The origin of the McCartney name discussion has been going on for a long, long time. I have only posted some of the discussion as was related to me by the gentlemen quoted. Some believe that the name originated in Ireland and migrated to Scotland. Others believe the reverse: it originated in Scotland and migrated to Ireland. I take no position in the argument. I just don't know. Either way it is a celtic name.
That is why I look at my heritage not as Irish or Scottish, although my ancestors have lived in both places, but as Celtic. This way I can defer making a choice until the discussion is more defined. Some may say this is the coward's way out. Well, to them I say - - You're right. That said, I present the following three discussions and a few comments of my own.
I must point out that the discussions below are the intellectual property of the people being quoted and they hold copyright.
The first discussion is a summary of the history of the McCartney families from the book "The Surname Macartney or McCartney" by John F. McCartney. I have made a number of attempts to contact the author for permission to use this piece, but have been unable to do so. Therefore I take the liberty of publishing it here in the hope that Mr. McCartney will see it and contact me.
John F. McCartney: © 1992
"The McCartneys are a branch of the great family of McCarthy Mor of Munster, who were Kings of Cork and Princes of Desmond. The fifth son of Cormac Fionn d.1248 was Donogh Cartnach who is the ancestor of the McCartneys. Donough Cartnach left 2 sons; the eldest Donal joined Edward Bruce (King of Ireland), (brother of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland). For serving under Robert the Bruce's standard, Donal received a grant of land in Argylleshire, called 'Glen Artney' (Grid 56.22 degrees North 4.0 degrees West) from the King of Scotland.
"Some of Donal's descendants later moved to Galloway and settled in Auchinleck in Kircudbright, Scoltand. In Auchinleck in 1522 a George Macartney married Margaret McCulloch. Their grandson, Bartholomew McCartney had one child, George Macartney b.1626. This George Macartney migrated to Ulster from Scotland. He is the original ancestor of many of the families of Macartney in Ulster and Ireland. He bought the property of Lissanoure in 1649 near Cloughmills Co. Antrim."
I must say that, from other reading about the source of the name, I disagree with John. I don't believe the McCartneys ever had any connection with the McCarthy Mor of Munster. I have excerpted this piece only to present alternative views.
Also, I have received a number of emails from two friends, Michael F. McCartney from California and Dr. Hugh MaCartney of Canada. Below are excerpts concerning the origin of the McCartney name from those emails.
Top of Page
Michael F. McCartney: © June 2005
The family name originated in Southwestern Scotland (Galloway) where it was
variously spelled MacCartnay, M'Cartney, Makcairtnay, & any number of
other roughly phonetic variants; spelling was not an exact science! Most of
the earliest references are re: several families that were tenants of one or
the other of the abbeys - - Dundrennan, New Abbey (a.k.a.
Sweetheart abbey), etc. - - just before the Reformation. The
abbots, seeing the (Protestant) handwriting on the wall, began to sell off
the abbey lands to the tenant farmers before the Protestant central
government could seize it for themselves - thus securing the tenants'
futures, and giving the clergy cash to support them in exile (or to
oppose or bribe the new government, I suppose).
Several McCartney families became more-or-less independent small landowners
in this way - which was not unique - many other church tenants were doing the
same. This was in the late 1500's. In the mid-1600's, under James VI of
Scotland/James I of England, the Protestant plantations in Northern Ireland
were expanded by opening land to settlement from the lowland (protestant)
parts of Scotland. The Presbyterian Scots were a thorn in the government's
side at home (James wanted to appoint bishops, whom they opposed, sometimes
violently) but in Ireland would be a check on the Catholic natives.
A note on the spelling "Macartney" - when one of sheriff George's family
(maybe George, but I think a son or grandson) was made a judge, the clerk in
London who prepared the warrant used that spelling and, rather than risk
upsetting the applecart, the new judge and his family happily adopted the new
spelling. Since they were the best known and wealthiest of the name, others
who "made the grade" (even if unrelated) followed suit; so there were a few
upper-class Macartney's and scads of less well off McCartney's (many of whom
later emigrated to America).
Top of Page
Dr. Hugh MaCartney: © May 2005
Much has been written about the origin of the name and most of it is very
dubious. I think most people now believe that the name was originally an
Irish Gaelic name, possibly MacArt or MacArtan. (Art is a man's name and
means "bear".) It is likely some of the clan (mostly from southern County
Down) went across to Scotland to raid in the 13th or 14th centuries. Likely
some stayed on and the name was modified to McCartney, Macartney, McKertney
and other variables.
In the early 17th century many came back to Ulster with Hugh Montgomery and
James Hamilton and settled in Antrim and Down mainly. Some people say we are
derived from the MacCarthys of Munster (Co. Cork) but this is most doubtful.
I have many doubts as have others that the Ulster McCartneys/Macartneys were
indeed related to the MacCarthys of Co. Cork although the same story keeps
getting repeated from book to book. The red hand device is usually associated
with the O'Neills of Ulster and the MacCartans of South Down were vassals
of theirs in the 13th. and 14th. centuries.
So much is guess work that I think it wise not to be too dogmatic about our
origins -- which likely will never be entirely worked out.
Top of Page
So many possibilities for the origin of the name. We've only seen three of
them:
1) a branch of the McCarthy's of Munster,
2) a Scottish origin, and
3) northern Irish origin with a move to Scotland and back.
Because there is so much controversy about the origin of the name,I fully
concur with Hugh's final statement. What really matters is where your
line started. You will only find that by tracing it back, so "Enjoy your
journeys in genealogy".
