Surname McQuorcadale - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McQuorcadale: What does the surname McQuorcadale mean?
The surname McQuorcadale is of Scottish origin and is a variant of the name MacCorquodale. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic MacTorcadail, which literally translates to "son of Torcadal". The exact meaning of the term "Torcadal" is unclear; however, it is generally believed to be composed of two elements: "torc" which means "boar" and "dal" which could either mean "valley" or could be a personal name. The name MacCorquodale was borne by Scottish clans in the highlands region, which further reinforces its Gaelic roots. Due to historic spelling variances and phonetic transliteration from Gaelic to English, there are multiple spelling variations of the name, including McQuorcadale, MacCorquodale, McCorquodale, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuorcadale: Where does the name McQuorcadale come from?
The surname McQuorcadale has Scottish origins. It is an anglicized form of MacCorcadail, which is a patronymic name formed by the addition of the Gaelic suffix 'Mac' (meaning 'son of') to the personal name, Corcadal. 'Corcadal' is itself derived from Gaelic words that possibly mean ‘heart’ and ‘valor’.
The name is traditionally associated with the Argyll region in the western part of Scotland. However, like with many other Scottish names, the historical events such as the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries led to a substantial scattering of Scottish families around the world. Therefore, people with the surname McQuorcadale could be found in other countries including but not limited to England, Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Currently, there isn’t one particular place where the surname McQuorcadale is exceptionally common. It remains relatively rare, with only a few hundred bearers worldwide. However, as a part of the broader Scottish diaspora, the surname might be relatively more frequent in countries with a significant number of people of Scottish descent, such as the USA and Canada.
Variations of the surname McQuorcadale
The surname McQuorcadale is of Scottish origin and its variants and spellings are numerous due to the complexities of Scottish surnames, coming from the Gaelic "MacGuaire," meaning "Son of the Eldest One."
Variations can include MacQuarrie, MacQuarie, McQuarrie, McQuarie, MacQuarry, McQuarry, MacGorry, McGory, MacQuork, McQuork, MacWhirr, McWhirr, MacQuhirr, McQuhirr, MacChurich, McChuirich, MacHourie, and McHourie among others.
All these variations are produced by factors such as phonetics, translation from Gaelic to English, and historical changes in spelling. For instance, the prefix "Mac" (or "Mc") means "son of "and may sometimes get omitted.
Similar variations may also occur due to localized pronunciation or due to the individual decision of bearers. It's important to consider all possibilities when researching Scottish family history because variations might be linked to the same family line. Changes can occur when families migrate and adapt their names to new environments, and different variants can coexist within the same family.
Additionally, each spelling might've developed in a different region in Scotland and migrated to different parts of the world. It's crucial to understand the diverse nature and variations of the surname for comprehensive genealogical research.
Famous people with the name McQuorcadale
- Maura McQuorquodale: television writer and producer
- Robert McQuorquodale: Scottish former professional footballer
- Donald McQuorquodale: Australian-born shoe designer
- Helen McQuorquodale: Senior Advisor to the British Cabinet
- Rebecca McQuorquodale: actress and singer
- Ian McQuorquodale: former Australian rugby union player
- Michael McQuorquodale: British Olympic swimmer
- Jamie McQuorquodale: American stand-up comedian
- William McQuorquodale: British artist
- David McQuorquodale: Scott dish composer