MacCarthy MacCarthy 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
Mac Amhalghaidh "Nic Amhalghaidh". This feminine surname is actually a contracted form of "iníon Mhic Amhalghaidh", which translates into English as "daughter of "Mac Amhalghaidh"". The form of the surname for married females is "Bean Mhic Amhalghaidh", which translates into English as "wife of "Mac Amhalghaidh""; this feminine surname can also be represented in the contracted form "Mhic Amhalghaidh". A cognate of the Irish "Mac Amhalghaidh" is the Scottish Gaelic "MacAmhalghaidh". The feminine form of this Scottish Gaelic surname is "NicAmhalghaidh". This feminine name is composed of the prefix "Nic-", which is an abbreviated form of the Scottish Gaelic "nighean mhic" or