McCart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Irish name McCart was originally written in a Gaelic form as O'h-Airt, which connotes a descendant of Art. 1
Specifically, the family claim descent through "Art Eanfhear, who is number 81 on the 'Line of Heremon," and son of the Monarch Conn of the Hundred Battles." He was at times called "The Solitary," as he was the only one of his father's sons that survived; his two brothers Conla Ruadh and Crionna, having been slain by their uncles. His grief was so strong that in some writings, he was referred to as "Art, the Melancholy." 2
The name literally means "a bear, a stone; noble, great, generous; hardness." 3
Early Origins of the McCart family
The surname McCart was first found in County Meath (Irish: An Mhí) anciently part of the kingdom of Brega, located in Eastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where they were of the southern Ui Neill. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century, their chiefs were known as the lords of Teffia.
Early History of the McCart family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCart research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCart Spelling Variations
Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name McCart family name. Variations found include Hart, O'Hart, Harte, MacArt, McArt, MacCart, McCart and many more.
Early Notables of the McCart family
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
McCart Ranking
In the United States, the name McCart is the 12,569th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4
McCart migration to the United States +
During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the McCart family in North America:
McCart Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- John McCart, who landed in America in 1810 5
- Rose McCart, aged 17, who arrived in America from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1892
- Thomas McCart, aged 23, who arrived in America from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1898
- William McCart, aged 43, who arrived in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1898
- Philip McCart, aged 20, who arrived in America from County Cavan, Ireland, in 1898
McCart Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Mary J. McCart, aged 23, who arrived in America from County Down, Ireland, in 1903
- Frederick McCart, aged 27, who arrived in America from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1904
- Frederick McCart, aged 30, who arrived in America from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1904
- David McCart, aged 34, who arrived in America from Broxburn, Scotland, in 1907
- Daniel McCart, aged 37, who arrived in America from Paisley, Scotland, in 1911
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
McCart migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
McCart Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Henry McCart, British convict who was convicted in Jersey for 21 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th March 1863, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 6
Contemporary Notables of the name McCart (post 1700) +
- William John McCart (1872-1933), American-born, Canadian merchant and politician who represented Stormont in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1902 to 1904 and from 1908 to 1911
- George McCart (1883-1937), Australian rules footballer who played from 1905 to 1910
- Christopher "Chris" McCart (b. 1967), Scottish former footballer who played from 1985 to 1999, member of the Scotland National Team (1994-1995)
Historic Events for the McCart family +
- Mr. George McCart (b. 1920), English Telegraphist serving for the Royal Navy from Morecambe, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 7
The McCart 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: Fortis et fideliter
Motto Translation: Brave and faithful.
Citations +
- MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
- O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
- MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
- "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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
- H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm