Surname MacKurdy - Meaning and Origin
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MacKurdy: What does the surname MacKurdy mean?
The last name MacKurdy is an anglicised form of the Scottish Clan name MacKirdy, which derives from the Gaelic MacGilleMhuire, meaning “son of the devotee of Mary”. It is a patronymic surname, meaning that it was passed down through the male line of descent.
The Chiefs of the Clan MacKirdy were based in Argyllshire, Scotland, and were descended from the ancient Celtic Earls of Lennox. The clan was a powerful force in the area for centuries, and were known for their loyalty to the Stewart kings. The name was granted to members of the family who were loyal to the crown and their allegiances were highly respected.
The Clan MacKirdy was famous for producing warriors and soldiers who served in the British and Irish armies. The most famous of these was Duncan MacKirdy, who became the last leader of the Clan in 1809. He later became a Faulkner and died in 1812.
The spelling of the name changed over the centuries, and today the most common spelling is MacKurdy. The Clan no longer exists as a political power, but its legacy can still be seen in the modern day Scottish surnames of those descended from the Clan.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKurdy: Where does the name MacKurdy come from?
The surname MacKurdy is an ancient one in Scotland. It is a surname of "Clan MacKurdy," and is most commonly found in and around the northern Scottish region of Perthshire. The clan is historically associated with the area as it is believed to have descended from a fifteen-century warrior who first established himself there.
Today, the surname is most commonly found in Scotland and in the British Isles. In fact, MacKurdys are among the few clans whose surnames survive in any significant numbers in Scotland today. The last name has also spread to other countries as it is also quite common in places like Canada, the United States and Australia.
Within Scotland, the surname is found in the regions of Perth, Forth and Tayside. It is most common in the Perthshire area, where most of the MacKurdys are thought to have originated.
The MacKurdy name is often used in the media, especially when describing a character with a tough or intimidating personality. It is also a popular surname among Scottish independence supporters, due to its origin and its associations with their cause.
Variations of the surname MacKurdy
MacKurdy is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacMhuirich, derived from the word muir, meaning ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’.
Variants of the spelling include M’Kurdie, MacKirdie, MacKirdy, MacKurdy, and McKirdy.
The surnames of similar Gaelic origin include MacMurchy, MacMurchie, MacMurdo, MacMurrah, MacMurry, and MacMurrie.
These surnames are derived from muir meaning ‘sea’ and from the Gaelic prefixes mac meaning ‘son of’ and mhic meaning ‘grandson of’.
The variants and spellings offer more insight into the roots and heritage of these surnames. In Scotland, those variants ending in –ie or –y would have been more common in the 1800s. The vowel in between the Mac- prefix and the root word can differ from case to case.
In some cases, the names of these clans were shortened to names beginning with ‘Mc’ and this phenomenon is known as ‘Mc-dropping’.
Many of these surnames can be found in records in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
These surnames often appear with varying spellings, making them difficult to trace.
Due to the migration of clans throughout the world, these surnames and their variants are now often found in various countries and might have changed their spelling over time.
Famous people with the name MacKurdy
- Ryan MacKurdy: Film Director
- Blake MacKurdy: Professional Football Player
- Matilda MacKurdy: Theater Actress
- Jimmy MacKurdy: Comedian
- Damon MacKurdy: Model
- Jessica MacKurdy: Reality TV Star
- Celeste MacKurdy: Poet
- Claudine MacKurdy: Artist
- Leona MacKurdy: Race Car Driver
- Dwarven MacKurdy:Musician
- Jordan MacKurdy: Political Activist
- Vanessa MacKurdy: Marathon Runner
- Trevor MacKurdy: Social Media Influencer
- Liam MacKurdy: Television Host
- Tracey MacKurdy: Professional Golfer