Surname McQuirter - Meaning and Origin
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McQuirter: What does the surname McQuirter mean?
McQuirter is a variant of the Scottish surname McWhirter, which is derived from the two Gaelic words "Mac" meaning son and "Chruiteir" meaning harpist. Thus, the surname essentially means "son of the harpist." It is also believed that this surname may have a geographical origin from the Scottish town of Whithorn, which in the Gaelic language is known as "Huitir." Over time, the pronunciation and spelling evolved into McWhirter and its variants, including McQuirter. This surname also suggests a connection with a musical heritage or profession related to playing the harp. It embodies a piece of historical Scottish cultural tradition, illustrating how last names often reveal a significant aspect of lineage or professional involvement of the ancestors. Like many surnames, with migration and anglicization, various spelling variations like McQuirter have developed.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuirter: Where does the name McQuirter come from?
The surname McQuirter originates from Scotland. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Chruiteir, which roughly translates to "son of a brewer" or "son of a cruit player." The cruit was a stringed instrument popular during the medieval period.
The surname initially arose in Ayrshire, a region in the south-west of Scotland, before spreading elsewhere, particularly to Northern Ireland during the 17th century due to the Plantation of Ulster.
Today, the surname McQuirter is found most commonly in the United States, particularly within the African-American community. This increase in the US can be attributed to the Scottish and Irish immigration during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, it is still seen in Scotland and Northern Ireland, albeit less commonly.
Variations of the surname McQuirter
The surname McQuirter belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. This specific surname is believed to come from Scottish and Irish origins, containing the prefix "Mc", denoting "son of".
The McQuirter surname has several spelling variations, including: MacWhirter, McWherter, MacQuirter, McQuerter, McWhorter, McWhirter, MacQuhirr, MacQuhirter, and MacWhorter. These variations can be attributed to many factors, such as different regions and dialects, translation from Gaelic to English, and simple misspellings over the years. For example, "Mac" is a common prefix in Scotland, while "Mc" is more commonly used in Ireland.
Surnames often evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics. While McQuirter and its variations are most commonly a patronymic name, it could theoretically also be a topographic name if used to denote someone from a specific place.
Overall, the surname McQuirter has diverse variations rooted in the rich tapestry of regional linguistic influences between Scotland and Ireland.
Famous people with the name McQuirter
- Angelique McQuirter: She is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist.
- Tbraxton McQuirter: American rapper, songwriter, and producer from Albany,Georgia
- Kevin McQuirter: British soul and jazz artist, producer, and composer
- Chris McQuirter: American professional wrestler, best known for his work with Impact Wrestling
- Daryl McQuirter: American film and television actor
- Kimbra McQuirter: Australian professional tennis player
- Porter McQuirter: Canadian businessman and philanthropist
- Clay McQuirter: American football player, former running back in the National Football League
- Shelby McQuirter: American actress, known for her roles in television series such as Southland and CSI
- Lina McQuirter: singer, songwriter, and recording artist from Nashville, Tennessee.