Surname MacBeth - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacBeth: What does the surname MacBeth mean?
The last name MacBeth is a Scottish surname that has become iconic worldwide due to William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth". The name MacBeth is derived from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "son of life" or "son of the gifted one". It is believed that the first person to take on the MacBeth surname was Gille Coemgáin, who served as a ruler of the 1992-963 AD Kingdom of Moray, which was part of Scotland at that time.
Although its original meaning is not associated with the Shakespearean play, the name MacBeth has become particularly infamous due to the superstition surrounding the play. Popular culture has painted a picture of the name being linked to a dark omen and foreboding of bad luck; however, for those who bear the surname, it's a reminder of an illustrious family who had great influences on Scotland's history.
The descendants of Gille Coemgáin, known as the MacBeths of Cromdale, held a seat of power in Scotland for several centuries. They were the Earls of Fife, Macduff of Clan Fife, and the Abbot of Aberbrothock. Even today, MacBeths are prominent in Scotland, with many even involved in politics. The name has also been perpetuated by various other notable people, including J.B. MacBeth, the first professional adult woman golfer, and Harry MacBeth, the founder of the Kobelco construction machinery corporation.
Thus, instead of being associated with Shakespeare's ominously cursed characters, the MacBeth surname carries a proud legacy of influential figures, who have had significant contributions to Scotland's history.
Order DNA origin analysisMacBeth: Where does the name MacBeth come from?
The last name MacBeth is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other parts of the British Isles. It is thought that the name comes from the legendary Scottish king, Macbeth. The surname first appears in 13th-century Scottish documents, and is believed to have originated from the Gaelic name Mac Beatha, meaning “son of life”.
The surname is fairly common in Scotland and England, as well as in other parts of the British Isles, including Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Cornwall. It can also be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as many Scots and Britons emigrated to the British colonies during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The most common forms of the surname in these regions include Macbeth, MacBeth, MacBeath, Macbethan, and MacBeathan.
The MacBeth name is strongly connected to Scottish history as well as to the famous Shakespearean play, MacBeth. In Scotland, there is a city called MacBeth (Gaelic: MacBeatha) located in the Highlands and an ancient burial site called the MacBeth Monument in Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire. The MacBeth name is also commemorated in Scotland by a number of other monuments, rocks, and hillsides.
Variations of the surname MacBeth
The surname MacBeth is a Scottish surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic personal name Macbheatha which translates to “son of life”. It has several variants and spellings in both English and Gaelic, as well as various surnames of the same origin. In Gaelic, some variants include MacBheatha, MacBheathaigh, MacBethad and MacBethaich, which are all phonetic spellings of the same name. In English, the variants MacBeath, MacBeth, Macbeth, MacTavish, MacKavett, MacVeigh and MacBeath have all been used over the years.
The MacBeth surname is also related to a number of other surnames, including MacBeath, MacK Back, McVittie, MacCavish, MacEwan and MacVean. Each of these surnames is an offshoot of the original Gaelic Macbheatha that was eventually anglicized into the version that we know today.
Other related surnames include MacCaverty, McEwan, and MacUbay, all of which stem from similar Gaelic surnames and likely traveled over from Scotland with the MacBeth family at some point in history.
Overall, MacBeth is a very distinctive and unique surname with many variants, spellings, and related surnames of the same origin. This name has been carried by generations of Scots, and continues to exist in various forms even today.
Famous people with the name MacBeth
- Duncan MacBeth: Scottish professional footballer
- Chris MacBeth: Canadian Politician
- Jane MacBeth: British actress
- Cameron MacBeth: Australian comedian
- Ron MacBeth: American actor
- Scott MacBeth: Canadian pediatrician and social worker
- Bob MacBeth: Canadian politician and previous mayor of Kamloops, British Columbia
- Gordon MacBeth: Canadian academic, specializing in business
- Philip MacBeth: American poet and author
- James MacBeth: Scottish clergyman, philosopher and historian