Surname MacTeggarty - Meaning and Origin

MacTeggarty: What does the surname MacTeggarty mean?

The last name MacTeggarty is an anglicized version of the original Irish surname Mac Tadhgagáird. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Tadhgagáird meaning “son of Tadhgagáird”. Tadhgagáird is a personal name which has two components in its make-up. Tadhg is a popular diminutive of the name Tadhg which itself is derived from the words ‘taidhbhseach’ or ‘tadhbh’ both of which mean ‘poet or storyteller’. The second element, ‘gáird’ is derived from ‘gaoir’ meaning ‘loud’, ‘brilliant’ or ‘mighty’.

The Mac Teggarts lived primarily in Ireland with some families pushing further west into Scotland or even further afield. Historically, the Mac Teggarty families have been landowners, merchants, and craftspeople who could easily adapt to new places and times. In many cases, they have left an ancestral legacy of successful merchant families in various areas they have called home.

The Mac Teggarty families are known for their independent spirit, their love of family and sense of adventure. They are accepting and welcoming to those of other backgrounds and nationalities. This welcoming and inclusive spirit has served Mac Teggarty families well in their many endeavors throughout the centuries.

MacTeggarty: Where does the name MacTeggarty come from?

The last name MacTeggarty is of Irish descent and is most common today in Ireland. The name first appears as MacTaidhg in the ancient texts of Irish folklore and was bestowed upon the eldest son of the Ard-rí of Thomond.

Although believed to have originated in present day County Clare, particularly in the Kilrush area, the MacTeggarty name today is spread across Ireland in most of the larger coastal and midland cities, such as Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, and Waterford.

Travel across the rest of the United Kingdom and onwards to the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand reveals the MacTeggarty name is becoming increasingly common in these countries due to the Irish diaspora, which began during the Great Famine of the mid-1800s.

In the small towns of the West of Ireland, where many of the original MacTeggarts still reside, the name is still a relatively rare one compared to the other more well known names of the region.

The MacTeggarty name has also been adopted in many parts of the world where ancestry is not the primary factor for acquiring a surname as a result of centuries of immigration from Ireland to other countries. For example, the MacTeggarty name has been used by Irish-Americans, Irish-Canadians, and Irish-Australians for many years now. It is also sometimes spelled as MacTegarty or McTighe.

Variations of the surname MacTeggarty

The surname MacTeggarty is a patronymic Irish surname. It originated in the Leinster region of Ireland and derives from the ancient Irish Gaelic name Mac Toighdhgartaigh. The variants and alternative spellings of the surname MacTeggarty include:

• McTaggart

• McTaggert

• McTagart

• McTegart

• MacTagart

• MacTagert

• MacTegart

• MacTaggart

The variants of the surname are used mainly in Scotland, where the spelling has been simplified from its original form to MacTaggart. In Ireland, the surname is mainly used in its original form, MacTeggarty. In the United States and other countries such as Canada and Australia, the surname is commonly found in simplified forms like MacTaggart and McTegart.

The surname MacTeggarty has many other common variations. Some are more closely related to the original while others developed as a result of geographic or cultural shifts. These include MacTegmouse, MacTeahave, Tagert, Tinker, MacTechtorry and MacTeglesh.

Other surnames of the same origin include MacTeacus, MacTeague, MacTairy and MacTernahan. The spelling of these surnames is generally less varied than that of MacTeggarty, however, and they are more common in the northern regions of Ireland.

Overall, the surname MacTeggarty is an ancient and distinctively Irish surname of patronymic origin, with several related spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name MacTeggarty

• Arun MacTeggarty: Actor, best known for his roles in the films Alien X-Files and We Own the Night.
• Rory MacTeggarty: Musician and lead singer of the popular indie rock band The Alright Guys.
• Siobhan MacTeggarty: Best-selling author whose books include the critically acclaimed The Wrong Kind of Love.
• Tristan MacTeggarty: Footballer who plays for Manchester United and was voted Young Player of the Year in 2017.
• Patrick MacTeggarty: Actor, whose breakout role was in the critically-acclaimed indie film The Old Man in the Sea.
• Abigail MacTeggarty: Award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in The New York Times and The Guardian.
• William MacTeggarty: Acclaimed chef and restaurateur, often referred to as the ‘father of modern Scottish cooking’.
• Richard MacTeggarty: Olympic gold medalist in swimming, and won medals in both the 100m and 200m freestyle in the 2016 games in Rio.
• Sean MacTeggarty: Professional skateboarder and founder of the skateboarding company LOGIC co.
• Donna MacTeggarty: Award-winning performance artist, whose works have been featured in galleries around the world.

Other surnames

MacTeggart