McCartney is a Gaelic name shared between the north of Ireland and Scotland.
Where does the McCartney name come from?
McCartney is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Cartaine or Mac Artaigh, “son of Artan” or “son of Art” — from the old personal name Art, meaning “bear” or, by extension, “noble” or “warrior.” It is closely related to the names McCartan and McCarthy in their roots.
McCartney in Ireland
The name is found particularly in Ulster, especially counties Antrim and Down, where it is shared between native Gaelic families and those of Scottish descent who came over in the period of settlement. As a settled northern name, McCartney is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Related Irish family names
You may also like McCabe, McArdle, and Barry.
Carry the McCartney name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the McCartney collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is McCartney an Irish surname?
McCartney is a Gaelic name found chiefly in Ulster, shared between Irish and Scottish families, especially in Antrim and Down.
What does McCartney mean?
It comes from Mac Artaigh, “son of Art,” from a personal name meaning “bear” or “noble.”
Is there a McCartney family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our McCartney products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.