Surname MacBride - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacBride: What does the surname MacBride mean?
MacBride is a surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Brighde, meaning "son of Brighid". This derives from the name Brighid which traditionally is associated with strength, exalted one, or power. In Celtic mythology, Brighid (or Brigid) is a revered goddess who represents knowledge, wisdom, and divine power. There are also Christian links to St. Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland's patron saints. So in essence, the name MacBride could be interpreted as "son of strength/power" or "son of the exalted one". Like many surnames from Celtic regions, the prefix "Mac" denotes son of, indicating a strong patriarchal lineage. Today, individuals with the MacBride surname can be found around the world, especially in countries with significant Irish diaspora populations, such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMacBride: Where does the name MacBride come from?
The last name MacBride is of Scottish and Irish origin. In Scottish, the name translates to "Son of the follower of Bridget" with "Mac" denoting "son of" and "Bride" derived from Saint Bridget, a revered figure in Celtic Christianity. Similarly, in Irish, MacBride means "son of Brigid". This name is traditionally considered to originate mainly from Ulster, a northern province in Ireland, and from the Scottish Highlands.
Today, due to considerable historic Scottish and Irish emigration, the surname MacBride is fairly common not only in Scotland and Ireland but also in countries with large Scottish and Irish diaspora. Such countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland and Scotland. However, it is essential to recognize that the distribution and commonality of this surname may vary significantly within these countries, often linked to patterns of migration and settlement of Scottish and Irish immigrants.
Variations of the surname MacBride
The surname MacBride has roots in the Scottish and Irish traditions and is derived from either the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Brighde" which means "son of the servant of Brighid" or "Mac Brighde", meaning "son of Bridget". It has many variant spellings which include: McBride, MacBryde, MacBride, McBrady, MacBrady, MacBraid, McCluskey, McCluskie, MacCluskey, and MacCluskie. The variants largely depend on regional pronunciations and Anglicization over the years. Some Irish variant spellings of the name are O'Bríd and Bríd.
Surnames derived from the same origin like MacBrighde would include other "Mac" or "Mc" names that refer to 'son of' in the Scottish and Irish traditions. Therefore, similar surnames may have common roots but refer to other first names. For example, 'MacDonald' ('son of Donald'), 'MacKenzie' ('son of Kenneth'), or 'McGee' ('son of Aedh') have the same naming pattern. However, their link with MacBride or McBride is restricted to the cultural origin and tradition of patronymic surnames (names derived from the name of a father or ancestor).
Famous people with the name MacBride
- Laura MacBride: American novelist.
- Stuart MacBride: Scottish author, best known for his crime thrillers set in the "Granite City" of Aberdeen.
- Rose MacBride: Irish republican, involved in the women's suffrage movement.
- Charles MacBride: An American professional baseball player.
- Martina McBride: American country music singer-songwriter.
- Elizabeth "Lillie" MacBride: Irishwoman activist and politician.
- Roderick MacBride: A kindly character in the Little House series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
- Danny MacBride: American actor, comedian, and writer.
- John H. MacBride: American naval officer and Medal of Honor recipient.
- John R. MacBride: British Xbox player and championship winner.
- Mr. MacBride: Fictional character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Gravity's Rainbow.
- James D. MacBride: Irish-American politician from New York.
- House of MacBride: A Scottish Clan.