Surname MacPetre - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacPetre: What does the surname MacPetre mean?
The last name MacPetre does not have a specific meaning attached to it that can be immediately found in historical records or family name databases. This is not uncommon, as many surnames developed organically and reflected a person's occupation or geographical location rather than having a symbolic or narrative meaning. Moreover, the spelling of surnames changed over the centuries due to various factors such as illiteracy, phonetic variants, and cultural changes.
The prefix "Mac" is of Scottish and Irish origin, and typically means "son of". However, the name part "Petre" isn't immediately recognizable in this linguistic context. It could be potentially descended from the name Peter, which means "rock" or "stone" in Greek.
This is speculative, and the true origin and meaning of MacPetre would likely require dedicated genealogical research. It could also be an anglicized spelling of a Gaelic surname, making traceability more complex. If you or someone else is researching the family history of this name, it is recommended to search for variants of the spelling and consult primary historical sources or hire a professional genealogist.
Order DNA origin analysisMacPetre: Where does the name MacPetre come from?
The surname MacPetre is not common and scarcely found in genealogical records. The prefix "Mac" in surnames is of Celtic origin, specifically from Scotland and Ireland, meaning "son of" or "descendant of." As for the root "Petre," it is likely a variant of the name Peter, which is of Greek origin, meaning "rock" or "stone." Therefore, one could surmise that MacPetre might mean "son of Peter." However, without concrete historical or genealogical records, it's challenging to accurately determine the surname's origins. Surname distribution maps do not show any specific concentration of individuals with the MacPetre surname today, meaning it's not prevalent in any specific region. It may potentially be a misspelling or unusual transcription of a more common surname.
Variations of the surname MacPetre
The surname MacPetre is of Scottish origin and is believed to be a variant of the surname McPhee, which itself is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Dubhshithe," meaning "son of the dark man of peace."
Variations of the surname MacPetre can include MacPhee, MacFee, McFee, MacDuffie, McDuffie, McPheeters, MacPhaidin, and McFie. In addition, due to phonetic translations and regional dialects, the surname can also appear as McPhie, MacPhie, MacFie, and McFie.
Spellings can also depend on the historical context and the transcriber's understanding of Gaelic words, leading to a wide variety of renditions. Over time, spelling variations could also occur due to illiteracy or transcription errors, thus various versions of the same origin surname began to appear.
Keep in mind that the addition of 'Mac' or 'Mc' at the beginning of the surname is typical in Scottish and Irish names and simply means "son of," suggesting lineage or patrilineal descent. This can also lead to variation, sometimes names appear with or without this prefix, leading to additional versions such as Petre, Phee, Fee, and Duffie.
Famous people with the name MacPetre
- Carole MacPetre: British actress known for playing roles such as Lady Blakenham in “The Go-Between” and Aunt Bertha in “Florence Foster Jenkins”.
- Tim MacPetre: British actor who appeared in the 2017 film “Beautiful Dreamer” and the Netflix Series “Unforgotten”.
- Keith MacPetre: Canadian actor best known for his role as Grover in “The Red Green Show”.
- Dennis MacPetre: Canadian actor best known for his roles in the TV movie series “Green Hornet” and in “The Kidnapping of the President”.
- David MacPetre: British actor known for his appearances in the TV series “River City” and “Skins”.
- Richard MacPetre: British actor famous for playing Gerald in the 1994 film “Four Weddings and a Funeral”.
- Simon MacPetre: British actor remembered for his work in the film “The Remains of the Day” and the TV serial “A Very Peculiar Practice”.
- Michael MacPetre: British actor best known for appearing in the miniseries “The Musketeers” and “Call the Midwife”.
- John MacPetre: British actor known for his work in the TV series “Holby City” and “The Bill”.
- Ceana MacPetre: British actress and stunt performer, remembered for her part in the 2015 drama series “The Enfield Haunting”.