigert, MacTagert, MacTakkert and MacTagart.
The surname MacTaggart may have French origins as it is derived from the French given name Lagard. This variation of the surname can also be spelled as Lagarde, Lagardeau, Lagart and Lagarte.
There are also various surnames around the world that are derived from the MacTaggart surname. In Scotland, surnames such as Taggart, Taggar, Taggart, Tagger and Taggarter can be found. In Ireland, the surname Taggart is also quite common. Other variants of the surname may include Taggerty, MacTeggart and MacTegert.
Overall, the MacTaggart surname is known to have a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name MacTaggart
- Emma MacTaggart: television actress, best known for her role as June Bailey in the show "The Streets We Walk".
- Andrew MacTaggart: Scottish footballer, who played for Rangers and Hibernian Football Club.
- Duncan MacTaggart: former President and CEO of the DOC Group, an Ontario-based construction and engineering firm.
- Alan MacTaggart: co-founder of iconic Australian outdoor retailer, Macpac, and a successful entrepreneur.
- Alice MacTaggart: former Katherine Governess of Buckingham Palace in London, played a key role in the early years of Queen Elizabeth's reign.
- Leslie MacTaggart: Canadian Olympic athlete who attended the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics as part of the Canada's track and field team.
- Danielle MacTaggart: Canadian singer-songwriter, widely known for her contemporary pop and folk music.
- Robin MacTaggart: British theatre director and actor, best known for his work at the Royal Court Theatre in London from 1966 to 1972.
- Brian MacTaggart: Australian professional golfer, who won the 1987 Australian Open tournament.
- Iain MacTaggart: British business executive, who served as the President of the British Retail Consortium from 2000-2001.