MCCARTER
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Carter, Mccarter
McCarter is a surname of Celtic origin, predominantly associated with Scotland and Ireland. The name derives from the Gaelic Mac Artair, where Mac means “son of” and Artair is the Gaelic form of the personal name Arthur. Consequently, McCarter translates as “son of Arthur” and may also be interpreted as “son of the bear” or “son of the noble one,” reflecting the meaning of Arthur as “bear” or “noble” in Celtic tradition.
Historical records first mention the surname in the late 13th century, particularly in the Dumfriesshire and Galloway regions of Scotland. During the 14th century the MacArthurs were powerful lords of Lorne, holding extensive estates and the castle of Dunstaffnage as a grant from King Robert the Bruce. However, after the 15th century the clan suffered forfeiture of their lands following the execution of Chief John MacArthur by James I, and many members shortened the name, dropping the Mac prefix to become simply Arthur or Arthurson.
Several spellings have been recorded over the centuries, including MacArthur, MacCarter, McArthur, McCarter and variations such as Gyllemache M'Carthair of Moray (1569) and Dougall M'Airthour, sheriff of Argyll (1599). These variations reflect regional pronunciation, Irish settlement patterns and shifts in orthography. In modern usage the spelling McCarter remains common in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, largely as a result of the Plantation of Ulster and the Highland-Clearances.
During the 19th and 20th centuries the surname achieved international recognition through the military careers of General Arthur MacArthur (1845‑1912) and his son Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur (1880‑1964). Both men held the highest rank within the United States Army, with Arthur MacArthur commanding forces in the Philippines war of 1906 and Douglas MacArthur serving as supreme commander in the Pacific War (1941‑1945) and of the United Nations forces in the Korean War (1950‑1953). Their distinguished service has contributed to the contemporary awareness of the name outside the British Isles.
Today, individuals bearing the surname McCarter can be found worldwide in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa, reflecting broader patterns of Scottish and Irish diaspora. Genealogical research often requires consideration of the name’s numerous variants, as family members may have adopted simplified forms such as Carter or retained the original Gaelic spelling. The surname remains a notable example of patronymic naming conventions within Celtic culture and continues to carry the legacy of its historical roots.
Typical given names associated with the McCarter surname
Male
- Andrew
- Brian
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Jean
- Laura
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Susan
- Tanya
Similar and related surnames
- Macarte
- Macarter
- Macarther
- MacCarter
- Maccarthey
- Mackareth
- Mcarter
- Mcarther
- Mccart
- Mccartain
- Mccartan
- Mccarte
- Mccarten
- Mccarteney
- Mccartey
- Mccarth
- Mccartha
- McCarther
- Mccarthey
- Mccarthney
- McCarthur
- Mccarthy
- Mccartie
- Mccartney
- Mccarty
- Mcccarthy
- Mccoart
- Mccort
- McCourt
- Mccrate
- Mccrath
- Mcquarter
- Mcquarters
- Mcquirter
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McCarter in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 559 people named McCarter in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named McCarter.
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
