Surname McCurdy - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling the Genetic Tapestry of the McCurdy Lineage: An iGENEA DNA Test Story

Ever wondered about the narrative etched in your genes? I did. Hence, I embarked on an exciting journey into my history, tracing the lineage of my surname - McCurdy, through an iGENEA DNA test. The results examined my Celtic roots, affiliations, unique haplogroup, and the impacts of migration on the McCurdy lineage, unearthing an encapsulating genetic tale.

Z. McCurdy

McCurdy: What does the surname McCurdy mean?

The surname McCurdy is of Scottish origin and has its roots in the Gaelic mac mhuircheartaigh, which translates to "son of a sea warrior." Essentially, it signifies a person who is descended from a seafaring warrior. The name is primarily associated with the Scottish region of Argyll, where the ancestors of the McCurdy family were part of a seafaring kingdom known as Dal Riada. Over time, the surname has seen various spellings including MacCourty, MacMurty, MacMurdy, and MacKirdy. Although, the original Gaelic form gets lost with the modified versions of the name, the underlying meaning remains consistent, that is, 'sea warrior.' Like many surnames with Gaelic roots, McCurdy reflects the ancient heritage of Scotland. Today, people with this surname can be found across the globe, significantly due to the Scottish diaspora in places like America and Canada.

McCurdy: Where does the name McCurdy come from?

The surname McCurdy originates from Scotland, specifically from the Isle of Bute in the western part of the country. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Mhuircheartaigh, which means "son of a mariner." From Scotland, the name spread to Ireland in the 13th century following migration, particularly in the northern region. Today, McCurdy is most commonly found in Canada, United States, and Northern Ireland. However, there are still plenty McCurdys living in Scotland and other parts of the UK, as well Australia and New Zealand. Despite its geographical dispersion, it remains relatively uncommon worldwide.

Variations of the surname McCurdy

The surname McCurdy has various spellings, variants, and derivative surnames owing to its Irish and Scottish origin. In Ireland, it has Gaelic roots in Mac Mhuircheartaigh, which later became anglicised into McCurdy, McCourtie, and McCourt.

In Scotland, it has been traced back to the Clan MacQuarrie, which lived on the Hebridean island of Ulva in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. The original form of the surname was MacGuaidhre, which was anglicized into MacQuarrie and sometimes became McCurdy, mainly in North America.

Other variants related to McCurdy include MacMurchadh, Mccordy, MacCord, McCourt, and even MacCure. Spelling changes were common due to the lack of spelling norms in early historical periods and the phonetic nature of the transcription process, which was usually conducted by English clerks.

Due to migration and intermarriages over generations, the McCurdy surname also got intermingled with other surnames, making it challenging to trace a comprehensive lineage.

Famous people with the name McCurdy

• Jennette McCurdy: Actress, singer, and YouTuber known for playing Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s iCarly and Miranda Cosgrove’s best friend, Megan Parker, on the sitcom Drake & Josh.
• David McCurdy: Former United States Representative from Oklahoma, now President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
• David McCurdy Smith: Award-winning filmmaker, best known for directing the National Film Board documentary series Pieces of Canada.
• Hal McCurdy: American politician and former Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1981 to 1983.
• Mark McCurdy: Actor, best known for his roles on Seinfeld and other sitcoms from the 1990s.
• Miranda McCurdy: British actress, best known for her roles in Aliens, American Gothic and The Bill.
• Ruth McCurdy: Singer and actress from New Jersey, best known for her performances in Broadway musicals.
• Russell McCurdy: Scottish actor and playwright, and a founding member of Glasgow's Playwrights' Studio.
• Seth McCurdy: YouTube star known for his videos and photo collages titled “Chronicles of McCurdy”.
• Steve McCurdy: Professional bass fisherman and winner of two Bassmaster Classics.
• Susan McCurdy: Psychologist and author of books on cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety-related disorders.
• Willie McCurdy: Jazz drummer, singer, and composer, who has played with legendary groups such as Ray Charles Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and Aretha Franklin, among others.

Other surnames

McCurdMcCurleyMcCurtain