Surname McCreery - Meaning and Origin

McCreery: What does the surname McCreery mean?

The last name McCreery is of Irish origin and derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Ruaidhrí, which translates to "son of Rory." The name Rory itself is derived from the Gaelic elements 'ruadh,' meaning 'red,' and 'rí,' meaning 'king.' Thus, the name McCreery could suggest lineage from a 'red king' or 'king's son.' However, it's essential to understand that family names' exact meanings can sometimes be subject to historical and linguistic interpretation and regional variations. The surname McCreery is more commonly found in Northern Ireland, specifically in County Down and Belfast areas. Over the centuries, many Irish names have been anglicized, and spelling variations are common. Hence you may also find variations such as McCrory, MacCrory, MacRory, among others.

McCreery: Where does the name McCreery come from?

The surname McCreery is of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Ruaidhrí, which means "son of Ruaidhrí." A different spelling, Macrory, was common in Scotland, especially in the Hebrides. Over time, the name evolved into several variants such as McRory, MacRury, MacRorie, and ultimately McCreery.

The earliest recorded spelling of the family name dates to 1391, when Torkyll M'Kcrory in Dingwall, Scotland, was documented. The name made its way to Ireland during the time of extensive Scottish migration during the 17th century, particularly in the northern province of Ulster.

Today, the surname McCreery is most common in the United States, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. Despite this, it remains relatively rare, ranking outside the top 150,000 worldwide. The name gained some recognition due to American country musician Scotty McCreery, who won the tenth season of American Idol in 2011.

Variations of the surname McCreery

The surname McCreery is of Irish origin, specifically derived from the Gaelic "Mac Ruaidhrí" meaning "son of Ruaidhrí," with Ruaidhrí being a personal name equivalent to the English name Rory. There are several variations and spellings of the surname that have evolved over time as the name spread to different geographic regions and languages. These include:

- McCreary

- McCrery

- MacCreery

- MacCrery

- MacCrary

- McCrary

- McCreevy

- McCreevey

Some variations have dropped the 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefix over time, resulting in surnames like Creery or Creary. It's also common to see Mc or Mac replaced with O, originating from the Irish O’ means ‘grandson of’ or ‘descendant of’, such as O'Creery.

Moreover, due to differences in regional dialects and phonetic spellings, variations such as MacRory, MacRury, MacRorey, MacRorie, and their equivalents with the 'Mc' prefix can also be found.

Keep in mind that these names might not all share the exact same ancestry but have come to be grouped together due to their similar spelling and pronunciation.

Famous people with the name McCreery

• Scotty McCreery: popular country music artist and winner of the tenth season of American Idol
• Mark McCreery: former stuntman and second unit director on Jumanji and many other films
• Humphrey McCreery: a British war veteran who played a vital role in the NATO operations during the Cold War
• Stuart McCreery: a former football player and coach from Scotland
• James McCreery: a news anchor who comes from San Antonio
• Richard McCreery: a British general who was awarded the Distinguished Service for Order of the British Empire
• John McCreery: an American writer and producer whose works are mainly focused on science fiction and fantasy
• Alfred McCreery: a prominent British doctor and politician
• William McCreery: a landscape painter from Ireland
• Alexander McCreery: an Australian designer and sculptor

Other surnames

McCree