The McCarthy Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of McCarthy, its origins in Ireland, and the story behind a McCarthy family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the McCarthy coat of arms for you.
Origin of the McCarthy name
McCarthy comes from Mac Cárthaigh, "son of Cárthach", a name meaning "loving". The family descended from the Eóganacht kings of Munster and ruled Desmond in Cork and Kerry, where they built Blarney Castle in the 1400s.
Our historical archives hold much more on the McCarthy name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the McCarthy name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full McCarthy family history
The complete McCarthy pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
McCarthy name FAQ
What does the McCarthy name mean?
Son of Cárthach, "loving". Common variants include MacCarthy, McCarty, Carthy.
Where does the McCarthy surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Australia and England.
Is there a McCarthy coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single McCarthy crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized McCarthy coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).