Surname McPeter - Meaning and Origin

McPeter: What does the surname McPeter mean?

The last name McPeter is of both Scottish and Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic patronymic Mac Pheadair, which translates to "son of Peter." The original bearer of the name, most likely a Peter, was someone renowned in his community, which resulted in his descendants taking on his name to honor him.

The first clan to bear the name McPeter was the Macphersons of Perthshire. This clan that descended from a Chieftain named Pherson, which was the equivalent of the modern Peter. The Macphersons held the title of Chief of that name until the 1800s when their last known chief passed away.

The McPeters of Ireland made their way there sometime during the 16th century from Scotland. Since then, the name has spread to several parts of the world. The McPeters of Ireland were known as Protestants and saw their religion as integral to their identity.

In modern times, many people now proudly bear the last name McPeter. There are various variations of the spelling, including MacPeter, McPheeters, McPeters, and MacPeters. Although this name has greatly diversified over the years, it is still a proud reminder of the original Peter, and a connection to a heritage that reaches far beyond today.

McPeter: Where does the name McPeter come from?

The name McPeter is of Scottish origin, and is most commonly found among people of Scottish ancestry. As of 2020, most of the individuals who bear the name McPeter can be found in the United Kingdom. The name is widespread among the major Scottish cities, particularly Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. There are also sizable numbers of individuals living in England, Canada, and Australia who share the same surname.

Though much of the population with the name McPeter resides in the UK, it is also starting to spread further afield. In the United States, the name has started to gain traction, with clusters of individuals with the surname living in the states of Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania, among others. Data also shows that the name is starting to appear in China, Germany, Spain, and India, though is still quite rare in those locations.

The name McPeter has a rich history within Scotland and can be traced back to as much as the 12th century. In the following centuries, numerous branches of the McPeter family grew and evolved, leading to the prevalence of the name throughout Scotland and various other countries today.

Variations of the surname McPeter

The surname McPeter is a variation of the classic Gaelic name MacPhear facilities, which is derived from the Gaelic prefix “Mac”, meaning “son of”, and the personal name Phear, meaning “stone”. As a result, the surname McPeter literally means “son of Peter”. In recent generations, however, McPeter is often seen as an independent surname.

Variations in spelling of McPeter include MacPeter, MacPhereson, MacPhariss, McPerson, MacFarland and M'Pharlaine. Common surnames with the same origin include McPherson, MacFarlane, MacFarlane, McAuley, MacMillan, MacAulay, MacKay, and MacCoy.

In Scotland, the McPeter surname would have originated in the Highlands region, as well as on the Island of Islay and Mull, both in the Inner Hebrides islands. The surname is particularly prominent in the counties of Argyll and Bute, located northwest of Glasgow. Several families with the surname McPeter are today found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as North America, Australia and New Zealand.

The spelling variations, such as MacPeter, MacPhereson, MacPhariss, and McPerson further illustrate the different lines in which the surname McPeter can be found. The various spellings serve to distinguish among family lines descended from a common ancestor.

Famous people with the name McPeter

• Tam McPeter: American singer-songwriter
• Ramona McPeter: Canadian animator
• Sean McPeter: American Actor
• Raymond McPeter: Australian Soccer Player
• Ross McPeter: British Actor
• Hunter McPeter: American Football Player
• Jordan McPeter: Scottish Musician
• Caleb McPeter: Canadian Comedian
• Mason McPeter: Israeli Olympic Athlete
• Eric McPeter: Spanish Basketball Player
• Paul McPeter: Irish Novelist
• Marney McPeter: American Cello Player
• William McPeter: Canadian Scientist
• Alexander McPeter: South African Politician
• Madeline McPeter: American Painter
• Kyle McPeter: Brazilian Pop Star
• Jason McPeter: Pakistani Cricketer
• Tracy McPeter: German Film Director
• Amber McPeter: French Pianist
• Eva McPeter: Argentinian Rock Singer

Other surnames

McPeters