Surname Maguthrie - Meaning and Origin
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Maguthrie: What does the surname Maguthrie mean?
The last name Maguthrie is of Scottish origin. It is thought to derive from the ancient Gaelic MacGuthre, which is a patronymic form of the Gaelic personal name Guthre or Guthrie. The name is often translated as “son of the courageous one”, referring to an ancestor who had strength and courage.
The family may have its roots in a territorial designation taken from a location in the old Kingdom of Fife, located in the northeast border of Scotland, near the present day city of Edinburgh. This area was historically populated by Pictish people, and was called Guthred. This was most likely the original homeland for the first members of the Maguthrie family.
The Maguthrie name is also seen in records dating back to the 14th century. It is the earliest record of the family in Scotland, and is found in the ancient parish of Kirkmichael, located in the historic county of Wigtownshire in the southwest of the country.
Throughout the years, the Maguthrie name has spread both geographically and linguistically. It is now known throughout Scotland, and has been anglicised to other spellings, including Guthrie and MacGuffrie. The name can also be found in other parts of the English-speaking world, particularly in Australia, Canada and the United States.
The Maguthrie name has now been strongly associated with courage, strength, and kindness. The original meaning of the name has been preserved and treasured for six hundred years. It is a testament to the strength and bravery of the Maguthrie family, and a reminder of the courage of the ancestor who gave the family its name.
Order DNA origin analysisMaguthrie: Where does the name Maguthrie come from?
The last name Maguthrie is most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland today. It is believed to have originated in Ulster, although it is also possible that it was brought to Scotland in the 1600s by emigrants from France. There are many variations of the name, including Macguthrie, Macgutherie, and McButry.
The coast of Scotland was a common port of call for French fishing fleets, and it has been speculated that the Macguthries may have been descendants of some of these visitors. Another possibility is that the name may have been derived from the Old Gaelic “MacGuthridh”, which means “Son of Guthridh”. Guthridh was a common Scottish name, meaning “The Bold One”.
The Maguthrie name has seen significant variations over the centuries in spelling. Many of the current variations, such as Macgutherie and Macguthrie, date back to the mid-1700s. There is evidence of the name in many parts of Scotland, dating back as far as the late 16th century. In recent years, migration from Scotland has taken the name around the world, and it can now be found in many countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Maguthrie
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Maguthrie include MacGuthrie, McGuthrie, MacGorrie,MacGorry, MacGoucher, MacGourier, MacGower, MacGowrie, MacGowery,McGorrie, McGorrow, McGoucher, McGourier, McGower and McGowrie.
The genealogy of the Maguthrie surname means ‘son of Guthrie’ or ‘son of the victorious spear’, which is derived from a Gaelic personal name. This name derives from the ancient Celtic god, Goromannus, a champion warrior credited with having invented the nybals – an ancient form of battle drum associated with battle cries. It is thought that the tribes of the indigenous population worshipped Goromannus as a deity.
The first recorded spelling of the family name was Gor held by Alexander Gor in 1298 in Scotland. Other recorded spellings include: Maguthry (1407); Maguthrie (1451); Gawrtrey or Guthrie (1574); and MacGoucher (1610).
The Maguthrie Clan was associated with the Anderson Clan, a Scottish clan from the lands of Munro in the province of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland. Members of the Anderson Clan show mainly northern Irish origins for the Maguthrie name and the name is commonly found in the Belfast district of Northern Ireland. In modern times, many people have taken the surname Maguthrie in Ireland as an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname MacGuthrie.
The most significant bearer of the Maguthrie surname was the poet, William McGuthrie (1794-1870). He was born at Kilmaddock, Scotland, and achieved a Master of Arts degree from the University of Glasgow. He was a poet of note, and his works included “Campbell's Lyre” (1845) and “Lament for the Dead” (1853).
Today, the Maguthrie surname is still present in Scotland, Ireland, and England, and is mostly to be found in the form of the McGuthrie variation.
Famous people with the name Maguthrie
- Woody Guthrie: American singer-songwriter and folk musician recognized as one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century American folk music.
- Arlo Guthrie: American folk musician and singer-songwriter, son of Woody Guthrie. He is best known for the 1967 song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”.
- Nora Guthrie: American folk music archivist and singer-songwriter, daughter of legendary folk musician Woody Guthrie. She is the Director of the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives.
- Pete Seeger: American folk singer, this Grammy Award-winning artist and prominent civil rights advocate was a close friend and collaborator of Woody Guthrie.
- Avery Guthrie: former wonder-kid American musician, singer, producer, songwriter, and the youngest child of Woody and Marjorie Guthrie.
- Abe Guthrie: Former keyboardist for Arlo Guthrie, he is also an award-winning composer, producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist.
- Cathy Guthrie: Singer-songwriter and daughter of Arlo Guthrie. She released her debut album Creative Dreamer in 2017.
- Sarah Lee Guthrie: American singer-songwriter and daughter of Arlo and granddaughter of Woody. She released the album Go Waggaloo with her husband Johnny Irion in 2007.
- Samuel Guthrie: American jazz guitarist and son of Arlo and his first wife Susan. He was once a member of Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys.
- Christy Moore: Irish folk singer-songwriter who famously recorded a version of Woody Guthrie’s “Pretty Boy Floyd” on his album Prosperous.