Surname McCard - Meaning and Origin

McCard: What does the surname McCard mean?

The surname McCard is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "MacArt," which translates to "son of Art." The name "Art" itself comes from an ancient Celtic word for a bear or a hero. Thus, the name McCard can be interpreted to mean "son of the bear" or "son of the hero." It is common in Scottish and Irish cultures to use "Mac" or "Mc" prefixes in surnames to denote "son of," representing a patronymic naming tradition. The spellings of such surnames have often changed over centuries due to a variety of factors, including anglicization, regional dialects, and even transcription errors, hence the variation from "MacArt" to "McCard." It's also worth noting that family names are deeply tied to lineage and ancestry, and thus, the exact interpretation could vary among different families bearing the same surname.

McCard: Where does the name McCard come from?

The surname McCard is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "MacArtáin", where 'Mac' denotes 'son of', and 'Artáin' refers to a diminutive of the name Art, meaning a bear or a hero. This surname represents "Son of the little bear or hero". It emerged from various locations in Ireland including Ulster and Louth. There may be variations in the spelling of this name such as McCart, McArt, and McArte due to the translation from Gaelic to English. The name diffused across the globe through Irish diaspora caused by political strife and economic hardship especially during the 19th century. The surname McCard today can be found in countries including the United States, England, and Australia in addition to Ireland. It isn't limited to one particular geographic area, and while it’s not a common last name, it is most prevalent in the United States, according to surname distribution data.

Variations of the surname McCard

The surname McCard is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic name Mac Ardghail. The individual parts of this Gaelic name mean 'son' and 'high valor', giving the overall meaning of 'son of the high valor.' It originated mainly in Counties Donegal and Monaghan in Ireland.

There are plenty of variation and alternative spellings of the surname McCard, primarily owing to its Gaelic origin and the various transliterations into the English language over centuries. Some common versions of McCard include: McCarde, McCart, McCord, MacCard, McKard, MacCord, MacCart, McCardy, McCarty. These alternative spellings may still be in use today in different parts of the world, primarily in countries with a high Irish diaspora, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The surname variants may also include those surnames that derive from the same original Gaelic root. Such surnames are primarily O'Card, O'Caird, O'Kaird, and their variations. As with McCard, these names typically hold the same meaning and are associated with the same Irish roots.

Famous people with the name McCard

• Tom McCard: Former professional American football player known for his time with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1957-1960.
• Kenneth McCard: American game designer who is best known for Tone Clusters, the world's first major cooperative game, and Cosmic Wimpout, the world's first "roll-and-move" game.
• Charles McCard: American artist known for his self-portraits and depictions of human forms in nature.
• MaryAnne McCard: American painter and art professor from Arizona who is known for creating large-scale watercolor paintings.
• Eddie McCard: American actor who has appeared in several films, including The Helpers, 2001 and Astronaut.
• Christina McCard: American performance artist and the creator and director of Festiscars, an international performance art festival.
• Robert McCard: American historian and professor at the University of Minnesota who is an expert on the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War.
• Jane McCard: American novelist best known for her novel Evensong which won the National Book Award in Poetry & Fiction in 1990.
• Mark McCard: American politician and message board operator from Idaho who was elected to the state legislature in 2004.
• Jeannie McCard: Former singer/songwriter from Arkansas who was inducted into the Arkansas Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Other surnames

McCargMcCargyMcCarleMcCarleyMcCarmackMcCarnMcCarralMcCarranMcCarrellMcCarrenMcCarrickMcCarrigMcCarrolMcCarrollMcCarronMcCarryMcCartaMcCarterMcCarthaMcCarthyMcCartneyMcCartyMcCarvelMcCarvellMcCarvillMcCarvilleMcCary