The Irish surname MacCarthy comes from the Gaelic MacCarthaigh. This surname originates from the first name Carthach, which means ‘loving’. As well as being the thirteenth most popular name in Ireland, it is also the most popular ‘Mac’ name. The MacCarthys have played an heroic part in Irish history throughout the ages, and are one of the leading family clans of Munster.

This simple explanation of the origin of MacCarthy omits a number of complicating but interesting variations en route. MacCarthy also means ‘son of Craddock’-a form of the name Carthach (or Carthaigh)-and an earlier form of Craddock was Caratacus. This renowned Ancient British name is perhaps more recognisable as the Welsh Caradoc. Caratacus (or Caradoc) was a famous British chieftain of the Catuvellauni, who resisted so nobly against the Romans between 37—43 AD. Finally, around 50 AD, he was captured and together with his family he was shipped to Rome in chains. Here, amongst other indignities which befell him, Caratacus had his name Latinised to Caractacus (and as such he appears in the popular song).

The name which derives most directly from Caradoc is the Welsh surname Craddock. In its early form this name appears in the 1177 Pipe Rolls for Hereford, where one Caradoc is listed.

It was over a century later that MacCarthy (or ‘son of Craddock’) began to appear. The earliest mention of this name is of one Douenald Roth’ Mackarthi in the Patent Rolls for 1285.

McCarthys have played a large part in post-war American politics. Infamous US Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908—57) captured national headlines in the early 1950s with his sensational claim that Communists had infiltrated the highest levels of government, especially the State Department. Although he never actually produced the name of one ‘card-carrying Communist’, the witch-hunt whipped up a national hysteria that destroyed many careers. McCarthy’s power finally declined after a lengthy 1954 televised hearing in which top civilians and military brass were cross-examined in front of an audience of millions. McCarthy, always a heavy drinker, finally died a broken alcoholic.

Another US Senator, Eugene McCarthy (b. 1916), made a bid for the 1968 presidential nomination against the incumbent, Lyndon B. Johnson. Though unsuccessful, he mobilised political idealism and anti-Vietnam War sentiments. As such he was influential in Johnson’s decision not to seek re-relection.

A descendant of Blarney Castle’s fifteenth-century builder, Cormac MacCarthy gave the English language a new term for slippery eloquence-‘blarney’-when he put off Queen Elizabeth I’s demands for his allegiance with ‘fair words and soft speech’.

Governing comes naturally to the MacCarthys. Sir Charles MacCarthy was Governor of the Gold Coast until he was killed in the Ashanti in 1824. MacCarthy’s Island, originally a site for freed slaves, off the West African coast is named for him. In the eighteenth century a MacCarthy was Governor of Madras, and in the nineteenth century Sir Charles Justin MacCarthy was Governor of Ceylon.

A MacCarthy-Colonel Daniel E.-was the first American soldier to set foot in France in 1917.

Geographic and urban namesakes are all but non-existent. There is one town called McCarthy in Alaska.

In Ireland with about 23,000 namesakes McCarthy is the 13th most popular surname. (In England, Scotland and Wales McCarthy is not common enough to be counted separately.) Around the world McCarthys and MacCarthys are most common in Canberra (one in 1,278 families), Sydney (one in 1,338) and Auckland (one in 1,391). In the United States there are an estimated 161,000 McCarthys and MacCarthys-in combination, making this the country’s 142nd most popular surname.