McCartney
An Irish and Scottish surname usually understood as “son of Cartan” or a related Gaelic personal name.
The #2,645 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,677 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally taken from a Gaelic personal name such as Cartan, with Mac meaning “son of.” Some 19th-century writers tried to connect it with a form meaning “the kind” or charitable, but the exact first name behind it is not fully settled. In practice, McCartney is best explained as a Gaelic patronymic built on an older personal name beginning Cart-.
History
The name is found in Irish records and later became common in Ulster, then spread more widely through migration. Spelling varied a great deal, with forms such as MacCartney and MacCartiney appearing in older sources. It is well known today partly because of the British musician Paul McCartney.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is often discussed in Irish-name dictionaries under related forms like Cartan, Cartin, and Carton, reflecting how fluid Gaelic surname spellings once were.
From the historical record
“MACCARTNEY (Celt.) ? Son of Cart(h)- ; annach = the Kind [Ir. carthannach,' charitable, kind] MAC CARTY = Mao Carthy, q.v. MAC CASKIE (Celt.) Son of Gaisgeach = the Hero or Champion [Gael. Mac GhaisgicK\ MAC CAUL = Mac Call, q.v.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)