Surname MacQuarie - Meaning and Origin

MacQuarie: What does the surname MacQuarie mean?

The surname MacQuarie is of Scottish origin and it is derived from the Old Gaelic name MacGuaidre. The prefix "Mac" means "son of" while "Guaidre" is a personal name thought to mean "proud" or "noble". Therefore, MacQuarie can be interpreted to mean "son of the noble one". The name is associated with the islands of Ulva and Staffa in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Notably, Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, known as the "father of Australia" due to his role in the country's transition from a penal colony to a free settlement, bore this surname. It is also the name of a university, a river, and an island in Australia, all named after him. The name may have different spellings including MacQuarrie, MacQuarry, MacQuarie, MacQuerie, MacGuarie, and commonly Macquarie in Australia.

MacQuarie: Where does the name MacQuarie come from?

The MacQuarie name is of Scottish origin and derives from the old Norse name McCuarrie, which means 'son of Cuarie'. This name was first established in Scotland in the Hebrides, and it is believed to originate from an ancient Scottish tribe known as 'Dalriadan'. The name is associated with the Clan MacQuarrie, a small but influential clan in the Hebrides.

The MacQuaries played a substantial part in supporting Robert the Bruce, a legendary nobleman who became the king of Scots, in his pursuit of the Scottish crown. A famous person with this surname includes Lachlan Macquarie, a colonial administrator from Scotland who served as the Governor of New South Wales.

Today, the surname MacQuarie is most common in Scotland and Australia. In Australia, the name is particularly well recognized due to the aforementioned Governor Lachlan MacQuarie, who is often called the 'Father of Australia'. Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean and Macquarie University in Sydney are named after him. While the name is not as prevalent in the USA, people bearing the surname can indeed be found there as well.

Variations of the surname MacQuarie

The surname MacQuarie is of Scottish origin, specifically from the Celtic clan system. Variants include MacQuarrie, McQuarrie, McQuarry, MacQuarie, MacQuairrie, and McQuarie. The "Mac" or "Mc" prefix means "son of," giving the meaning of the name as "son of Quarie," derived from the Gaelic "Guarach" which means "proud."

The name was particularly associated with the Hebridean island of Ulva, with the Clan MacQuarrie being influential in the region from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Spellings of surnames during this time period are known to have varied widely, often depending on the recorder's interpretation of the name. Ancient transliteration practices also sometimes replaced Q with C or K, so other possible spellings may have included MacKarrie or McKarrie. Similarly, due to accent or regional dialect, the "ie" ending could also be interchanged with "y" or "ey". As the descendants of the MacQuarries spread out over Scotland and further abroad due to migration and diasporas, the variations in spelling of the surname increased. Today, MacQuarie and its variants can be found in many English-speaking countries.

Famous people with the name MacQuarie

• Lachlan MacQuarie: Lachlan Macquarie was a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator who served as the fifth and last governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. He is credited with transforming the colony, securing its self-governance, and developing infrastructure, much of which still stands today.
• Michaela Macquarie: Michaela Macquarie is a senior Australian public servant who is currently serving as Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts.
• Peter Macquarie: Peter Macquarie is an Australian financial services businessman and one of the four founders of Macquarie Bank.
• Dorothy MacQuarrie: Dorothy MacQuarrie served as the 11th Principal of Macquarie University.
• Malcolm Macquarie: Malcolm Macquarie is a British businessman and a former non-executive director of Macquarie Bank.
• Sam Macquarie: Sam Macquarie is an Australian sports broadcaster who is a rugby union commentator and pundit for Fox Sports Australia.
• Fiona Macquarie: Fiona Macquarie is the Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Asset Management.
• Robbie Macquarie: Robbie Macquarie is a former professional rugby league footballer who played for Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
• Hugh Macquarie: Hugh Macquarie is an Australian actor and filmmaker known for his roles in the television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and 800 Words.
• Rob Macquarie: Rob Macquarie is a former professional cricketer who played for North Sydney Bears and Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.

Other surnames

MacQuarranMacQuarrieMacQuary