Surname McBriar - Meaning and Origin

McBriar: What does the surname McBriar mean?

The last name McBriar is of Scottish origin, primarily originating in the areas of Ayrshire and Midlothian. It is a habitational surname meaning that it was taken from the name of a place where the original bearer of the name might have lived or held land. In this case, the place is thought to have been called Brier. The name originated from a combination of the Scots Gaelic words Mac meaning "son of," and briar meaning "thorny bush, bramble." This suggests that it was taken as a surname to indicate someone who lived near a thorny bush or bramble patch.

The McBriar surname can also be found in other parts of the world, such as in Ireland, although the connection is much less obvious than in Scotland. In some cases, it may be a variant spelling of a similar Irish name such as MacBrayer, which is a combination of Mac meaning "son of," and bragar meaning "hero, brave protector."

Today the McBriar name is still quite common, with members of the family living in countries around the world, including England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, South Africa, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The strength and endurance of the McBriar surname reflects the tenacity of spirit that characterizes the family and its descendants, many of whom have succeeded in a wide variety of fields.

McBriar: Where does the name McBriar come from?

The last name McBriar is most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is an Irish Gaelic surname derived from MacRaith or MacRiabhaigh (from the Old Gaelic MacRaith meaning 'son of grace'). McBriar is not particularly common today, but there are still families with the surname residing in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, and the United States.

In Scotland, the family name McBriar is thought to have its origins in Strabane, Northern Ireland in the 16th century. Records show that McBriar families began using the surnames McCoy, McRae, and Macbrayer around the same time. It is believed that these families then moved to Scotland and adopted the surname McBriar. By the early 19th century, the McBriar name had become widespread in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Angus and Aberdeenshire.

In recent years, the McBriar family name has spread to other parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. In the US, the name McBriar can be found in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The census of 2000 showed that there were around 1,400 people with the McBriar surname residing in the US.

Overall, the last name McBriar is still somewhat common today even though its origins are rooted in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Although its presence is more common in those two countries, descendants of the McBriar have spread the family name to other parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, and the US.

Variations of the surname McBriar

McBriar is an anglicized Irish surname of Gaelic origin. The original Gaelic form is Mac Bhriaráin, derived from the personal name Bhriaráin, meaning 'the son of a prickly one'.

Variants of the name McBriar include McBary, McBryer, MacBarre, MacBrar, MacBrier, MacBury, McBeria, MacBerra, MacBarre, McBerrie, McBerrie, McBarry, McBerrey, McBerry, McBriar, McBriery, McBryar, McBryer as well as Boran, Briar, Briary, Briere, Bryan, Bryar, and Bryer.

In Ireland, the surnames McBryar, McBryer, MacBrar and McBriary are most prevalent while in Scotland McBrier and McBryer are more common. McBria and MacBery are also found in Scotland, although rare.

McBriar is more commonly found in the United States than in the British Isles. McBriar has also been anglicized in the US as Brayre, Brayrer, Breyer, Bryer and Byrde.

The spelling McBriar also has other interpretations as well, including MacCarbayre, MacBaraur, and MacBrystr.

It is important to note that there is a great deal of overlap between the surnames related to McBriar. Therefore, it is important to research and trace each specific spelling of the name to ensure accuracy in researching family history.

Famous people with the name McBriar

• Mat McBriar: Mat McBriar is a former American football punter. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers.
• Arn McBriar: Arn McBriar is a former American football defensive back and special teams player who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
• Spencer McBriar: Spencer McBriar is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Stephen F. Austin.
• Erica McBriar: Erica McBriar is an American Professional football player and coach. She is currently an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams.
• Tom McBriar: Tom McBriar is an Australian professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Web.com Tour.
• Rhys McBriar: Rhys McBriar is an Australian cricket player who plays for the South Therban Cricket Club in Victoria.
• Peter McBriar: Peter McBriar is a British actor and producer. He has appeared in films such as Stardust, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and The Mummy.
• Sean McBriar: Sean McBriar is an Irish actor, best known for his roles in the television series, Rogue and Ripper Street.
• Mark McBriar: Mark McBriar is the founder and CEO of McBriar Consulting, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in capital formation and project finance.

Other surnames

McBride