Surname MacQuatter - Meaning and Origin

MacQuatter: What does the surname MacQuatter mean?

The last name MacQuatter is believed to have originated in Scotland, where the surname likely derived from the Gaelic Mac Pháidín, which is a patronymic form of the personal name Páidín. The personal name Páidín is a diminutive of the Gaelic word pád meaning “towheaded” or “straw”, and thus the MacQuatter surname literally translates to "son of the towheaded or straw-haired one".

The MacQuatter surname is found mainly in North American records, and was most likely brought to the region by Scottish settlers arriving in the 1700s. In some cases, the English word "water" may have been an anglicized version of MacQuatter. The name MacQuatter is most common in Canada, mainly concentrated in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Canada's eastern provinces also have a smaller population of MacQuatters.

The modern-day individuals who bear the last name MacQuatter are believed to be descendants of the Scottish settlers who first brought the surname to North America centuries ago. To this day, MacQuatters can still be found in both the United States and Canada, and the name remains a traditional part of both countries' Scottish culture.

MacQuatter: Where does the name MacQuatter come from?

The last name MacQuatter is most commonly found today in the Scottish Highlands along the border with England. Though the exact origins of the name are not known, it is believed to be an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac an Chatair, meaning son of the Breton. The MacQuatters have likely lived in the area for centuries; records indicate that the name first appeared in the early 1600s in the parish of Tongue. Many of the early settlers moved to other parts of Scotland and beyond, so MacQuatters can now be found around the world.

In the UK, MacQuatter is still most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands. The MacQuatters were mainly an agricultural family and there are several small villages and hamlets in remote areas which have strong associations with the name. The BBC television show ‘Balamory’ featured a character called MacQuater from one such small rural community.

The name is also common across the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as the MacQuatters migrated across the ocean to make a new life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Within North America, the name can be found in many major cities, but it is still comparatively concentrated within certain states, particularly Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin and California.

Regardless of where it is found, MacQuatter is an interesting piece of Scottish Highland history that is still alive and well throughout the world.

Variations of the surname MacQuatter

The MacQuatter surname is derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac an Chalaidh which translates to ‘son of the Pict’. This surname is most commonly found in Scottish regions but has spread across to other parts of the United Kingdom and world.

The variants and spellings of MacQuatter include MacQuater, MacQuatre, MacWalter, Mackercher, and MacCuetter. The surname can also be seen spelled as McKueter and McKwarter as well.

The MacQuatter surname can also be seen as McKueter, McGhie, MacWatters, Makwotha and Mackworther. Other variants of this name include MacKwatha, MacQuaide, MacCuater, MacKwother, and MacHuaite.

The MacQuatter surname is also related to the surnames of MacQuarrie, MacGorrie, MacNaughton, and MacGuartrie, to name a few. These names all come from the same Gaelic root, and have shared origins and interchangeability at times.

In some cases the ‘Mac’ prefix on a surname may also be replaced with ‘Mc’, as is the case with the variable of the MacQuatter surname, McKwarter. This lowers the likelihood of the name being related to any one specific region, however, as the surname is primarily found in Scotland, this is still its strongest origin.

In short, the surnames MacQuatter, MacQuater, MacWalter, Mackercher, and MacCuetter are all derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac an Chalaidh, and have the same origin. There are some variants that have the ‘Mac’ prefix replaced with ‘Mc’ however, such as McKueter and McKwarter. The related surnames of MacQuarrie, MacGorrie, MacNaughton, and MacGuartrie are also derived from this Gaelic root.

Famous people with the name MacQuatter

• Kyle MacQuarrie: Canadian professional ice hockey player and radio broadcaster
• George MacQuarrie: Scottish actor and film director
• Forrest MacQuarrie: Canadian hockey player and coach
• Sam MacQuarrie: Canadian professional snowboarder
• Jill MacQuarrie: Canadian comic artist and illustrator
• Tony MacQuarrie: Canadian basketball player
• Stuart MacQuarrie: Australian author
• Emilie MacQuarrie: Canadian cross-country skier
• Quincy MacQuarrie: Canadian lawyer, civil rights activist and founding member of the Peterborough Black History Association
• Sean MacQuarrie: Irish soccer player
• Marjorie MacQuarrie: Canadian singer-songwriter and artist
• Paul MacQuarrie: Canadian businessman and entrepreneur
• Alastair MacQuarrie: British theatre director, producer and actor
• Allison MacQuarrie: Canadian track and field athlete
• Ewan MacQuarrie: British television journalist and presenter
• David MacQuarrie: Scottish soldier and Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian and Peeblesshire
• Douglas MacQuarrie: Canadian flutist, composer, conductor and lecturer
• Kelly MacQuarrie: American writer, filmmaker and media personality
• Robert MacQuarrie: Canadian educator, lawyer and politician
• Donald MacQuarrie: British folk singer, songwriter and guitarist

Other surnames

MacQuatters