McCord (surname) McCord (surname) McCord (also rendered MacCourt, McCourt, McCoard, McCard, and MacCord) is a surname with origins having been found between Ayrshire, Scotland, but mostly in Airgíalla [circa 7th century AD] (modern day Irish counties of Louth, Tyrone, Armagh, and Monaghan. McCord/MacCord comes from Old Gaelic name "Mac Cuarta" or sometimes "Mac Cuairt", translating as "the son of Cuairt", a byname meaning "visitor" or "journeymen"or "son of Achilles" The town of Cappagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in gaelic translates to Ceapach Mhic Cuarta meaning "Mac Cuarta's tillage plot". It is very likely the name Mac Cuarta is a corruption of the
Poland (surname) the examples where the 'Mac' or 'Mc' has been dropped can be explained for several reasons. In English controlled areas of Ireland (especially around The Pale), it was declared that the Irish take on names in an English form and many were required to do so in order to do business with the powers that be, or to obtain a tenancy on English controlled land. Census takers were also allowed to use either form, with or without the Gaelic prefix. It also was not uncommon for the 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefix to simply be incorporated into the surname to result