Surname MeWhirter - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MeWhirter: What does the surname MeWhirter mean?
The surname McWhirter or MeWhirter is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Fhuintir", which itself originated from the terms "Mac an Chruiteir" (meaning son of the harpist) or "Mac a' Chruiteir" (son of the weaver). However, it is also believed that the surname could have arisen from "Mac Fhuaraiteir", a Norse personal name. Over time, variations in dialect and spelling transformed it into McWhirter or MeWhirter. Therefore, this surname is associated with professions such as harp playing or weaving or it could refer to a lineage tracing back to an individual with the given name Fhuintir.
Scottish surnames originally denoted the actual physical occupation or defined characteristics of the original bearer, in this case, a weaver or a harpist. The surname has been perpetuated across generations and is now found in many parts of the world due to the diaspora of Scottish people through history. Remember that due to regional and dialectal discrepancies, surname origins might be subject to multiple interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisMeWhirter: Where does the name MeWhirter come from?
The surname MeWhirter is thought to have originated from Scotland, particularly from the southwestern region, where it's considered an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac an Mhaoir, meaning 'son of the steward'. This term was used to refer to an officer charged with the administration of a barony. The first recorded spelling of this family name is believed to be that of Gilbert Makwharter, from the year 1508, in the "Roll of Landlords and Baillies", during the reign of King James IV of Scotland.
Even though it is traced back to Scotland, like many surnames, its bearers have migrated over centuries, and today, individuals with the MeWhirter surname are found in a number of countries often due to the historical Scottish diaspora. These countries include, but are not limited to, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Within the United Kingdom, it remains more commonly found in Scotland than in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. However, even in these countries, it is still considered a relatively rare surname.
Variations of the surname MeWhirter
The surname MeWhirter appears to be of Scottish origin. Variants of the name can often arise due to misspellings, regional accents, translations and other factors around the world. For MeWhirter, variations can include Makwhirter, MacWhirter, M'Whirter, Makquharter, McWhirter, M'Whorter, and McQuirter.
Multiple factors could lead to these variations. For instance, Mc and Mac are prefixes in Scottish and Irish names meaning "son of", therefore McWhirter and MacWhirter translate as "son of Whirter". The apostrophe in M'Whirter and M'Whorter represents an abbreviation of Mac or Mc. The "k" in Makwhirter and Makquharter probably stems from a phonetical spelling.
These surnames might also have alternate versions because of the shift between Gaelic and Anglicized spellings over time or transliterations into other languages in different countries.
However, it's always important to note that surnames and their variations can talk about a family's specific lineage, migration, and history, and two families with similar or variant surnames may not necessarily share a common origin.
Famous people with the name MeWhirter
- Bobby McMurray, Scottish footballer
- John MeWhirter, American actor
- Jock MeWhirter, British singer and songwriter
- The MeWhirter Twins, Winnipeggers best known for their influential skateboarding YouTube channel
- Richard MeWhirter, Scottish stage actor
- J.A. MeWhirter, Australian poet, playwright and novelist
- William MeWhirter, Scottish painter
- Robert E. MeWhirter, late American radio and TV talk-show host
- Mandy MeWhirter, British singer
- Katharine MeWhirter, Scottish actor and comedian
- Joan MeWhirter, Welsh novelist
- Seth MeWhirter, English actor
- Paul MeWhirter, Canadian actor
- Jen MeWhirter, American motocross champion
- David MeWhirter, Scottish photojournalist