MacCarthy (Irish: Mac Cárthaigh), also spelled Macarthy, McCarthy or McCarty, is a Gaelic Irish clan originating from Munster, an area they ruled during the Middle Ages. It was and continues to be divided into several great branches. The MacCarthy Reagh, MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these, after the central or MacCarthy Mór line.
Their name, meaning "son of Cárthach" (whose name meant "loving"), is a common surname that originated in Ireland. As a surname, its prevalent spelling in the English language is McCarthy. Several variants are found, such as McCarty (most common in North America) as well as Carthy and Carty (though these latter are also the Anglicization of an unrelated name, Ó Cárthaigh). 60% of people with the surname in Ireland still live in County Cork where the family was very powerful in the Middle Ages.
The origin of the name begins with Carthach, an Eóganacht Chaisil king, who died in 1045 in a house fire deliberately started by one of the Lonergans (who were members of the Eóganacht's arch-enemies, the Dál gCais). Carthach was a contemporary and bitter rival of High-King Brian Boru, and what would become known as the McCarthy Clan was pushed out of its traditional homelands in the Golden Vale of Tipperary by the expansion of the O'Brien sept in the middle of the twelfth century.
Carthach's son was known as Muireadhach mac Carthaigh (meaning "Muireadhach, son of Carthach"). Such ephemeral patronymics were common at the time. However, when Muireadhach died in 1092 his sons Tadhg and Cormac adopted Mac Carthaigh as an actual surname. Following the treaty of Glanmire in 1118, dividing the kingdom of Munster into Desmond and Thomond, this Tadhg became the first king of Desmond, comprising parts of the modern counties of Cork and Kerry. For almost five centuries they dominated much of Munster, with four major branches: those led by the MacCarthy Mór (Great MacCarthy), nominal head of all the MacCarthys, who ruled over much of south Kerry, the Duhallow MacCarthys, who controlled northwest Cork; MacCarthy Reagh or Riabhach ('grey') based in the Barony of Carbery in southwest Cork; and MacCarthy Muskerry, on the Cork / Kerry border.
Each of these families continued resistance to Norman and English encroachment up to the seventeenth century when, like virtually all the Gaelic aristocracy, they lost almost everything. An exception was Macroom Castle, which passed to the White family of Bantry House, descendants of Cormac Láidir Mac Cárthaigh. This was burnt in 1922 and is part of the local golf club today. [1]
The Muskerry McCarthy's historical seat is Blarney Castle in County Cork. Legend has it that the Blarney Stone was given as a gift to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond, from king Robert the Bruce of Scotland, who presented the 'magical' stone in gratitude for his assistance in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The third castle built on the site (the castle which stands to this day) was built by another McCarthy descendant, Dermot McCarthy, in 1446. Dermot was known for his eloquence, hence the Blarney Stone's reputation for imparting the gift of the gab upon those who kiss it.
The number of references to the MacCarthys in the Annals, especially the "Annals of Innisfallen", is very great. Carthach was the son of Saoirbhreathach, a Gaelic name which is anglicised as Justin, and in the latter form has been in continuous use among many branches of the McCarthys for centuries. Another male forename similarly associated with them is Finghin, anglice Fineen, but for some centuries past, the name Florence (colloquially Flurry) has been used as its English form. From the thirteenth century, when Fineen MacCarthy decisively defeated the Geraldines in 1261, down to the present day, Fineen or Florence MacCarthys and Justin MacCarthys have been very prominent among the many distinguished men of the name in Irish military, political and cultural history.
Until the dissolution of the kingdom in 1596, the crown was vested in the hereditary possession of the Mac Carthy (by the law of tanistry).
Eleven septs of the illustrious McCarthy family in Kerry are given in Kings History of Co. Kerry
(1) Sliocht Owen More of Coshmaing
(2) Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile
(3) Sliocht Fineen Duff of Ardeanaght
(4) Sliocht Clan Donell Finn
(5) Sliocht nInghean Riddery
(6) Sliocht Donell Brick
(7) Sliocht Nedeen
(8) Sliocht Clan Teige Kittagh
(9) Sliocht Clan Dermod
(10) Sliocht Clan Donell Roe
(11) Sliocht MacFineen
The MacCarthys are closely related to a number of other Munster families. These include the O'Sullivans, O'Callaghans, O'Keeffes, O'Donoghues, and O'Donovans. An early sept of the MacCarthys themselves are the MacAuliffes.
Rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond, the MacCarthys stood among the greatest Irish dynasties of the last millennium.
