Surname McGourty - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McGourty: What does the surname McGourty mean?
The surname McGourty is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mag Oireachtaigh". The "Mag" prefix means "son of" or "descendent of", while "Oireachtaigh" is a form of the Irish term 'oireachtas', which refers to legislation or a legislative body. Thus, it can be interpreted that the McGourty surname might refer to "descendants of the legislator" or "son of the lawgiver". However, like many Gaelic names, the exact meaning may vary, and other interpretations may exist based on differing regional and historical contexts. It is common in Counties Donegal and Sligo in Ireland. Like many Irish family names, different anglicized spellings are found, including McGerty, McGarty, and McCarty among others. Generally, names that begin with 'Mac' or 'Mc' are prominent in Ireland and Scotland and play a significant part in their cultural heritage. These surnames typically denote lineage and were a way to keep track of family connections. Today, the surname McGourty is carried by individuals and families globally, due to the widespread Irish diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGourty: Where does the name McGourty come from?
The last name McGourty has Irish origins, derived from the Gaelic Mac Uarta or Mac Cuarta, meaning "son of Uarta," where "Uarta" means proud and noble. The Mac Uarta clan originally belonged to County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland. The exact year of its origin is unknown, but it likely emerged as a surname in Ireland around the 10th or 11th century.
Today, the surname McGourty, like many Irish surnames, can be found dispersed around the world due to the historical emigration caused by factors like the Irish Potato Famine in the 19th century. However, it is primarily common in areas with significant Irish diaspora. Some of these places include the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Despite this dispersion, the surname is predominant, among other locations, still in its land of origin, Ireland, specifically in the northern region.
Variations of the surname McGourty
The surname McGourty is of Irish origin, and it belongs to the broader group of surnames that are derived from the Gaelic 'MacGhurtáin', meaning "son of Ghortán". However, due to different pronunciation in various regions and phonetic transcription, it is spelled differently. Possible variant spellings can include McGurtin, McGurtie, MacGourtie, MacGourty, MacGhurtin, McGourton, McGorty, McGoarty, and possibly others.
Some related or similar-sounding surnames, which may or may not be derivations of the same name due to confusion and record discrepancies, include Gourty, Gourtie, Gourton, Courtie, McGurty, McGurt. It's important to remember that early record keeping was often done phonetically leading to many different spellings for the same name.
Another reason for multiple variations is translation between languages, especially from Gaelic to English after the English rule in Ireland. This may also lead to vastly different surnames that have the same origin. Lastly, regional dialects, illiteracy, and migration can all lead to changes in spellings of surnames.
As with any surname, the specific ancestry and lineage for any individual named McGourty or it's variants can best be determined by genealogical research.
These surnames would typically be found in the Northern part of Ireland, as the prefix "Mc" is more common there.
Famous people with the name McGourty
- Eddie McGourty: Former English Footballer and Manager
- Charlotte McGourty: Professional American Dancer
- William McGourty: An Irish Bishop
- James McGourty: American Racecar Driver
- Katie McGourty: Professional Canadian Figure Skater
- Michael McGourty: Irish Paralympic Marathon Runner
- John McGourty: Professional U.S. Golfer
- Sean McGourty: Irish Olympic Cyclist
- Barry McGourty: English Footballer
- William J. McGourty: U.S. Air Force General