Surname McTurk - Meaning and Origin
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McTurk: What does the surname McTurk mean?
The surname McTurk is of Scottish origin. Its traditional Gaelic spelling is 'Mac Torcaill', meaning 'son of Torcall'. The name 'Torcall' itself comes from the Old Norse name 'Þorketill', which is a compound name made up of 'Thor’, the Norse god of thunder, and 'ketill', translating to 'cauldron’ or 'helmet'. Thus, the older meaning of the surname McTurk is generally understood as ‘son of Thor’s helmet’ or 'son of Thor's cauldron'. It's worth mentioning that because of the various spellings and local dialects in Scotland and Ireland, the surname has turned into different versions, including Turk, McTurk, Turck, Turcott, and others. The family and descendants with surname McTurk were found in Galloway, a region in southwestern Scotland, where they held a family seat since early times.
Order DNA origin analysisMcTurk: Where does the name McTurk come from?
The last name McTurk is most commonly found today in Ireland, Scotland and parts of the United Kingdom.
It is thought to be an anglicization of the Gaelic name Mac Thoirbheartaigh, which translates to mean "son of Thorbheartach". This name, in turn, is derived from a Norse personal name, Thorbiorn.
McTurk is quite a rare name today, however that was not always the case. In the 1700s and 1800s, it was a fairly common last name in Scotland and many of its inhabitants migrated to Ireland during that time.
In terms of countries, the greatest number of McTurks are concentrated in England, which is thought to have the highest population of around 600 people. Ireland follows with slightly fewer, although Scotland has a comparatively small number.
Aside from the United Kingdom, there are also small numbers of people in the United States and Canada who can trace their ancestry to this last name.
Today, McTurk is mainly seen as an occupational surname, with many of the people who carry it being of Scottish descent. Scottish clan histories usually list several MacThoirbheartaigh families, all of whom are thought to be related.
Given its geographical prevalence and relative rarity, McTurk is a fascinating last name that has a fascinating past. Moreover, it is sure to remain embedded in family trees for generations to come.
Variations of the surname McTurk
The surname McTurk has many variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are MacTurk, MacTork, McTork, M'Turk, M'Tork and MacTurue. The various spellings of the surname can be confusing to many who are unfamiliar with the origin and history of particular families.
The MacTurk or MacTork name is of Scottish origin and is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Thoirceir, which is a patronymic name derived from the given name Thoirceir. Thoirceir is an old Gaelic first name composed of the elements thoir (meaning "particular") and ceart (meaning "right" or "lawful"). The surname is found in numerous records from Ireland with many spelling variants, including M'Tork, MacThoerk, MacTorc, M’Turk, Turk, and M'Turk. The surname McTurk is also related to the name Toakes and similar variations, which is an Anglicization of the Irish O'Tócáin.
In Scotland, the MacTurk spelling is more common. However, all of the variants and surnames that are related to the name McTurk can be found within both Scottish and Irish records. It is likely that families with similar sounding surnames can be traced to the same ancestry from the same region of Scotland or Ireland. It is thought that the ancient name was likely changed depending on the local dialect.
Famous people with the name McTurk
- Andrew McTurk: a former professional rugby union player from Scotland who was part of the Scottish team at the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens tournament.
- Angela McTurk: an Australian journalist and travel writer, specializing in food stories and cultural explorations.
- Freya McTurk: a British television presenter and producer, best known for presenting the BBC3 series ‘Sound on Screen’.
- George McTurk: a Scottish footballer who played most of his football in England, and is most recently remembered for his stints at Doncaster Rovers and Darlington.
- Maggie McTurk: a Canadian photographer, living in Calgary, who has been working as a portrait and wedding photographer for over two decades.
- William McTurk: an Irish-born Australian poet who came to Australia in 1868.