MacIntyre is a Scottish surname, a variant of McIntyre. Both names derive from the Scottish Gaelic Mac an tSaoir, meaning "son of the carpenter" or "son of the craftsman/mason." The English equivalent is Wright. McIntyre and its variants—including MacEntire, Tyree, and the Gaelic Mac an tSaoir—are found across Scotland and Ireland, especially in Ulster and the Highlands.
Historical Origins
The name first appears in Argyllshire, in western Scotland, an area historically part of the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata. According to tradition, a man named Maurice or Murdock, known as "The Wright," became the first chief of the Clan MacIntyre around 1150 CE, as a reward for assisting his uncle Somerled, King of Argyll and the Western Isles. The clan held lands in Glen Noe and later along the shores of Loch Awe.
Distribution and Variations
Today, McIntyre is especially common in Ulster counties such as Donegal, Londonderry, Tyrone, and Sligo. The spelling MacIntyre and other Angl
- Meaning: "son of the carpenter" (from Gaelic Mac an tSaoir)
- Origin: Scottish Gaelic
- Type: Occupational surname
- Regions: Scotland (especially Argyll), Ireland (especially Ulster)
Variants
Sources: Wikipedia — McIntyre