Surname McArtor - Meaning and Origin

McArtor: What does the surname McArtor mean?

The last name McArtor is believed to be a variation of the Gaelic patronymic "Mac an t-Saoir," which can be translated to "son of the craftsman" or "son of the tailor." It is believed to be of Irish origin, and was common among families in northern Ireland. Many of those who bore this surname likely had a skilled trade in the clothing industry, such as tailors, shoemakers, and weavers.

The name is also known as McArter and McArtur in some areas. It is thought that the McArtor spelling was developed by settlers who journeyed to North America in the 18th century, likely from Scotland or Ireland. Today, the McArtor surname is still common in North America, especially in Canada and the United States.

Specific to the United States, McArtor is the 7,383rd most common surname, with around 1,556 carriers. In Canada, it is even more common, with 2,497 carriers, making it the 5,563rd most common last name in the country.

Ultimately, the McArtor surname reflects a family’s craftsmanship, and by extension, their contribution to their communities. It is a reminder of the ingenuity and resilience of the families who adopted this surname, many of whom helped to shape the world we live in today.

McArtor: Where does the name McArtor come from?

The last name McArtor is mostly common in communities located in Northern Ireland today. It is known to be either an Anglicised form of the old Gaelic name Mac Artúir, which is a patronymic formed from the personal name Artúr, adopted from the Latin name ‘Arthur’, which in turn is derived from the Celtic words meaning ‘bear’ and ‘noble’.

The earliest known modern records of this family name are found in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland where they were recorded as being seated from the mid 16th Century. Mac Artúir and its various Anglicised forms first appeared in County Fermanagh in the year 1647, when one Owen McArtour was recorded in the " Barclay MSS. of County Fermanagh.”

The McArtor surname is also found in Canada, United States, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, the most notable origin of this family name is in County Fermanagh, where a Clan Mac Artur was recorded in 1172, followed by the Co. Tyrone birth records of John McArtor in 1688.

In modern day, the McArtor name is still widely used in County Fermanagh, but it has spread much farther than that in recent years. Emigration during the past 300 years has resulted in the name being used in various parts of the world including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where it is sometimes anglicised to "McArthur".

Variations of the surname McArtor

McArtor is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Artaire. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include MacArter, McArtee, MacCartor, MacCarte, MacCarthy, MacCarthyreagh, and MacCartee.

McArtor can also be spelled in various ways, including MacArtor, McArter, McCarter, and McArthor. A common surname variation is McArthy, which is derived from the same root but has a distinct spelling.

Other surnames of the same derivation include McAteer, McAdere, McAdaire, McAdam, McCaddam, and McAdair. These surnames are all of Irish origin, but may also be found among Scotland and other Celtic populations.

Additionally, some variants of the Gaelic name Mac Artaire include Mac Ardghail, Mac Ardigh, and Mac Ardwy. This indicates that Mac Artaire may have a Norse origin, but this could not be confirmed.

Surnames such as MacArtor, McArtor, and MacArter may have also been Anglicized as McCartney, MacCartor, or MacKartor.

In conclusion, McArtor has a wide variety of variants, spellings, and surnames, including McArthy and Mac Ardwy, all of which originates from a Gaelic name, Mac Artaire.

Famous people with the name McArtor

• John McArthur- Canadian businessman and philanthropist, 18th Chancellor of the University of Toronto
• David McArthur- NFL defensive end
• Jay "Atom" McArthur- Major League Baseball player
• Jill McArthur- Canadian actor
• Mark McArthur- Scottish football player
• Stacy McArthur- Former HGTV Canada host
• Robert McArthur- Australian politician
• Jack McArthur- Australian Rugby League player
• Charlie McArthur- Canadian NHL hockey player
• Scott McArthur- Canadian film director

Other surnames

McArthur