Surname MacSéartha - Meaning and Origin
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MacSéartha: What does the surname MacSéartha mean?
The surname MacSéartha is an Irish Gaelic patronymic surname, which means “son of Séarra”. It is derived from the personal name Séarra, which itself is of unknown meaning but has been associated with the Old Irish element sír “secret, confidential”, Aramaic sar “prince” or “head”, and the Old Irish seirr “smooth”.
The Gaelic personal name Séarra is found in manuscripts of the tenth century and has been borne by MacSéartha for many hundreds of years. They were found most often among the native Irish clans of the western highlands during the time of the ancient Gaelic feudal system. The oldest MacSéartha families, who still remain in their traditional family lands are long-standing Irish Gaelic royal and noble families.
MacSéartha is still a fairly common surname in Ireland, though not so common outside the island. Being a patronymic or family name, it typically reflects the name of the paternal ancestor, in this case, Séarra. By looking at historical documents, one can trace the origins of the name MacSéartha back to medieval times, when it most likely originated in the highlands of Ireland. It could be argued that the name has been passed down from generation to generation as a badge of honor, a symbol of a shared identity and connection to that ancient Gaelic past.
Thus, the surname MacSéartha carries with it centuries of Irish history and heritage, and is a reminder of the proud familial line that bears it. It is a surname that carries a sense of pride and honor, and can still be found alive and well today, wherever proud Irishmen and women are found around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacSéartha: Where does the name MacSéartha come from?
The MacSéartha surname is a family name which is still commonly found in Ireland today. The name has been locally linked to regions within the South-West of the Republic of Ireland, including Cork, Kerry and Dingle.
The original spelling of the name is MacSéarthaigh, which is an anglicised version of the Old Irish name MacSeirce. This name was originally most commonly found in translated form as the English “McCarthy” and its derivatives.
This name has been in existence in Ireland since at least the eighteenth century, but almost exclusively in the provinces of Connacht, south of the Galway Bay. The oldest records of the name are from the lat 1700s when it was first mentioned in various parish records in the western parts of the country.
More recently, the name has started to spread across the neighbouring counties of Waterford, Wexford, and Mayo. It is still a relatively rare name, but it is gaining enough in popularity to become a recognised name in most Irish counties.
Today the MacSéartha family are mostly found in the South-West of the country, primarily the counties of Cork and Kerry. The name is most associated with the Dingle peninsula and its associated villages in Cork and Kerry.
Variations of the surname MacSéartha
The MacSéartha surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants are MacSeara, MacSheara, MacShera, and MacSheery. Other common spellings include Mc Shera, Macsherry, MackShera, MacSherry, or MacSharry.
MacSheara is an Irish variant of the name and is most commonly found in County Donegal. This variant is derived from the Gaelic MacShearáin, which is composed of two elements, “mac” meaning “son” and “searáin” meaning “chief”.
MacShera is derived from the old Gaelic Mac an Searaigh, which is composed of two elements: “mac” meaning “son” and “an searaigh” meaning “of the line”. This variant is often found in Irish records from counties Kilkenny and Sligo.
MacSharry is a different form of the same Gaelic name and is most commonly found in Ireland. Its original form is Mac an t Saiaraigh, meaning “son of the line”.
The MacSéartha surname is also commonly found as a variant of the names MacSherry and MacSheery. The surnames are derived from the old Gaelic Mac an tSírí, which is composed of two elements: “mac” meaning “son” and “an tSírí” meaning “of the family”.
In addition to these variants, the MacSéartha surname is also related to the surnames MacCarthy and Cronin, both of which are derived from the old Gaelic Mac Carthaigh, which is composed of two elements: “mac” meaning “son” and “carthaigh” meaning “of the loving or kind one”.
Overall, the MacSéartha surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The surnames are all derived from Irish Gaelic and include MacSheara, MacShera, MacSharry, MacSherry, MacSheery, MacCarthy, and Cronin.
Famous people with the name MacSéartha
- Alexander MacSéartha: Scottish philosopher
- David MacSéartha: Irish bishop
- Alice MacSéartha: Irish folklore singer
- Joe MacSéartha: Irish folklorist
- Seumas MacSéartha: Irish actor
- Gregor MacSéartha: Scots musician
- Rory MacSéartha: Scottish historian
- Fergus MacSéartha: Irish poet
- Stephen MacSéartha: Irish playwright
- Orla MacSéartha: Irish actor and singer