Surname MacQuitty - Meaning and Origin

MacQuitty: What does the surname MacQuitty mean?

The last name MacQuitty is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic MacUigithigh, meaning ‘son of (the) Uigithigh’. The Uigithigh family were a clan of fierce warriors and hunters whose lineage can be traced back to at least the 12th century in County Donegal. The MacQuitty name appears to have first surfaced in Ulster during the 15th and 16th centuries.

The meaning behind the name MacQuitty has been lost to history, but it is believed to represent a form of ‘battle’ or ‘capture’. It is likely that the MacQuitty family were fierce warriors and fierce hunter with a long history of fighting and intimidating their enemies. They were apparently feared by many across Northern Ireland.

Today, MacQuitty is still a common name in Ulster, and it is estimated that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people across Ireland with this last name. Although the meaning of the MacQuitty name may remain lost in history, one thing remains certain - it is a name that inspires stability, courage, and strength.

MacQuitty: Where does the name MacQuitty come from?

The MacQuitty surname is primarily found in Scotland, Ireland, and the rest of the United Kingdom. It is quite rare in other countries. In Scotland, the name can be found in the northern coastal regions of Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, Inverness, and Lanarkshire, and in several other areas. In Ireland, the name is more widespread throughout the province of Ulster, in the Counties of Antrim, Derry, and Donegal.

In the United Kingdom, the name is especially common in Northern Ireland, where around 1 in 1,800 people bear the surname MacQuitty. However, it can also be found in England, Wales, and Scotland. In the past, the MacQuitty name appeared as far south as Cornwall, but the concentration is now largely found in the North West and Central regions.

Although the MacQuitty surname is quite rare in most other countries, some people have emigrated over the years and spread out around the world. This can make it difficult to trace the name, but one may be able to find family members in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname MacQuitty

The surname MacQuitty is an Ulster Scots kilt-name, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Uidhbhart" or "son of Odbert". It is predominantly found in the County Antrim area of Northern Ireland and usually anglicised as MacQuitty or MacQuitty. Variant anglicisations of MacQuitty include MacQwitty, MacQwiddie, MacQuiddie, MacQuiddy and MacQwiddy.

The Irish Gaelic name for MacQuitty is "Mac Uidhbhart". The translation of Mac Uidhbhart is "son of Odbert," where Odbert is derived from the Gaelic elements "uaidh" meaning "time," and "beart" meaning "revolution." The name was originally written Mac Uidhbhart, but has been anglicised to MacQuitty, MacQwitty, MacQwiddie, MacQuiddie, MacQuiddy and MacQwiddy, often used interchangeably depending on the period and region.

The name MacQuitty is commonly found in records and documents of the 1600s and 1700s and was found in Church of Ireland Records, Co. Antrim Wills & claims, the Hearth Money Rolls of Co. Antrim, Co. Armagh Poll Books, Co. Down Tithe Defaulters, Jett's Memorials to the attorneys in Co. Antrim and the Fermanagh Flaxgrowers list.

The surnames Platt, Platt-ie, Platty, Plattie, Plassey, Wooley, Woolsley, and Woolsey are also variants of MacQuitty. These surnames share the same Gaelic root but differ in the spelling.

Famous people with the name MacQuitty

• Nawal MacQuitty: Award-winning Scottish documentary filmmaker
• Vicki MacQuitty: British film editor
• Graeme MacQuitty: award-winning Scottish composer
• Robert MacQuitty: British Professor of Surgery and Anatomy
• James MacQuitty: British film producer
• Pete MacQuitty: English soccer player
• David MacQuitty: Businessman and Entrepreneur
• Dougie MacQuitty: Scottish Actor
• Martin P. MacQuitty: American Actor
• Francis MacQuitty: Writer and Producer
• Joan MacQuitty: British Actress
• Peter MacQuitty: British Film Editor
• Fiona MacQuitty: Scottish alternative medicine author and practitioner
• Mary MacQuitty: British poet and author
• Robert MacQuitty Jr.: Canadian Film Special Effects Technician
• William MacQuitty: British film and television director

Other surnames

MacQuithens