Surname McWhirter - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McWhirter: What does the surname McWhirter mean?
McWhirter is a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin, derived from the place named Whirter in Ayrshire, Southwest Scotland. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means 'son of' in Gaelic. So, McWhirter essentially translates to 'son of Whirter.' The exact meaning of 'Whirter' is not clear, though it may derive from a Gaelic word for a topographical feature, such as a bend, twist, or whirl. It might also refer to a profession, such as a spinner or someone who works with a spinning wheel. However, interpretations may vary as meanings often evolve over centuries. So generally, the McWhirter surname would have initially been used to describe a person who originated from the place named Whirter in Scotland or a son of a person from that place. Like many last names, it served as an identifier, linking an individual to a particular family lineage or geographical area.
Order DNA origin analysisMcWhirter: Where does the name McWhirter come from?
The surname McWhirter is of Scottish origin, specifically from the southwestern region of the country. It's an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Chruiteir". This original Gaelic name is a patronymic one and was formed by adding the prefix "Mac," meaning "son of," to the personal name Cruiteir. The name Cruiteir itself is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "cruit" meaning "harp", and "-eir", a diminutive suffix; thus, "little harper" or "son of the harper".
Today, the surname McWhirter, like many Scottish surnames, can be found in countries across the globe as a result of Scottish diaspora. There are individuals with the McWhirter name in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. However, it remains most common in Scotland, particularly in the region of Ayrshire. In general, one can find the highest concentrations of individuals with this surname in English-speaking countries, largely due to historical migration patterns.
Variations of the surname McWhirter
The surname McWhirter is of Scottish origin and it has been through various spellings throughout history due to different phonetic interpretations. Variants include MacWhirter, MacQuhirter, MacWhorter, Macchirter, and McWhorter among others. It originates from an ancient Scottish title for a professional court official, the "Mack a'Chruiteir" or "son of the harpist".
This surname has also been Anglicized in many forms due to migration and settlement. These may include Maker, Makerd, Mccure, and others. The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' usually denotes 'son of' in Gaelic, and can often be interchangeable in the spelling of surnames. The same goes for the elements 'whir', 'quir', 'wert' and 'wurt' in the name, which could change due to local dialects or illiteracy.
Despite the modifications over time, all the variants trace their roots back to the same genealogical origin. Also, it is worth noting that spellings of surnames in ancestral documents were often dependent on the recorder's interpretation, hence, a single person's name might have been recorded under several different spellings in different documents.
Thus, when working on genealogical research on the McWhirter surname, it is essential to consider all possible spellings and variants.
Famous people with the name McWhirter
- Norris McWhirter: British author, co-founder of Guinness World Records.
- Ross McWhirter: compatriot of Norris McWhirter, co-founder of Guinness World Records, author and journalist.
- Kenneth McWhirter: Canadian politician.
- Mike McWhirter: former member of the Ontario Legislature, Canada.
- Grant McWhirter: television presenter in Australia.
- Scott McWhirter: American entrepreneur and innovator.
- Tyler McWhirter: Canadian actor.
- Ty McWhirter: professional basketball player.
- Ian McWhirter: Scottish writer, journalist, and broadcaster.
- James McWhirter: American rapper/hip-hop artist.
- Hayden McWhirter: Canadian film and television director.
- Jordan McWhirter: British television presenter.
- Sarah McWhirter: American songwriter, producer, and singer.
- Brad McWhirter: Australian businessman and the former owner of the Brisbane Bullets basketball team.
- Mel McWhirter: Senator of Queensland, Australia.
- Cynthia McWhirter: Attorney and public advocate.