Surname McWhorter - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Scottish Roots of the McWhorter Name Through iGENEA DNA Analysis
Delving into the mysterious origins of my surname, McWhorter, via iGENEA's DNA analysis brought revelations of long-standing Scottish roots, ancestral affiliations with the ancient Scottish Clan MacQuarrie, and in-depth insights into ancient migration patterns. This deeper understanding has fueled an ongoing passion for genealogical exploration and ignited a sense of pride in my heritage.
T. McWhorter
read moreMcWhorter: What does the surname McWhorter mean?
The surname McWhorter is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Chruiteir. It is a patronymic name, meaning it is based on the name of a male ancestor. "Mac" in Gaelic means "son of", thus Mac Chruiteir translates to "son of a harper." The word "cruit" or, more modernly "cruitire", means "harp" or "harper" respectively. Essentially, someone with the McWhorter surname likely had an ancestor who was known for playing or making harps. The spelling of surnames often changed over the centuries as they were translated into English, which is why the modern spelling may look very different from the original Gaelic. Though used predominantly by Scottish families, the surname can also be found in Irish families due to the complex history of migration, conquest, and settlement between Scotland and Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcWhorter: Where does the name McWhorter come from?
The surname McWhorter is of Scottish origin. It stems from the Gaelic name Mac Chruiteir, which means "son of a harpist". This indicates that the original bearers of the name likely played or made harps. The surname was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata.
Throughout history, many of those bearing this surname have immigrated to the United States, so although originally Scottish, the surname has now become quite common in the U.S. Therefore, today, the surname McWhorter is quite common in both Scotland and the United States, particularly in areas that have a high percentage of residents of Scottish ancestry.
Variations of the surname McWhorter
The surname McWhorter is Scottish in origin and is mainly found in the United States, having been brought over by Scottish immigrants. It is derived from the Gaelic word Bhordair, meaning "son of the bard or poet". It is sometimes found as an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Bhuratera.
Due to the different spellings and pronunciation of Gaelic words, along with mistakes made during immigration procedures, the surname McWhorter has several variants. Some of these include McWhirter, McWherter, MacWhirter, MacWherter, McQuirter and McWorter.
Alternate spellings that do not start with 'Mc' or 'Mac' but are still related to McWhorter could be Whorter, Wherter, Whirter or Quirter. In some rare instances, the surname could also possibly be spelt with a 'B' instead of a 'W', resulting in variants like McBhorter or MacBhorter.
It's also common to sometimes come across the prefix dropped, simply seeing names such as Whirter or Bhorter. Such variations usually happened when families wanted to assimilate faster in a new society by dropping the distinctly Irish or Scottish 'Mc' or Mac'.
It's also possible for any of these surnames to have double-barrelled versions, such as McWhorter-Smith or Whirter-Jones.
Famous people with the name McWhorter
- Kat McWhorter: Kat McWhorter is the founder of passion-driven coaching consultancy Bespoke Benefits and author of the book, Unlocking Your Power to Achieve Your Dreams.
- Lamar McWhorter: Lamar McWhorter is a songwriter and musician from Nashville, Tennessee.
- Keshia McWhorter: Keshia McWhorter is a celebrity fitness instructor and public speaker.
- Jason McWhorter: Jason McWhorter is a professional baseball player who has played in the minor leagues for the Yankees, Phillies, and the Brewers.
- Reuben McWhorter: Reuben McWhorter is a professional wrestler who currently competes on the independent circuit.
- Ramona McWhorter: Ramona McWhorter is a Christian author and speaker.
- Ross McWhorter: Ross McWhorter is a professional basketball player currently playing in the Israeli League.
- Steve McWhorter: Steve McWhorter is a retired U.S. Marine Corps major general who was the first African-American to serve as the commanding general of Marine Corps Base Okinawa.
- Wayne McWhorter: Wayne McWhorter is a former professional baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers, resulting in three World Series Championships.
- Kirk McWhorter: Kirk McWhorter is an award-winning author of more than 25 books and is the co-founder of Hummingbird High, a leadership and personal development company.