Septs of Clan MacIntyre

MacIntyre

Surname Origin & Association: From Gaelic Mac an t-Saoir, meaning “son of the carpenter.” The core surname of the clan.

Historical Context: The MacIntyres were hereditary foresters to the Lords of Lorn and later settled in Glen Noe. Their name became the clan’s identifier.

MacTear

Surname Origin & Association: A shortened form of MacIntyre, adapted phonetically over time.

Historical Context: Some MacIntyre families anglicized their names to MacTear, especially in Lowland areas or among emigrants.

MacAteer

Surname Origin & Association: From Gaelic Mac an tSaoir, same as MacIntyre, but found more commonly in Ulster.

Historical Context: While often Irish, some MacAteer families in Scotland had MacIntyre ancestry and adopted the local variant spelling.

Wright

Surname Origin & Association: An English occupational surname meaning carpenter, equivalent to MacIntyre.

Historical Context: Some MacIntyres translated their name into English as Wright, particularly during times when Gaelic names were anglicized.

References (APA Style)

Black, G. F. (1946). The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: The New York Public Library.

ScotClans. (n.d.). Clan MacIntyre Profile. Retrieved from https://www.scotclans.com

Way, G., & Squire, R. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins.