Surname Mac Craith - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Craith: What does the surname Mac Craith mean?
The last name Mac Craith is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic O’Maolchraith and can be translated to mean “son of a wealthy follower” or “son of one who follows.” In Irish genealogy, the name is borne by many separate septs located mainly in counties Roscommon, Galway and Cork. It is thought that the septs were descended from Cerball, a Monarch of Osraige and also from Ceallach and Dunlang, claimants to the Kingdom of Leinster in the fifth century.
In old records and documents, the name is written in many forms including MacGrath, MacCreath, MacCraw, MacRaith and MacCreith. Although these variations of the name are now rarely found, the original form of the name survives as the most popular form of the name in modern times.
In the 1700s, the septs moved to modern-day Northern Ireland where many changes to their name occurred over time as different areas favoured different spellings. Throughout the last two centuries, the Mac Craith name has extended its reach further in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada and Australia.
The Mac Craith surname represents a large Irish family who have retained and cherished their heritage through centuries of struggle and change. The use of the name is a testament to the perseverance and strength of the Mac Craith people today.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Craith: Where does the name Mac Craith come from?
The last name Mac Craith is a quite uncommon surname, however, it is most common in the west of Ireland. The Irish surname Mac Craith is an Anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic surname Mac Cráith, which is a patronymic name meaning "son of Cráith" or "descendant of Cráith". Cráith was an ancient Gaelic personal name composed of the elements cràdh, which means "peace" or "love"," and Bodhgh, which means "victory".
The Mac Craith surname is most commonly found today in the Counties of Cork, Tipperary, Limerick and Galway all located in the west of Ireland. It is also found in the counties of Mayo and Kerry located in the south-west of Ireland.
Mac Craith is also found in the Ulster County of Donegal, and the Connacht counties of Sligo and Leitrim to a lesser extent. It also has a presence in the Wirral peninsula in the UK, where there are some descendants of Irish immigrants throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Mac Craith is quite rare outside of Ireland and the UK so it is most likely to be found in either of those places.
Variations of the surname Mac Craith
The surname Mac Craith has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common alternate spelling of Mac Craith is Mac Wraith, which contains the same Gaelic root. Other variations include MacGraith, Mac Raitt, Mac Craft, and Mac Reyitt.
In Scotland, there is a variant of the surname Mac Craith called Macrath. This is believed to have originated from the traditional Gaelic surname Mac Reachthail.
In Ireland, the most common variations of the surname Mac Craith are MacCrioth, MacReech, McFitchett, MacRight, and McRuthe. These variations may also be spelled as MacCreet, MacCirchet, MacWright, MacGright, McCreet, MacRite, MacRiteh, MacCriteh, MacFetch, MacWryght, MacRigh, McFitch, and MacFisch.
Variations of the surname Mac Craith in England include MacGrawth, MacReethy, MacRoute, McCraught, and MacRouth.
All of these surnames derive from the same place name in the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where the MacCraith clan originated. Their name comes from Mac Roth, meaning “son of the wheelwright.” It is believed that the clan originated from Norse settlers who used the surname to denote their trade.
Other variants of the surname exist in other countries, including MacKrath in Germany and MacKratz in Austria. Regardless of the spelling of the name, each one likely originates from the same familial line.
Famous people with the name Mac Craith
- Chloe Mac Craith: Irish actress and singer who has starred in films such as 'Sing Street' and 'Handsome Devil'
- Aoife Mac Craith: Irish actress, best known for her roles in television series such as 'Love/Hate' and 'Red Rock'
- Cormac Mac Craith: Irish sports presenter and commentator
- Dara Mac Craith: Irish broadcaster and award-winning radio presenter
- Aidan Mac Craith: Irish documentary filmmaker and journalist
- Seán Mac Craith: Irish historian, public intellectual, professor of Irish Studies and former president of the Irish Council of Learned Societies
- John Mac Craith: Irish footballer who has played for clubs such as Limerick and Cork City
- Malachy Mac Craith: Irish singer and musician, best known as a member of the folk group Na Fianaisí
- Sinéad Mac Craith: Gaelic footballer who plays for the Dublin ladies' Gaelic football team
- Eoin Mac Craith: Irish poet, playwright, screenwriter, and director