MacCartan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of MacCartan

What does the name MacCartan mean?

The name MacCartan has seen many modifications since the time in which it was first devised. In Gaelic it appeared as Mac Artain, which means son of Art.

Early Origins of the MacCartan family

The surname MacCartan was first found in County Down (Irish:An Dún) part of the Province of Ulster, in Northern Ireland, formerly known as county St Mirren, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the MacCartan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacCartan research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1350 and 1735 are included under the topic Early MacCartan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacCartan Spelling Variations

The scribes and church officials of the Middle Ages who recorded names in official documents spelled the names as they sounded. This led to the problem of one name being recorded under several different variations and thus resembling more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname MacCartan that are preserved in archival documents of this era include MacCartan, MacCarten, MacCartain, Carton and others.

Early Notables of the MacCartan family

Captain John MacCartan who served in the 88th Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War

MacCartan migration to the United States +

During the middle of the 19th century, Irish families often experienced extreme poverty and racial discrimination in their own homeland under English rule. Record numbers died of disease and starvation, and many others, deciding against such a fate, boarded ships bound for North America. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Unfortunately, many of those Irish that arrived in Canada or the United States still experienced economic and racial discrimination. Although often maligned, these Irish people were essential to the rapid development of these countries because they provided the cheap labor required for the many canals, roads, railways, and other projects required for strong national infrastructures. Eventually the Irish went on to make contributions in the less backbreaking and more intellectual arenas of commerce, education, and the arts. Research early immigration and passenger lists revealed many early immigrants bearing the name MacCartan:

MacCartan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Barney, Thomas, Terrence MacCartan who, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1808 and 1840

Contemporary Notables of the name MacCartan (post 1700) +

Nigel David "Sharkey" MacCartan -Ward (1943-2024), DSC, AFC, born Nigel David Ward, British Commander with the Royal Navy who introduced the Sea Harrier aircraft to service with the Fleet Air Arm

The MacCartan 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: Buailim se
Motto Translation: I Strike him.