Surname McCarthy - Meaning and Origin

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T. McCarthy

McCarthy: What does the surname McCarthy mean?

The last name McCarthy is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Carthaigh", where "Mac" means “son of” and "Carthaigh" translates to “loving” or "kindly". The Mac Carthaigh clan was a prominent and powerful family group that resided chiefly in the provinces of Munster and Cork in Southern Ireland. The family was known for its influence and control over the region during the Middle Ages. Over the years, the name was anglicized to its current form, "McCarthy". The meaning of the surname thus implies “son of the loving or kindly one”. Despite its geographical roots in Ireland, the impact of Irish diaspora means the surname McCarthy is now found throughout the world, especially in countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Today, many notable individuals bear this last name, in fields ranging from politics and culture to sports and academia.

McCarthy: Where does the name McCarthy come from?

The surname McCarthy originates from Ireland and is one of the most common Irish surnames. Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Carthaigh", it means "son of Carthach", with Carthach being an old Gaelic byname meaning "loving". The name is associated with the province of Munster and particularly with County Cork and Kerry, where the clan held significant realms. The McCarthys were kings of Desmond, and the town of Macroom in County Cork is named after the family.

Today, the McCarthy surname retains its strong presence in Ireland. However, due to extensive Irish emigration, particularly during the famine years in the 19th century, it has become common in several other countries. Great Britain, the United States, Canada, and Australia have significant populations of people with the McCarthy last name. In some cases, the surname may have been anglicized or altered slightly, occurring as Carty or similar variants. It still, however, retains its connection to Irish history and heritage.

Variations of the surname McCarthy

The surname McCarthy has its roots in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Carthaigh", where "Mac" means son and "Carthaigh" signifies loving. Over time, various spellings and variants of the surname McCarthy have arisen due to regional accents, dialects, and transliteration between different scripts/language.

The most common spelling variations include Carthy, McCarthey, and McCarty. Another common variant is Carty, which came about as a result of the phonetic spelling of the original Irish surname. Additionally, McArthy and McArthy are also used, although they are less common.

There's also Mccarthy, which is a direct phonetic translation of the original Irish surname. In some cases, the prefix 'Mac' is omitted to form surnames like Carthy or Arthy. Other variations may add an 'e' to form 'McCartey' or 'McCartie'.

It’s important to note that these different forms might have arisen due to recording errors, as well, as the scribes who first recorded names like McCarthy were relying on verbal communication.

The surname McCarthy is also common in countries other than Ireland, including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and Canada, which have seen major Irish immigration historically.

Famous people with the name McCarthy

• Jenny McCarthy: American model, television host, author, and anti-vaccination activist.
• Jenny Mc Carthy-Wahlberg: American reality television personality and actress.
• Andrew McCarthy: American actor, travel writer and director.
• Melissa McCarthy: American actress, comedian and filmmaker.
• Bridgette McCarthy-Sarles: Entrepreneur, radio and TV host, and publicist.
• Cormac McCarthy: American author, playwright, and screenwriter whose work typically features dark themes of death, transformation and destruction.
• Don McCarthy: American musician, songwriter and record producer.
• Maria McCarthy: Actress and author.
• Colleen McCarthy: Actress and producer.
• Drew McCarthy: American actor and comedian.
• Macaulay Culkin McCarthy: American actor and musician.
• Justin McCarthy: Irish politician, writer, historian and M.P.
• Joe McCarthy: American professional baseball manager and Hall of Fame member.
• Wil McCarthy: American author and futurist.
• Mary Ann McCarthy: American artist and printmaker.
• Jenny McCarthy-Bloom: Certified Industrial Hygienist, Environmental Scientist and Eco-managers.
• Joyce McCarthy: American attorney, author and entrepreneur.
• Courtnee McCarthy: American actress and journalist.
• David McCarthy: German foosball player.
• Jesse McCarthy: Canadian artist and musician.

Other surnames

McCartaMcCarterMcCarthaMcCartneyMcCarty