Surname MacQuarrie - Meaning and Origin
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MacQuarrie: What does the surname MacQuarrie mean?
The surname MacQuarrie is derived from the Scottish Gaelic “MacUarri”, which is a contracted form of “MacUidhir”. This is an old Scottish patronymic name derived from the ancient personal given name “Uidhir”. This old Scots name is derived from the Gaelic “Uidhir”, which ultimately is derived from the Gaelic “Udhaire”. “Udhaire” is derived from two Gaelic roots, “uada” meaning "noble" and “riogh” translating to “king” or “monarch”. Thus, the name MacQuarrie is thought to be derived from the Gaelic “MacUidhir” translating to "son of the noble one". It is believed that the surname MacQuarrie was first established on the west coast of Scotland on the Inner Hebrides Island of Jura where the family held a seat from ancient times.
In fact, the family was amongst the most powerful families of the eastern seaboard. They were known to own two castles, Oswestry Castle and Kilmory Castle. Charters granted by the family were recorded back in the 13th Century. In the 16th Century, members of the MacQuarries were said to have been in possession of two-thirds of the Isle of Jura. The spelling of their family surname was usually found to be MacQuarrie or MacQuarie, however, other spellings were also used which may still be encountered in the modern times.
Today, the descendants of the MacQuarrie clans can be found scattered over the world, mainly in the countries of the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQuarrie: Where does the name MacQuarrie come from?
The last name MacQuarrie is mainly found in Scotland, particularly in the western parts of Scotland such as Argyll, the islands of the Inner Hebrides, and the northern Highlands. In addition, it is present in parts of Northern Ireland, particularly in Antrim and Down.
MacQuarrie is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic MacFearchar. This surname indicates that the bearer is a descendant of Fearchar, ‘dear man’ or ‘darling’ in the old Gaelic tongue. It is a very old name, dating back as far as the 12th century.
The majority of people of the surname now live in Scotland, especially the western and northern parts. There is also a significant presence in the United States and Canada where emigrants from Scotland and Northern Ireland settled during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The MacQuarrie name is also found in Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales, and increasingly today it is encountered in other countries due to the globalisation of populations.
In Scotland, the name MacQuarrie is still in use and is at times encountered in its original Gaelic form, MacFearchar. It is a proud surname steeped deep in Scotland’s ancient history and is part of the country’s proud heritage.
Variations of the surname MacQuarrie
The MacQuarrie surname has a variety of different spellings and variants, which can be used for the same origin.
The main variant is MacQuarries, which is one of the two traditional variants derived from the Gaelic MacGuaire. This variant is mainly found in Scotland, although there are some instances in England as well. The other traditional variant of MacQuarrie is Mackworie, which is also found in Scotland and England.
Other variants can include MacGuarrie, MacQuaire, Mackuarrie, and MacQuerrie. Additionally, people with this surname may also be found spelling it differently by adding extra letters, such as MacQuarrell, MacQuarrel, MacQuarre, MacQuarrie, and MacQuarry.
Surnames that may have derived from MacQuarrie include Carriwell, MacAuley, MacCawell, MacCoill, MacCormick, MacCoull, MacCowell, MacCurrie, MacGuire, MacKerrel, MacGuire, Rubin, and Ruppin.
In summary, there are many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin which stem from the MacQuarrie surname. These variations, spellings, and surnames can result in a variety of different individuals with the same historic origins.
Famous people with the name MacQuarrie
- Hugh MacQuarrie: Former Canadian MP who served from 1957-1962
- Helen MacQuarrie: Scottish artist known for making cheerful, whimsical illustrations
- C.H. MacQuarrie: Canadian politician who ran provincially in the 1898 Manitoba election
- Kenneth MacQuarrie: Scottish Gaelic author who wrote the Life of St. Columba
- Laurie MacQuarrie: Canadian singer-songwriter known for his folk music
- Stuart MacQuarrie: English actor and son of Christopher MacQuarrie
- Robin MacQuarrie: Canadian politician who served as the mayor of Charlottetown from 1974 to 1984
- Chris MacQuarrie: Famous American screenwriter and director
- John MacQuarrie: British theologian known for his philosophical enquiries
- Alexander MacQuarrie: Canadian architect and urban planner from Prince Edward Island.