Surname McCargy - Meaning and Origin
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McCargy: What does the surname McCargy mean?
The surname McCargy doesn't seem to have a specific, well-documented meaning as many other surnames do. It is a name of Irish origin, hinted by the prefix "Mc," which often means "son of" in Gaelic. However, "Cargy" doesn't appear to be rooted in any known Gaelic words or names. It's vital to note that many Irish surnames have changed considerably over centuries due to varied spelling or phonetic transcription. Therefore, McCargy as we see it today could be significantly different from its original form. Also, it could be a variant of another Irish surname, such as McGargy or McCargo. Like many surnames, it could have originated from a place name, trade, landmark, or a notable ancestor. However, without specific historical or genealogical research, it's challenging to determine the precise meaning or origin of the surname McCargy.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCargy: Where does the name McCargy come from?
The last name McCargy is not particularly common today and is most likely to be found in Scotland.
McCargy is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic surname ‘Mac Fhearghusa.’ The earliest recorded form of the name appears in the late thirteen century when the McCargy's were closely associated with the high seas around Scotland and Ireland.
The name is mainly associated with the Scottish counties of Ayrshire, Argyll, and Wigtown. In the census of 1881, there were 392 people with the surname McCargy in Scotland, most of which were found in Ayrshire and Glasgow.
By the mid-twentieth century, people with the surname McCargy were increasingly found in larger cities such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and in the United States and Canada. The current distribution of the name suggests that there are probably no more than a few hundred people with the name worldwide.
McCargy is an extremely rare surname today. It is likely to be found in Scotland and its former colonies, particularly in Canada and the United States. It is also possible to find a few people with the name in Australia and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname McCargy
The most common variant spelling of the surname McCargy is MacCargy, although other spellings such as McCargo, McKargy, Makcargy, MacCargue and McArgue also exist. The Scots-Irish version of the surname is MacCarron/O’Carron/Cairron when prefixed with 'Mac' or 'Mc'.
The surname McCargy is a variation of the Gaelic MacGharry, which translates literally as "son of the smith". The likely origin of the surname is the Scottish/Irish clan MacGeary of County Monaghan.
The Irish-language version of the surname McCargy is MacGarry, a common variant of the original name MacGeary. The spelling variations of the surname include Magarry, Makari, Makary, Makarye, McKary, Mkary and MacCary. The surname McKary is derived from the Irish Mac Ceara, meaning "son of the smith”.
Variants of the surname in the United States include Caroon, Caron, and Carryon. Variants of the surname in Scotland and Ireland include Carron, Caron, Carryon, Carin, Carran, O’Carron, and O’Carran. Variants in England include Cairns and Karnes.
In addition, there are several double-surname variants that include “Mc” and “Garry”, such as McGarry, McGary, MacGary, MacGarry, McGorrey, and Maccorry. All of these surnames are derived from the original Gaelic surname and are considered to be of the same origin.
Famous people with the name McCargy
- John McCargy (American visual artist)
- Jimmy McCargy (American rapper)
- Don McCargy (American baritone saxophonist)
- Sally McCargy (comedian and actress)
- Edith McCargy (Canadian politician and former Member of Parliament)
- Ryan McCargy (Australian cricketer)
- Mary McCargy (British singer-songwriter)
- Christina McCargy (American novelist)
- Thomas McCargy (Canadian-American singer and musician)
- Joseph McCargy (American philosopher and theologian)
- Robert McCargy (American playwright, director and educator)