Surname M'Taggart - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
M'Taggart: What does the surname M'Taggart mean?
The last name M'Taggart is an old Scottish name derived from the Gaelic Mac an Tagairt which means “son of the priest”. The M’Taggarts were originally a Lowland family, with the name first appearing in Ayrshire in the 15th century. The name was likely brought to Scotland by Norman settlers, who had acquired it in France from the Latin “Magistri”, which referred to a holder of a religious office.
Like many Scottish families, the M’Taggarts made their fortune in agriculture. In the 18th century the family owned vast tracts of land in Ayr that employed over three hundred people, and made them one of the wealthiest families in the south of Scotland.
In more recent times, the M’Taggarts have continued to be successful throughout the world. Notable members include the leader of the British Liberal Party, John M’Taggart, and the famous physicist and philosopher John Randolph M’Taggart.
The M’Taggart name is also linked with many charities, such as the Ayrshire M’Taggart Charitable Society, which is dedicated to helping those in need in the Ayrshire community.
Today, many people proudly carry the M’Taggart name and take pride in their heritage. It is a name which has its roots in history, and still stands for strong values such as hard work, respect, compassion, and a determination to succeed.
Order DNA origin analysisM'Taggart: Where does the name M'Taggart come from?
The last name M'Taggart is of Scottish origin. It is a patronymic surname, derived from a male given name such as Matthew, MacTaggart or MacTaggert. This surname is still used in Scotland today, particularly in the north, as well as in the Scots-Irish communities of the Appalachian Mountains in the United States.
In Scotland, the surname tends to be concentrated in the central belt from east to west, in Argyle, Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and Fife. In the past, many of the M'Taggarts were associated with the Clans MacLaren and MacFarlane. The spelling variation MacTaggart was also commonly found.
In the United States, the surname M'Taggart is most common in North Carolina, which leads the country in the concentration of families with this last name. In addition, the M'Taggarts are well-attested in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the M'Taggarts immigrated to the United States from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the British Isles.
The M'Taggarts have experienced success in many different fields, including politics, business, entertainment, and the military. This success is due, in part, to the hard work and dedication of the ancestors of those with this surname today.
Variations of the surname M'Taggart
The surname M’Taggart is an anglicised version of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacTearagáin, meaning “son of Tearagán”. It is also known in some parts of Scotland as the family name McMutrie or MacMuirri.
Variants and spellings of the surname include:
• MacTaggart
• MacTagart
• MacTaggert
• MacTaggirt
• MacTagerte
• MacTegert
• MacTegart
• MacTegenny
• MacTewart
• MacTewert
• MacTierney
• MacTiregan
• MacTiregen
• MacTiregie
• MacToggeran
• MacTogian
• MacTogon
• MacTogonan
Variants and spellings of the surname M’Taggart’s are also found in Ireland, such as:
• MacTague
• MacTighe
• MacTighearn
• MacTynne
• MacTynneag
• MacTynner
The variants and spellings of surname M’Taggart can also be found in other locations, including:
• Teggart
• Tagart
• Taggart
• Teagard
• Teagart
• Teggart
• Tagartt
• Taggartt
• Taigert
• Teaggart
• Teater
• Teenery
• Teigir
• Teigarny
• Teigiet
• Teigud
• Teiguire
• Tegigar
• Tigernan
• Tigert
• Tygirne
• Tyguirne
• Tugar
The name can also be found in England, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, with additional variations and spellings.
Surnames derived from the same origin include:
• MacTearAgáin
• McMutrie
• MacMuirri
• MacTague
• MacTighe
• MacTighearn
• MacTynne
• MacTynneag
• MacTynner
No matter the spelling or variant, all of these surnames are ultimately all derived from the same Gaelic root, MacTearagáin.
Famous people with the name M'Taggart
- John McTaggart Ellis McTaggart: an English idealist metaphysician and logician; considered to be one of the most original and influential British philosophers of the 20th century.
- Francis McTaggart: a Scottish metaphysician best known for his contributions to empirical psychology and the philosophy of mind.
- John McTaggart: an early 20th-century British philosopher and metaphysician. He is known for his work on the concept of infinity.
- Scott McTaggart: a 20th-century Scottish philosopher and economist whose work focused on the aesthetics of imagination, the ethics of personal relationships, and the politics of human rights.
- Peter McTaggart: a British philosopher whose work primarily focussed on human rights and ethical conduct. He is best known for founding a movement called 'the philosophy of human rights'.
- James McTaggart: a British philosopher and logician who is renowned for his work in idealist metaphysics. His most influential work was The Nature of Existence, in which he argued for a model of reality in which human experiences of experienced events have an absolute ontological significance.
- Colin McTaggart: a British lawyer and professor of law whose career was marked by his pioneering work on bio-ethics, environmental law, and human rights. He was a key figure in the development of the British Human Rights Act.
- Jean McTaggart: a Scottish literary scholar and specialist on the works of Robert Burns. She was also a prominent socialist activist and an advocate for the rights of women and working people.
- Robert M'Taggart: a 19th-century Scottish physician and philanthropist who was the chief medical officer of Scotland from 1854 to 1862. He established various medical charities throughout Scotland.