Mcarthur

Meaning & origin

Mcarthur is a distinctive patronymic surname-turned-first name that has seen modest but steady use since first recorded in 1912. Its peak year was 1942, coinciding with the World War II prominence of General Douglas MacArthur, though the name has never entered the top 1000 rankings. In the 2020s, Mcarthur remains a rare choice, with an estimated 1-in-N occurrence too low to calculate from available data. It is most commonly given to boys, but its similarity to the more familiar surname MacArthur means it is sometimes used as an homage. The name's trajectory has been stable, with no significant revival in recent decades. It is most popular in states with strong Scottish-American heritage, though no top states are recorded in the digest.

Mcarthur is a Scottish patronymic surname transferred to given use, derived from the Gaelic prefix 'Mac' meaning 'son of' and the personal name Arthur. The name Arthur itself is of debated origin, possibly from the Celtic 'artos' meaning 'bear' or the Roman name 'Artorius'. As a first name, Mcarthur emerged in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States, where it carries associations with General Douglas MacArthur.