MCCARTNEY
Also recorded as Mc Cartney, Mccartney
McCartney
Origin and meaning: McCartney is a Scottish surname of Irish origin. It is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name MacCartaine, which means ‘son of Cartan’. The name Cartan is derived from the word ‘cart’, which initially referred to a hunchbacked person.
History: The McCartney surname is primarily found in Scotland and Ireland, with the most notable individual being James McCartney, who was a renowned Scottish antiquary and writer in the 18th century. Among the most famous bearers of the surname is Sir Paul McCartney, a legendary British musician and member of The Beatles.
Distribution: The highest concentration of individuals with the McCartney surname is found in Scotland, particularly in areas with historical ties to Irish immigration. The name has also spread to other English-speaking countries, including the United States and Canada, largely due to migration patterns.
Famous bearers:
- Sir Paul McCartney: A prominent British musician, singer, and composer known for his successful career as a member of The Beatles and as a solo artist.
- Linda McCartney: An American musician, photographer, and animal rights activist, known for her marriage to Paul McCartney and her work as a member of the band Wings.
- Gerry McCartney: A Scottish public health physician and professor, noted for his work in addressing health inequalities in Scotland.
Variants: Variants of the McCartney surname include Macartney, Cartney, and MacCartney. These variations have evolved over time due to regional accents and dialects.
References:
- Reaney, Percy H., and Wilson, Richard M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Routledge, 1991.
- Hanks, Patrick, et al. The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press, 2016.
There are approximately 6,436 people named McCartney in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,470th most common surname in Britain. Around 99 in a million people in Britain are named McCartney.
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
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Jane
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- MacArtney
- Macartny
- Maccartney
- Mcartany
- Mcartney
- Mccarney
- Mccart
- Mccartan
- Mccarte
- Mccarten
- Mccarteney
- Mccarter
- Mccartey
- Mccarthey
- Mccarthney
- Mccarthy
- Mccartie
- Mccartin
- Mccartly
- Mccartny
- Mccarton
- Mccarty
- Mccearney
- Mccoart
- Mccourtney
- Mccurtin
- Mecartney
- Maccarney
- Maccarthey
- Mccartain
- Mccarth
- Mccort
- Mckarney
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.