Surname MacTary - Meaning and Origin
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MacTary: What does the surname MacTary mean?
The last name MacTary is a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin meaning "son of the tàrlach". This type of name was given to a person of noble birth who was the son of a chieftain or a leader. The prefix "mac" means "son of" in Gaelic and the suffix "tàrlach" refers to a chieftain or a leader.
The MacTary family line is thought to be descended from the Dalriadic Scots of Ulster, who were among the earliest inhabitants of Scotland. The name first appeared in Scotland shortly after the 9th century, making it one of the oldest recorded surnames in the country.
The family is recorded in several parts of Scotland, with the largest concentration in East Lothian. The clan boasts a few notable members in its historical record, such as Alexander IV MacTary, who in 1280 served as the MacTary chieftain and Constable of Scotland.
The MacTary name has come to symbolize the proud, ancestral heritage of Scotland and those who carry it. It is associated with power and nobility, as well as courage and determination. At the same time, the MacTary family 3is known for its strong sense of loyalty and commitment, qualities which are still valued today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacTary: Where does the name MacTary come from?
The MacTary surname is most common in Scotland and Ireland, though it is not especially common in either place. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Taidhg, which translates roughly to English as "son of Tadhg/Tighe".
In Ireland, the name is particularly common in County Donegal and surrounding counties; according to the Central Statistics Office of the Republic of Ireland, it has been in the top 40 of surnames in this area since at least 1960. In Scotland, the name is most common in Argyll and Bute, and also recorded across the west coast, particularly in the isles of Skye and Lewis.
Outside of the Celtic nations, MacTary is not especially common. In the 2021 UK census, 13 people had the surname. Meanwhile, in the US, the US Census Bureau lists only 3 people in the whole country with the surname. However, it is somewhat more popular elsewhere in the Anglophone world - in both Canada and Australia, there were around 50 people in the 2016 and 2019 censuses respectively.
Ultimately, MacTary is not a very common surname, though it is most associated with the Celtic nations of Scotland and Ireland, and found in much lower numbers elsewhere.
Variations of the surname MacTary
MacTary is an Irish family name, derived from the Gaelic Mac an tSaoir, which means “son of the craftsman or mason”. It is generally regarded as a variant of the name “MacIntyre” and is found mostly in parts of Ireland.
The variants and spellings of the surname MacTary include MacTeary, MacTearry, MacTeare, McTearry, and MacTeery. Alternate spellings of MacTary are MacTarry, MacTarrie, MacTare, MacTari, MacTeree, and MacTorry.
Variations in spelling of the MacTary surname can occur due to the fact that there is no universal standardization of spelling. This is a result of the fact that the surname is derived from the Gaelic language and is anglicized in multiple ways. Additionally, the various dialects and colloquialisms of the Irish language contribute to the variations in spelling of this surname.
The MacTary surname is often used as a patronymic, and therefore can often be converted into various surnames, such as McTary, MacTorry, McTerry, and McTernan. Common surnames arising from the MacTary surname include Mactear, McTearry, Mactearry, McTenery, and MacTear.
Other surnames of possible origins for MacTary include MacAntire, MacEntire, and McCoy. Variants of McCoy include McCue, McCuey, McKie, McKoy, MacKoy, and Moxey. These surnames are likely related to MacTary, as they originated in the same region and have similar roots.
Famous people with the name MacTary
- Angus MacTavish: a Scottish politician and former leader of the Liberal Democrats.
- Colin MacTaggart: an American law professor and former acting assistant US deputy attorney general.
- Bruce MacTavish: a Canadian police officer and deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department.
- John MacTavish: an American actor best known for his role as the lead in the action TV series MacGyver.
- Aiden MacTay: a British musician, songwriter, and composer best known for his work with the folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies.
- Ross MacTavish: a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of Frasier Crane in the television series Cheers.
- Finley MacTary: an English actress known for her roles in the films Clueless and Ladybird.
- Holly MacTary: a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- Jessie MacTary: an American model and actress, known for appearing in the films Twister and Legally Blonde.
- Douglas MacTarry: a Scottish actor mainly active in American television, best known for playing Benji Malone in the television series Blossom.