Surname McCree - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McCree: What does the surname McCree mean?
The last name McCree is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Raith, which means "son of grace" or "son of prosperity." The name Raith itself is believed to come from 'rath', which means 'prosperity' in Gaelic. It implies that the person is either a descendant of someone named Raith, or is someone who is expected to bring prosperity. The prefix 'Mc' or 'Mac' is commonly used in Scottish and Irish surnames and traditionally means 'son of', so McCree or McRae effectively means 'Son of Raith'. There are several variants of this surname based on phonetic translations from Gaelic to English, including MacRae, MacCrae, MacCrea, and MacCree. Given the long history of Gaelic names, each variant may have developed distinct historical and geographical associations, contributing to the rich tapestry of Scottish culture and history.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCree: Where does the name McCree come from?
The surname McCree is of Scottish origin, believed to have derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Rath," which translates as "son of grace" or "son of prosperity". The McCree surname is traced back to the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada.
The clan's history is intertwined with the Galloway region in southern Scotland where they had significant estates. However, with historical migrations, changes in national boundaries, and the dispersion of families around the world, the McCree surname is now found in various countries.
Today, the surname McCree is most common in English-speaking countries like the United States, Scotland, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It tends to be more prevalent in regions influenced by Scottish diaspora. Nonetheless, it is not a very common surname, which assists in tracing individual family histories more efficiently.
Variations of the surname McCree
The surname McCree has its roots in Irish and Scottish heritage, specifically from the Gaelic surname MacRuidhrí, meaning son of Roderick. As with many surnames, variations in spelling and format have arisen over time often due to factors like transcription errors, phonetic spelling, and translation between languages.
Other spellings of the name McCree can include McCrea, McRea, McCrie, and Makcrea. There might be instances where the prefix "Mac" changes to "Mc" or is entirely dropped, resulting in Cree or Cree. Some versions add an 'a' to the end of the surname, like McCrea or McRea. In some cases, the second 'c' might be replaced with a 'k', as in McKree or McKrea.
Variations of the name also exist where an 'i' substitutes the 'e', seen in McCrie and Makcrie. Sometimes, the surnames are hyphenated as in Mac-Cree or Mc-Cree. There may also be double-barrel surnames where McCree is combined with another, such as McCree-Smith or McCree-Jones. All these surnames might be of the same origin as McCree.
Famous people with the name McCree
- Jessie McCree: professional soccer player for the Seattle Sounders FC
- James McRee: American politician
- Robinson McCree: featured artist and bass player of the American rock band Rival Sons
- Rory McCree: retired professional basketball player
- Willie McCree: professional footballer for the San Antonio Scorpions
- Seth McCree: former professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Jill McCree: American professional figure skater
- Bruce McCree: retired American football coach
- Brennen McCree: motorcyclist and professional stuntman
- David McCree: founding member of the band Dark Star Orchestra
- Colin McCree: well-known keyboardist, songwriter and producer
- Chris McCree: professional stuntman and actor
- Anna McCree: English television presenter
- Naomi McCree: American actress, best known for her roles in "Saved by the Bell" and "Malcolm in the Middle"
- Drew McCree: founder of the YogaFaiths foundation, dedicated to serving people who wish to combine and learn how faith and yoga intertwine.