Florence MacCarthy, Irish prince, 1563–1640
Cormac MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, Irish noble, d. 1536
Sir Cormac MacCarthy, great-grandson of Cormac MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, d. 1616
Cormac MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry and Baron of Blarney, son of Sir Cormac MacCarthy, d. 1640
Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry and Earl of Clancarty, son of Sir Cormac MacCarthy, d. 1665
Charles MacCarthy, soldier in French and later English service, d. 1665
Justin MacCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel, younger son of Donough MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, d. 1694
Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty, grandson of Donough MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, 1670–1734
Nicholas Tuite MacCarthy, renowned Jesuit Preacher, 1769–1833
Charles MacCarthy, Irish-born soldier who served in the French, Dutch and British armies, 1764–1824
Robert MacCarty, Viscount Muskerry, Irish Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator, 1685–1769
Liam Trant MacCarthy, modern representative of the dynasty, 1957–
Tadhg, eldest son of Muiredach, 1118–1123
Cormac Mac Carthaigh, his brother, 1123–1127 & 1127–1138
Donogh, his brother, 1127 & 1138–1143
Dermod, his nephiew, 1143–1185
Donal, his son, 1185–1206
Fingen, his brother, 1206–1207
Dermod, son of Donal, 1207–1229
Cormac, his younger brother, 1229–1247
Donal Gott MacCarthy, 1247–1252
Fínghin of the Battle of Callann, 1252–1261
Cormac, younger brother, 1261–1262
Donal, eldest surviving son of Cormac, 1262–1302
Donal, eldest son of Donal, 1302–1306
Donogh, brother of Donal, 1306–1310
Dermod, son of Donal, 1310–1326
Cormac, brother of Dermod, 1326–1359
Donal, son of Cormac, 1359–1390
Tadhg, son of Donal, 1390–1428
Donal, eldest son of Tadhg, 1428–1469
Tadhg, brother of Donal, 1469–1503
Donal, son of Tadhg, 1503–1508
Cormac, brother of Donal, 1508–1516 & Tadhg IV, son of Donall, 1508–1514
Donal, son of Cormac, 1516-ante 1558
Donal, ante 1558–1596
Andrew McCarthy (born 1962), actor
Andrew C. McCarthy, attorney and columnist
Arch McCarthy, former Major League Baseball player
Benni McCarthy, South African footballer
Brandon McCarthy, U.S. baseball pitcher
Carolyn McCarthy (born 1944), U.S. congresswoman
Con McCarthy (rugby league), rugby league footballer of the 1910s for New Zealand, and Hawke's Bay
Cormac McCarthy (born 1933), Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist
Dalton McCarthy (1836–1898), Canadian lawyer and politician
Daniel McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
David McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Dennis McCarthy (composer) (born 1945), composer of film scores
Dominic McCarthy (1892–1975), Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Douglas McCarthy, singer in Nitzer Ebb
E. Jerome McCarthy, marketing scholar and inventor of 4Ps of marketing
Earl McCarthy (born 1969), Irish freestyle swimmer
Ellis McCarthy (born 1994), American football player
Ellis McCarthy (born 1994), Rugby League Match Official
Eugene McCarthy (1916-2005), U.S. congressman and senator
Fabian "Fabe" McCarthy (born 1919), Australian rugby union player
Garry McCarthy (born 1959), American police administrator in Newark and Chicago
Glenn McCarthy (1907–1988), American oil tycoon and businessman
Harry McCarthy, variety entertainer, wrote "The Bonnie Blue Flag" in 1861
J. Thomas McCarthy (born 1937), American educator, author and attorney
James McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Jenny McCarthy (born 1972), American anti-vaccine activist and former Playboy model and actress
Joe McCarthy (manager) (1887–1978), Hall of Fame baseball manager
John McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Joseph McCarthy (1908–1957), U.S. senator
Joseph McCarthy (lyricist) (1885–1943), Tin Pan Alley lyricist ("You Made Me Love You")
Justin McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Katie McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Kevin McCarthy (actor) (1914–2010), American film actor
Kevin McCarthy (California politician), U.S. congressman (2007–present)
Mary McCarthy (CIA) (born 1945), former CIA employee
Mary McCarthy (fiction writer), Irish novelist
Mary McCarthy (screenwriter)
Melissa McCarthy, actress
Michael McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Mick McCarthy (born 1959), football player and manager (former manager of Republic of Ireland)
Mike McCarthy (American football) (born 1963), NFL coach
Nicholas McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Nobu McCarthy (1934–2002), actress
Patrick McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Paul McCarthy, American contemporary artist
Pete McCarthy (1952–2004), pen name of Peter Charles Robinson, British broadcaster and travel writer
Peter McCarthy (industrialist) (1845 – 1919), American industrialist and philanthropist
Rachel McCarthy, poet, critic and broadcaster
Rory McCarthy, holder of two aviation world records, former business partner of Sir Richard Branson, founder co founder of Wagamama.
Shaun Lloyd McCarthy (1950-2000), aka Desmond Cory, novelist, screen-play writer
Stephen McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Steve McCarthy (boxer), British boxer
Steve McCarthy (ice hockey), Canadian hockey player
Thaddeus McCarthy (1455–1492), Irish bishop
Thaddeus McCarthy (jurist) (1907–2001), New Zealand jurist
Thomas McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
Tim McCarthy, US Secret Service agent injured in a President Reagan assassination attempt
Tom McCarthy (broadcaster), radio play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets on WFAN 660 in New York
Tom McCarthy (novelist), English novelist
Tommy McCarthy (1863–1922), Hall of Fame baseball outfielder
William C. McCarthy (1820-1900), mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1875–1878
Calvin McCarty (born 1984), Canadian football running back
Daniel McCarty (Virginia politician) (1679–1724), Virginia colonial politician, Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses
Daniel T. McCarty (1912–53), American politician
Darren McCarty (born 1972), Canadian hockey player
David McCarty (born 1969), American baseball player
David McCarty (American football) (born 1987), American football player
David McCarty (politician) (1737–1812), New York politician
Dax McCarty (born 1987), American soccer player
Jim McCarty (born 1943), English pop/rock musician
Jim McCarty (guitarist) (born 1947), American blues/rock musician
John McCarty (fl. 1880s), American baseball player
John McCarty (New York) (1782–1851), New York politician
Leon McCarty (1888–1962), American college sports coach
Luther McCarty (1892–1913), American heavyweight boxer
Maclyn McCarty (1911–2005), American geneticist
Richard McCarty (disambiguation), several people
Ted McCarty (1910–2001), American electric guitar maker
Walter McCarty (born 1974), American basketball player
William Henry McCarty (ca. 1859-1881), American outlaw, AKA, Billy the Kid
William M. McCarty (ca. 1789-1863), American politician
Denis Florence MacCarthy, Irish poet, translator, and biographer, 1818–1882
Desmond MacCarthy, English critic, 1878–1952
MacCarthy Mor scandal
See Terence Francis MacCarthy and Chief of the Name.