Surname McRary - Meaning and Origin

McRary: What does the surname McRary mean?

The surname McRary is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Raith' or 'Mac Rath', meaning "son of grace" or "son of prosperity". This surname was considered a patronymic name, meaning it was formed by adding a prefix or suffix to the first name of the father. The 'Mc' in McRary is a prefix which means 'son of'. Thus, it can be inferred that someone with the surname McRary is 'a son of Raith or Rath'. Like many traditional Irish surnames, McRary may have originally described the ancestors of the McRary family as being prosperous or graceful. However, over centuries, as the surname was passed down generations, the connection to the meaning may have been diminished. Currently, the last name is simply a familial identifier. It's also worth noting that different sources may provide different interpretations and origins of the surname due to regional differences in spellings and translations from Gaelic to English.

McRary: Where does the name McRary come from?

The surname McRary is of Scottish and Irish origin. In particular, it's derived from the Gaelic words "Macruidhrí" or "Mac Ruaidhrí", meaning "son of Ruaidhrí". These were popular personal names during medieval times, with "Ruaidhrí" translated as "red king" in English.

As people emigrated, they carried their surnames with them, causing the distribution of names to spread and change. The McRary surname has considerably dispersed and is now found in many different countries. However, it is most commonly found in the United States today, predominantly in the Southern states. The location with the highest density of people bearing the McRary last name is in Wake, North Carolina.

The surname has multiple documented spelling variations including McCreery, McRory, McRorie, and McRury, among others. These deviations typically result from a combination of phonetic spelling during initial immigration and diverse cultural influences. Overall, although the McRary name originated in Scotland and Ireland, it has truly become a global surname.

Variations of the surname McRary

The surname McRary is of Scottish origin and has many spelling variations due to different phonetic interpretations, transcriptions, and translations. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Ruaraidh", which in English means "red king".

Some possible spelling variations of McRary could include McCrary, MacRory, MacRorie, MacRoury, McRory, McRorie, MacRuari, MacCrary, MacCreary, and MacCrory.

There may also be phonetic variations like MacRory, MacRury, MacRorie, or MacRauri. Some other associated surnames might be MacRory, Rorie, Rury, Rorry, Rori, and Ruari.

It is important to note that spelling variations were often caused by clerks and church officials recording the name as they heard it, leading to a different name spelling in different regions or even within the same family. Some families also altered their name due to political or social issues, or to blend in when they migrated to other countries. Therefore, one could possibly encounter many other spelling variations of this surname.

In Irish traditions, the prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of", suggesting that those with the surname McRary could be descendants of a person named Rary or Ruaraidh.

Famous people with the name McRary

• Austin McRary: Professional soccer player for Vancouver Whitecaps FC of the Major League Soccer (MLS).
• Ryan McRary: Professional baseball player, playing for the Baltimore Orioles MLB team.
• Jackie McRary: NFL Hall of Fame running back who played for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Kasey McRary: Professional golfer, who has appeared in several major tournaments.
• Carl Mcrary: Jazz bassist who played in Theodore and the Heirs of Jazz.
• Richard McRary: Actor and comedian, known for his roles in movies like The Good Guys and Pitch Perfect 3.
• A.J. McRary: Professional actor, most recently seen in Broadway production of The Band's Visit.
• Taylor McRary: Musical artist popular in the early 2000s, known for her album 'Free'.
• Brad McRary: Professional skateboarder, who appeared on the television program Street League.
• Sharon McRary: Country music singer, who achieved success with her debut single 'These Old Shoes'.

Other surnames

McRarie