McCarthy
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McCarthy Genealogy
McCarthy is the anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Carthaigh" or son of Carthach, a personal name meaning "loving." The name is Irish rather than Scottish despite the fact that the "son of" prefix is mac rather than o.'
There are several other forms extant, including Carthy and Carty. Another variant, McCartney, comes from a Scottish family founded by Donal, a grandson of the first McCarthy king of Desmond.
Ireland. The origin of the MacCarthy clan begins with Carthach in the 11th century, a rival to the semi-legendary Brian Boru. Carthach's son, Muiredach mac Carthach, was the first to assume the name of MacCarthaigh. This family, driven out of Tipperary, established themselves as the leading clan in Munster. MacCarthy kings of Desmond can be traced from 1118 to 1596. The MacCarthys divided over time into four main branches:
Each of these families continued resistance to the English encroachments until the 17th century, when like other Gaelic families, they lost almost everything. The last of the MacCarthy Mors was Finian MacCarthaigh, known to the English as Florence MacCarthy, who spent the latter part of his life in custody in London whilst his lands were distributed among his relatives and English colonists. Some MacCarthys held onto their lands at this time but lost out later because of their support for the Jacobite cause. Justin MacCarthy founded the Irish Brigade in the service of the French King; and others left for America. More McCarthys left for America in the 19th century.
America. The McCarthys in Early American History by Michael J. O'Brien was published in 1968. The first arrivals would appear to have been Charles and Owen McCartie. They came to Virginia in 1662, it is thought from Kinsale in Cork, on the Plaine Joane. Dennis McCarthy was recorded in Old Rappahannock county records in 1675 and Daniel McCarty in Westmoreland county records thirty years later. Daniel and his descendants were prominent in Virginia local politics in the 18th and 19th centuries.
There were McCarthy arrivals during colonial times into Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. However, the largest influx was into Massachusetts. Thaddeus McCarthy first appeared in Boston records in 1666. Captain William McCarthy was the best-known Boston shipowner of his day. The numbers of McCarthys in Massachusetts increased markedly in the 19th century. McCarthys in the 20th century included William McCarthy who became head of the Teamsters union in 1988.
A number of McCarthys headed West. Eugene McCarthy for example, a contractor during the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad, moved to Montana. His son helped to map the Glacier National Park. Two well-known 20th century politicians with roots in the Midwest were Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin and Senator Gene McCarthy from Minnesota.
England. Fewer numbers have crossed the Irish Sea to England. Two who made it in London in the early 20th century were Lillah MacCarthy, a popular dramatic actress of her day, and Sir Desmond MacCarthy, a London drama critic. More recently, the McCarthy family, originally from county Clare, have been one of the great cornerstones of Irish music in London.
South America. John and Mary McCarthy and their five children had emigrated from Ireland to Argentina on the SS Dresden in 1889. Their descendants, members of the Argentine Makarte family, later served with distinction on Irish merchant vessels during World War Two, something that was recently acknowledged by a ceremony at the Irish embassy in Buenos Aires.
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Tadhg MacCarthaigh became the first king of Desmond (Cork and Kerry) in 1118.
Thaddeus McCarthy, a prominent Irish bishop in the late 1400's, was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1896.
Glenn McCarthy was a flamboyant Texan oil tycoon, often called "the king of the wildcatters."
Joseph McCarthy was the American senator who hunted down communists in the 1950's, giving rise to the term "McCarthyism."
Gene McCarthy was the anti-Vietnam Presidential candidate in 1968.
Cormac McCarthy is an American novelist and playwright whose novel, No Country for Old Men, was an Academy Award winning film in 2007.
Select McCarthys Today
Select Index of Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames
McCarthy is the anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Carthaigh" or son of Carthach, a personal name meaning "loving." The name is Irish rather than Scottish despite the fact that the "son of" prefix is mac rather than o.'
There are several other forms extant, including Carthy and Carty. Another variant, McCartney, comes from a Scottish family founded by Donal, a grandson of the first McCarthy king of Desmond.
