Contents [hide]

McCarty History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McCarty History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The many Irish surnames in use today have long rich histories behind them. The name McCarty originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Carthaigh, which is derived from the word "carthach," which means "loving."

Saint Carthach the Elder (d. 580?), appears in "the 'Felire' of Engus the Culdee (10th cent.) with the epithets of royal and Roman attached to his name. This is generally interpreted to mean that he was of royal ancestry, and had travelled to Rome [cf. Cainnech, Saint]. From the 'Vita Kierani' (Bollandist A. SS., March, v. 395) we gather that he was the grandson of Angus, king of Munster, who would seem to be the king whose death is recorded in the 'Four Masters' under the year 489. Colgan, however, noting that he was the brother of St. Cuanna, quotes from an old genealogy to show that he was the great-grandson of Neill of the Nine Hostages, who died about the year 405. In the 'Vita Kierani,' St. Carthach appears, before the death of St. Patrick, as one of St. Ciaran of Saighir's young disciples." 1

Saint Cathach the Younger (d. 636) also called Mochuda, was "the founder of the famous monastery at Rahen, and bishop of Lismore, was the son of Finnall (Annals Four Masters, sub an. 631). According to his legendary life, which, however, seems to have preserved much that is historical, he was born in Kerry, of the race of Fergus." 1

Early Origins of the McCarty family

The surname McCarty was first found in County Kerry and much of County Cork, in the area formerly known as Desmond. One of the oldest and most important of all Irish families, the MacCarthy family claim descent from Oilioll Olum, the 3rd century King of Munster who gave the region of Desmond to his son Eoghan after his death. Eoghan's descendants were known as the Eoghanacht, and the surname MacCarthy is derived from Carthach, an 11th century lord of this group who was killed when the Lonegans set his house on fire.

They were settled at Carrignavar where they were the Lords of Eoghannacht and Diarmod MacCarty Mor swore fealty to King Henry II thereby retaining his estates in Cork. Innumerable members of the family have been important in Irish history, especially those with the forenames Fineen, Florence or Justin, beginning with the Fineen MacCarthy who vanquished the Geraldines in 1261.

Several branches of the powerful MacCarthy sept existed, including MacCarthy Reagh, who held a family seat at Carbery in West Cork, and the Muskerry MacCarthys, who were based in the barony of Muskerry in that county. MacCarthy Mor of County Kerry, long thought to be extinct, has only recently been proven to still exist.

The McCarthy Reagh branch rose to become the Princes of Carbery in what is now southwestern County Cork in the 13th century. It is generally thought that Donal Reagh MacCarthy, the 5th Prince of Carbery, a quo MacCarthy Reagh, son of Donal Glas was the first to use Reagh is his surname. From this early listing, each subsequent prince continued to use Reagh in one form or another. As far as the early princes are concerned, we know very little. However from Finghin MacCarthy Reagh, the 8th Prince of Carbery from 1477 to his death in 1505, a solid genealogy has been determined.

Early History of the McCarty family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCarty research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1446, 1455, 1490, 1492, 1562, 1576, 1583, 1585, 1588, 1589, 1591, 1593, 1594, 1596, 1612, 1628, 1640, 1646, 1665, 1668, 1694, 1698, 1733, 1734 and 1769 are included under the topic Early McCarty History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCarty Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, attempting to record a Gaelic name in English was a daunting task. Most names were spelt by scribes solely based on how it sounded, one's name could have been recorded many different ways during the life of its bearer. Numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name McCarty family name.Variations found include MacCarthy, MacCarty, MacArty, MacArthy and others.

Early Notables of the McCarty family

Notable among the family name at this time was Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy (c. 1455-1492), an Irish ecclesiastic who never ruled his see, Bishop of Ross, Ireland in 1492 and Bishop of Cork and Cloyne in 1490, his feast day is 25 October; and Charles MacCarty (Cormac Oge McCarthy), (d. 1640). He was from the ancient line of Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster, and was created the 1st Viscount Muskerry in 1628. His motto was "Forti et fideli nihil difficile, " which translates as "to the strong and faithful, nothing is...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCarty Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCarty Ranking

In the United States, the name McCarty is the 851^st most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 2

McCarty migration to the United States +

Irish immigrants began to leave the English-controlled Ireland in sizable numbers during the late 18th century. Many of these Irish immigrated to British North America or the United States in the hopes of gaining their own tract of farmland. This pattern of migration grew steadily until the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine caused a great exodus of immigrants to North America. These immigrants differed from their predecessors in that they were desperately fleeing the disease and starvation that plagued their homeland, and many were entirely destitute when they arrived in North America. Although these penniless immigrants were not warmly welcomed when they arrived, they were critical to the rapid development of the United States and what would become known as Canada. Many went to populate the western frontiers and others provided the cheap labor the new manufacturing sector and the building of bridges, roads, railways, and canals required. A thorough examination of immigration and passenger lists has revealed some of the earliest people to arrive in North America with name McCarty or one of its variants:

McCarty Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William McCarty, who landed in Virginia in 1701 3
Daniel McCarty, who settled in Boston in 1742
David McCarty, who settled in Maryland in 1755
Austin McCarty, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 3
Thomas McCarty, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCarty Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Miles McCarty, aged 37, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
Andrew McCarty, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1812 3
Arthur McCarty, aged 35, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
Cornelius C McCarty, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 3
Robert McCarty, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCarty migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCarty Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William McCarty, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752

McCarty Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Davis McCarty, who arrived in Canada in 1828
Owen McCarty, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
Ann McCarty, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834
Mr. Jeremiah McCarty who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Bee" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 4
Miss Mary McCarty who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Junior" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in 1847 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCarty migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McCarty Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth McCarty, Irish convict who was convicted in Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. William Mccarty, (b. 1791), aged 24, English labourer who was convicted in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1817 6
Mr. John McCarty, English convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Jeremiah McCarty, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
James McCarty, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCarty migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McCarty Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Justin Mccarty, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Queen of the Deep" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1854 10
Cornelius McCarty, aged 22, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name McCarty (post 1700) +

Henry McCarty (1859-1881), birth name of Billy the Kid or William H. Bonney, Irish-American outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at the age of 21
William Henry McCarty Jr., (1859-1881), also known as William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, an American gunman and frontier outlaw in the American Old West who claimed to have killed 21 men
Calvin McCarty (b. 1984), American professional CFL running back for the Edmonton Eskimos
Patti McCarty (1921-1985), American actress who appeared in 24 titles
George Courtney McCarty (1915-2011), American college basketball coach and athletic director
William Bonner McCarty Sr., American founder of the Jitney Jungle supermarkets in 1919
William Tibertus McCarty C.SS.R. (1889-1972), American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rapid City from 1948 to 1969
Luther McCarty (1892-1913), American heavyweight boxer, World White Heavyweight Champion (1913)
William Mason Mccarty (1789-1863), American politician, U.S. Representative from Virginia, Secretary of the Territory of Florida and later Governor of the Territory
Ted McCarty (1910-2001), American Vice President and later President of the Gibson Guitar Corporation (1950)
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McCarty family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Joey McCarty (1963-1985), American First Lieutenant from Canyon Lake, Texas, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 11

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Charles Edgar McCarty, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mrs. Bessie McCarty, (nee Carter), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Victoria steamboat disaster

John McCarty, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

The McCarty Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Forti et fideli nihil difficile
Motto Translation: Nothing is difficult to the brave and the faithful

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 43)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILIES 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ramillies.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550