Surname MaWhirter - Meaning and Origin
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MaWhirter: What does the surname MaWhirter mean?
The surname MaWhirter origin traces back to Scotland. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Chruiteir." In this, "Mac" means "son of," and "Chruiteir" translates to "Harper." Therefore, the surname MaWhirter roughly means "son of the Harper." This suggests that the first people bearing this name may have been descendants of a person who was known for playing the harp. This falls in line with Celtic tradition where Bards and musicians were held in high esteem. The surname, like many others, would have attempted to convey certain characteristics or occupations of the initial bearers. It is important to note that spellings variations, such as McWhirter, MacWhirter, and others, exist due to different Anglicization over time and space. Surnames' meanings can lose or change their meaning over centuries of family movement and cultural change.
Order DNA origin analysisMaWhirter: Where does the name MaWhirter come from?
The surname MaWhirter is of Scottish origin. It is derived from “MacWhirter,” a name that originated in the southwest region of Scotland. The name can be broken down into two elements. “Mac” is a common prefix in Scottish and Irish surnames which means ‘son of’. The second part, “Whirter” is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word “chruiteir” meaning ‘a harpist’ or ‘a string player’. Hence, the full surname might mean ‘son of a harpist or a string player’. The surname has various spelling forms such as McWhirter, McQuirter, MacWhirter, McWhorter, and others due to phonetic translations and regional differences.
In the mid-17th century, several Scottish emigrants, including those bearing the surname MaWhirter, migrated to North America, mainly to regions that are presently the United States and Canada. Today, the surname is commonly found in these countries. However, the surname is pretty rare and not as common as other surnames of Scottish origin. Scotland, the birthplace of the name, also continues to have bearers of this surname.
Variations of the surname MaWhirter
The surname MaWhirter, often believed to be of Scottish origin, has several variants and spellings which can include McWhirter, McWhorter, M'Whirter, MacWhirter, MacWhorter, MacQuirter, and MacWherter. These variations can largely be attributed to phonetic interpretations and spelling adjustments over the centuries. The prefixes "Mac", "Mc", and "M'" all generally mean "son of" in Gaelic. Thus, the root of "Whirter" or "Whorter" in these surnames likely traces back to the same familial line. In some cases, "Whirter" may also be spelled as "Quirter" or "Wherter" due to regional dialect influences and historical spelling standards.
The surname itself is believed to originate from an occupational role; the spelling "Whirter" may be derived from the old Scots word 'quhirt' indicating a whip or scourge, suggesting that some bearers of this name could have been whip makers or perhaps even horse trainers. Meanwhile, the "Whorter" variant possibly signifies the 'son of the hortator', i.e., an encourager or inciter, which could indicate a similar role in a different dialect or region.
Famous people with the name MaWhirter
- Grant MaWhirter: an American actor, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles who has worked across both television and film.
- Joe MaWhirter: an American film and television production assistant, who has worked in many projects with big names, like Disney-Pixar and Marvel.
- Adam MaWhirter: a multi-award winning Canadian actor, producer and director whose works have been seen on the small and big screen around the world.
- Sandra MaWhirter: The first Australian woman to successfully circumnavigate the globe on board her own yacht. She is now a motivational speaker, coach and mentor.
- Paul MaWhirter: A British composer and music producer who has produced music for films, TV, albums and video games.
- William MaWhirter: A Scottish portrait painter of Dutch descent who was renowned for his royal and society portraits in the late 17th century.
- James MaWhirter: a Canadian poet, teacher and librarian who was nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award in 2005.
- Ann MaWhirter: an iconic artist of the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, and a key figure in the group of Abstract Expressionists known as Color Field painting.
- Florence MaWhirter: a Canadian writer and poet whose poem collections, children's literature, and fiction have been widely published and received awards.
- Alexander MaWhirter: an American archaeological scientist who has contributed to paleontology and biochronology research at Smithsonian Institution for over 10 years.