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McCarthy Resources on
The
Internet
- Clan McCarthy Society. McCarthys in America.
- The McCarthy Family. McCarthys from Ireland to Canada.
Ireland. The origin of the MacCarthy clan begins with Carthach in the 11th century, a rival to the semi-legendary Brian Boru. Carthach's son, Muiredach mac Carthach, was the first to assume the name of MacCarthaigh. This family, driven out of Tipperary, established themselves as the leading clan in Munster. MacCarthy kings of Desmond can be traced from 1118 to 1596. The MacCarthys divided over time into four main branches:
- MacCarthy Mor in south Kerry
- MacCarthy Duhallow in northwest Cork
- MacCarthy Riabhach in southwest Cork
- and MacCarthy Muskerry on the Cork/Kerry border.
Each of these families continued resistance to the English encroachments until the 17th century, when like other Gaelic families, they lost almost everything. The last of the MacCarthy Mors was Finian MacCarthaigh, known to the English as Florence MacCarthy, who spent the latter part of his life in custody in London whilst his lands were distributed among his relatives and English colonists. Some MacCarthys held onto their lands at this time but lost out later because of their support for the Jacobite cause. Justin MacCarthy founded the Irish Brigade in the service of the French King; and others left for America. More McCarthys left for America in the 19th century.
America. The McCarthys in Early American History by Michael J. O'Brien was published in 1968. The first arrivals would appear to have been Charles and Owen McCartie. They came to Virginia in 1662, it is thought from Kinsale in Cork, on the Plaine Joane. Dennis McCarthy was recorded in Old Rappahannock county records in 1675 and Daniel McCarty in Westmoreland county records thirty years later. Daniel and his descendants were prominent in Virginia local politics in the 18th and 19th centuries.
There were McCarthy arrivals during colonial times into Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. However, the largest influx was into Massachusetts. Thaddeus McCarthy first appeared in Boston records in 1666. Captain William McCarthy was the best-known Boston shipowner of his day. The numbers of McCarthys in Massachusetts increased markedly in the 19th century. McCarthys in the 20th century included William McCarthy who became head of the Teamsters union in 1988.
A number of McCarthys headed West. Eugene McCarthy for example, a contractor during the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad, moved to Montana. His son helped to map the Glacier National Park. Two well-known 20th century politicians with roots in the Midwest were Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin and Senator Gene McCarthy from Minnesota.
England. Fewer numbers have crossed the Irish Sea to England. Two who made it in London in the early 20th century were Lillah MacCarthy, a popular dramatic actress of her day, and Sir Desmond MacCarthy, a London drama critic. More recently, the McCarthy family, originally from county Clare, have been one of the great cornerstones of Irish music in London.
South America. John and Mary McCarthy and their five children had emigrated from Ireland to Argentina on the SS Dresden in 1889. Their descendants, members of the Argentine Makarte family, later served with distinction on Irish merchant vessels during World War Two, something that was recently acknowledged by a ceremony at the Irish embassy in Buenos Aires.
Select McCarthy Miscellany
If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for
further stories and accounts:
Select McCarthy Names
Tadhg MacCarthaigh became the first king of Desmond (Cork and Kerry) in 1118.
Thaddeus McCarthy, a prominent Irish bishop in the late 1400's, was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1896.
Glenn McCarthy was a flamboyant Texan oil tycoon, often called "the king of the wildcatters."
Joseph McCarthy was the American senator who hunted down communists in the 1950's, giving rise to the term "McCarthyism."
Gene McCarthy was the anti-Vietnam Presidential candidate in 1968.
Cormac McCarthy is an American novelist and playwright whose novel, No Country for Old Men, was an Academy Award winning film in 2007.
Select McCarthys Today
- 10,000 in the UK (most numerous in London)
- 27,000 in America (most numerous in Massachusetts)
- 61,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Ireland)
Select Index of Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames