McCormack
An Irish surname meaning “son of Cormac,” from an old Gaelic personal name.
The #2,074 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,694 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McCormack is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Mac Cormaic, meaning “son of Cormac.” The personal name Cormac is traditionally explained as involving a byname element associated with “chariot” or “charioteer,” though the old sources are not fully consistent in their analysis. In practice, the surname belongs to the large Irish Mac- family of patronymic names.
History
The name is found in Ireland in several spelling forms, including MacCormack, MacCormick, and Cormack-like variants, reflecting the uneven Anglicization of Gaelic surnames. It spread more widely through Irish migration, especially in the 19th century, and today is established in Ireland, Britain, North America, and Australia. The historical sources given treat McCormack as a close variant within the Mac Cormaic / Cormac group rather than a separate independent name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The old Gaelic personal name Cormac appears in early Irish history and legend, which helped make the surname familiar long before modern records standardized its spelling.
From the historical record
“Blosgaidh ; a p.n. MacCormack. Irish ; son of Cot i.e. (charioteer) MacCullagh. From the Iri: . MacCeallach ; a p.n. See Kell”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)