MCCARRICK
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Carrick, Mccarrick
McCarrick is an Irish surname that originates from the Gaelic language of the British Isles. The prefix Mac denotes “son of”, and the element Carrick derives from various Gaelic words for rock or stone, producing a literal meaning akin to “son of the rock”. Throughout the centuries the name has been anglicised into several spellings while maintaining its patronymic nature.
Historical evidence shows that the surname evolved from several distinct Gaelic forms such as Mac Carrthaigh, which translates literally as “son of Carthach”, with Carthach being linked to the word carth meaning “loving” or “kind”. Another source indicates Mac Concharraige, a compound of cu “hound” and carraig “rock”, yielding the meaning “hound of the rock”. Less specific derivations cite Mac Carráin or Mac Carrig, both relating the name to a rocky landscape or a steadfast character. Each of these variants preserves the underlying patronymic convention that places the surname in a living lineage.
Geographically, the name is chiefly associated with County Kerry and the surrounding region, where it is linked to the descendants of the ancient MacCarthy clan. Aside from Kerry, the surname also appears in Ulster and County Roscommon, and there are early records of bearers in County Sligo within Connacht. The earliest extant spelling on a surviving document is Cuthbert McCarik, dated 1535 in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, during the reign of King James V. This suggests that the surname had already traversed from Ireland into Scotland by the early sixteenth century.
Additional historical entries corroborate the spread of the name beyond Ireland. A parish register from Monaie, Scotland lists a John McCarrick in 1683. Later, a Maria McCarrick married a Pat Kennedy on 10 February 1831 at Emlaghead, Sligo, Ireland. The Roman Catholic Church in Calry, Sligo, records the christening of Bridgeta McCarrick on 19 May 1859, and a marriage of Francis McCarrick to Bryan Winifred on 31 May 1864 in Castlederg, Tyrone. These entries underline the surname’s persistent use in Christian communities across the Irish Sea.
Spelling variations have arisen over time due to phonetic transcription, regional differences, and the alternation between the prefixes Mac and Mc. Common variants include McCarrik, McCarrack, MacCarrick, MacCarrik, and MacCarrack. The surname can also appear without the prefix, in forms such as Carrick, Carrik, and Carrig, reflecting a broader trend in Irish nomenclature where patronymic initials can be omitted. Modern genealogical research must therefore recognise these alternatives when tracing the name.
In contemporary times, McCarrick remains a relatively common surname within Ireland, particularly in County Sligo and other parts of Connacht. Emigration during the Great Famine and subsequent decades dispersed bearers of the name to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although less frequent than other Irish surnames, the name continues to be carried by individuals of Irish descent worldwide, symbolising a connection to ancestral roots and the cultural heritage of the Celtic peoples.
Typical given names associated with the McCarrick surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- Francis
- James
- John
- Kevin
- Matthew
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Stephen
Female
- Catherine
- Gina
- Jacqueline
- Kathleen
- Kirsty
- Linda
- Louise
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
- Teresa
- Tracey
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McCarrick in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 576 people named McCarrick in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named McCarrick.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McCarrick
- Martin McCarrick - Musician
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.