Surname MacMurty - Meaning and Origin
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MacMurty: What does the surname MacMurty mean?
The last name MacMurty is an Anglicized formula derived from the Gaelic Mac Murchaidh, which in turn came from "murchadh," the personal name Murchadh, which means “sea warrior.” In Irish folklore, Murchadh was a warrior of exceptional skill and ambition, a great leader, and a brave defender of his people.
As a last name, MacMurty is most closely associated with Scotland, but it also has a presence in Ireland and in other parts of the British Isles. Historically, the surname represented a family of warriors and hunter-gatherers who lived near the sea or in coastal regions. It is likely that the earliest MacMurty families were small bands of seafarers and fishermen who ventured out into the wild to hunt, fish, and forage for their sustenance.
Today, the name MacMurty is still associated with an adventurous spirit and a willingness to take risks. Those who bear this surname tend to be brave and resilient, eager to tackle difficult challenges and seek new experiences. Whether it’s through business or academia, the MacMurty name has a long history of success and achievement.
The last name MacMurty will continue to carry with it a sense of adventure and daring, but also a strong sense of duty to friends, family, and home. In this way, the name represents a unique and special heritage, embodying the courage of its originator while still paying homage to the warrior spirit of Murchadh.
Order DNA origin analysisMacMurty: Where does the name MacMurty come from?
The last name MacMurty is most commonly found in Ireland, and the United Kingdom. There are pockets of the name found in North America, with most of them in the United States.
In Ireland, variants of the name, such as MacMurtry, MacMurtaugh, and MacMourie are to be found in counties Limerick, Cork, Galway, and Dublin. According to the website IrishTimes.com, a search for the name in the 1901 & 1911 censuses revealed it to be the most frequent in the barony of East Carberry, mainly in the parish of Monabraher.
The United Kingdom also has populations of the name MacMurty. In England, records show that the name originated in Leicestershire, Lancashire, Dorset, and Norfolk. In Scotland, a search of records reveal the name to be most common in Aberdeenshire, Inverness, Lanarkshire, and Stirlingshire.
In North America, the United States has many citizens with the last name. Records show that in the 1880s, many immigrants from Ireland and other countries who had the name settled in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Today, those who carry the last name MacMurty can trace their lineage back to Ireland, and in some cases Scotland and the United Kingdom. In other cases, especially in North America, the name likely came from immigrants.
Variations of the surname MacMurty
The MacMurty surname can have several variants and spellings, depending on dialects or the countries in which individuals have relocated. Variants of the surname can include McMurty, MacMurtry, MacMurtrie, and MacMurtrey.
In Scotland, where the majority of individuals with this surname originate, there may be further spellings or changes due to dialects. Some may spell the surname as McMurtrie, McMortery, McMurtry, and McKemurtry. Still others may refer to the surname as Murtry, Mortery, Murtrie or Murty, all of which have evolved as spellings over time.
The Anglicized version of the name has been anglicised to MacMurty, though this was preferred throughout much of the early modern period, and is now the most common spelling of the surname in Scotland.
Other surnames that are related to MacMurty include MacMurphy, MacMartin, and MacMartinie. All of these surnames share a common Irish Gaelic root, with MacMurphy deriving from the Irish Gaelic Mac Mathghamhaire, which means “son of the sea warrior”.
MacMartin and MacMartine are also derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhartain, which means “son of the follower of St. Martin”. MacMartinie is also a variant of the same name, which further evolved into MacMarthy, Marteny, and MacMarty.
Regardless of the spellings and origins, MacMurty is still a popular surname around Scotland and in many countries around the world, and individuals who have it remain proud of this connection to their roots.
Famous people with the name MacMurty
- Murray MacMurtrie: American football player for the New York Giants in the 1920s.
- Duncan MacMurtry: 19th-century Scottish surgeon and early member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
- Neil MacMurtry: Canadian Olympic speed skater, who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.
- Hugh MacMurtry: Scottish portrait painter and miniaturist from the 18th century.
- James MacMurtry: Canadian poet and dramatist who wrote the rhymed tragedy Macbeth (1826).
- Archibald MacMurtry: Canadian physician, active in the development of modern sanitary systems in Montreal in the late 19th century.
- John MacMurtry: Canadian journalist and author who wrote extensively on Canadian and world topics, in addition to being a foreign correspondent for the CBC.
- Stewart MacMurtry: Canadian politician and lawyer who served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1985 to 1988.
- Isobel MacMurtry: Scottish gaelic singer, one of Scotland's most notable female folk singers.
- Charles MacMurtry: American venture capitalist and early investor in companies like Microsoft and Intel.