Surname Carthy - Meaning and Origin

Carthy: What does the surname Carthy mean?

The last name Carthy is of Irish origin, deriving from the ancient Gaelic name "O'Cárthaigh". The origin of the name is not definitively known, however it is believed to be related to the ancient Gaelic word "cath", which means "battle" or "fighter".

In Irish and Celtic history, a battle-name was often given to warriors of great strength and courage. Consequently, the Carthy family name was likely bestowed upon a brave warrior of ancient times.

Over time, the Carthy name spread throughout Ireland and is now also common among those of Irish heritage in America, England, and Australia.

Those with the last name Carthy are known for their strength and bravery and often take on the traits of a warrior-leader, possessing a strong sense of honour and integrity.

In recent years, there has been some confusion over the exact spelling and pronunciation of the name. However, it is almost always pronounced “CAAAR-thee”.

The Carthy name is a symbol of power and courage and is still widely used by those with Irish roots today.

Carthy: Where does the name Carthy come from?

The last name Carthy is likely of Irish and Gaelic descent, and can still be found in many parts of the world. In Ireland, it is most commonly found in County Cork, with smaller pockets spread throughout the rest of the country. Also in the United Kingdom, England and Scotland, the last name Carthy is found. It is also common in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Carthy is also common in France and Germany, with smaller numbers in other European countries. Further afield, the Carthy name is now found in New Zealand and South Africa, and there may even be a few scattered cases found in Latin America and Asia.

The spread of the Carthy name over time has been influenced by the different migrations and diasporas of the Irish and Scottish people. It has become a widely accepted and established last name in many parts of the world, and has likely been chosen by many people for its assertive meaning. The name Carthy translates to ‘the son of Charles’, which is strong and carries a lot of positive connotations.

Variations of the surname Carthy

Carthy is an Irish surname whose origin can be traced back to the Gaelic language. The most common variants of the name include, but are not limited to, Carty, Cartie, Cartey, Mac Carthy, McCarthy, McCarty and Macarty. The variations slightly change depending on the region of Ireland, with McMarthy and MacCarty being more popular in the Ulster counties and MacCarthy being more common in the south of Ireland.

Carthy as a surname is believed to be derived from the Gaelic phrase “O Carrthaigh” which translates to “descendant of Carrthach” or “the one who owns the land”. It was likely first used as a name for someone who owned a lot of land, and so the name has been associated with land ownership ever since. This surname has undergone a number of modifications over the centuries, as a result of immigration and intermarriage, which has changed its spelling and associated variants.

Other common spellings of Carthy include Carthe, Carthy, Cathie and Carty. In some instances, Carthy is spelled without the Mac prefix, making it interchangeable with the surnames that are already mentioned.

The variations of the Carthy surname that is found in America are mostly due to the influx of Irish immigrants that arrived in the United States during the 19th Century. British colonization and the famine had forced thousands of people to leave their homes in search of a better life. During this time, the spelling of Carthy changed to better fit the English language, by replacing the letter C for a K, and a Y for an I.

Evolution of language is also to blame, as the pronunciation of some of the variants has changed, and even caused some forms of the name to drop off. The surname Carty is a prime example of this, as the pronunciation has changed to become Karthy, and with the introduction of the sound “th”, the spelling of Carthy was adopted for the shorter version of the name.

Famous people with the name Carthy

• Michael Carthy: Was a former All-Star football player and ESPN football analyst.
• Kitty Carthy: A well-known Irish folk singer.
• Martin Carthy: An English folk singer, guitarist, and songwriter.
• Finbarr Carthy: An Irish former Gaelic football goalkeeper.
• Seán Carthy: An Irish former professional footballer.
• Neil Carthy: A former professional footballer in the Irish Football League.
• Tommy Carthy: An Irish former hurler.
• Dáithí Carthy: An Irish hurler.
• John Carthy: A former Republican activist who was shot dead by the Irish police.
• Niall Carthy: An Irish former footballer and manager.
• Louise Carthy: An Irish singer and actress.
• Ricky Carthy: An Irish professional footballer who plays for Waterford.
• Kathy Carthy: An American novelist and short story writer.
• Niall Carthy-Pearce: An Irish Gaelic footballer.
• Mary Carthy: A folk singer, harpist and storyteller.
• Ciaran Carthy: One of Ireland's most successful fiddle players.
• George Carthy: A retired professional footballer who played primarily as a centre forward.
• Peter Carthy: A former professional footballer who played in the Football League and also played for the Republic of Ireland.
• Joseph Carthy: An Irish author and his works include travel writing, biographies, fiction, and histories.
• Rich Carthy: An American former professional surfer and now working as an artist.

Other surnames

Carthainn