The McCarthy surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 82,950 people carried this name — #384 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 3,560 people counted. That is up 2% from 81,035 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the McCarthy surname

Borrowed from Irish Mac Carthaigh (literally “son of Carthach”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «McCarthy» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 498 births for the McCarthy name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 22,100 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 17 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 438
Leinster 35
Ulster 19
Connacht 6

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

86 people named McCarthy live in Switzerland.

They live in 11 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 19
Vaud 11
Geneva 11
Lucerne 10
Fribourg 8
Basel-Landschaft 7
Schwyz 5
Bern 5

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Poland’s population register

45 people named McCarthy have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 127 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 11 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Pomeranian 8
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 7
Masovian 7
Lesser Poland 6
Lubusz 3
Subcarpathian 3
Lower Silesian 3
Łódź 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In the Nordic population registers

58 people named McCarthy is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 58

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland’s registers today

McCarthy was recorded 49 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 532nd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 46. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, McCarthy was counted together with McCarty: 126 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 625 people lived in those households, 4.8 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McCarty, Macartey, McArthy, McCartee, McCartey, McCarthey, McCarthy, McCartie, Maccarty, Mccarty, McCortey. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Virginia 27
Pennsylvania 26
New York 24
South Carolina 14
Massachusetts 13
Maryland 8
North Carolina 7
Maine 3
Vermont 3
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 252 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

McCarthy in American newspapers,
1905–1922.

Newspaper page from Walker Lake Bulletin carrying the name McCarthy
Walker Lake Bulletin 1922-04-29
Newspaper page from Las Vegas Times carrying the name McCarthy
Las Vegas Times 1905-10-07
Newspaper page from Keowee Courier carrying the name McCarthy
Keowee Courier 1913-05-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

McCarthy in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.

144,335 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McCarthy. The most, 29,279, date from the 1940s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 52,264
Queensland 28,738
South Australia 21,081
Victoria 19,720
Western Australia 14,496
Tasmania 6,116
ACT (Canberra) 1,430
Northern Territory 196

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McCarthy.

Who carried it

People named McCarthy,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Cormac McCarthy
    Cormac McCarthy 1933–2023 · film screenwriter
  • Joseph McCarthy
    Joseph McCarthy 1908–1957 · anti-communist
  • Mary McCarthy
    Mary McCarthy 1912–1989 · autobiographer
  • Eugene McCarthy
    Eugene McCarthy 1916–2005 · Military Intelligence Division
  • John McCarthy 1927–2011 · artificial intelligence researcher

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0.

In the public record

People named McCarthy,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States27,936 records

27,936 records of the McCarthy name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 9,429
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 8,280
  • Other U.S. records 10,227
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Terry Alan McCarthy

    Born 1949; from San Diego, California. U.S. Army, pioneer; killed in action 1969 in Pleiku, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Vincent J. McCarthy

    Born 1921 in Rhode Island. Enlisted 1942 at Providence; pressman. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1988, buried at Rhode Island Veteran Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, Rhode Island.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary McCarthy

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Berlin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; servant. From Cork, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 27,936 records for McCarthy in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia6,240 records

6,240 records of the McCarthy name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 2,512
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 1,144
  • Other Australian records 2,584
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas McCarthy

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Mount Stewart Elphinstone, sailing from Gibraltar in 1848. Native of Guernsey. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Ellen McCarthy

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Blackfriar, sailing from Kingston in 1851. Native of Cork. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1855.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Hannah McCarthy

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Tory, sailing from London in 1848. Native of London, Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1849.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6,240 records for McCarthy in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada1,238 records

1,238 records of the McCarthy name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 1,034
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 56
  • Other Canadian records 148
  1. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Harold McCarthy

    Served in the No. 2 Construction Battalion in the First World War, private; of St. John, New Brunswick.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John McCarthy

    Came to Ontario in 1867 aboard the St Lawrance, landing at Quebec, bound for Oshawa, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Anna I. McCarthy

    Buried in 1995 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 86.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 1,238 records for McCarthy in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom119 records

119 records of the McCarthy name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 92
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 23
  • Other British records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Marion McCarthy

    Died 1959, aged 80; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thomas Rain alias McCarthy

    Buried in 1845 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 28.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Richard McCarthy

    Will proved in 1920; of Dinorwic, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 119 records for McCarthy in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand111 records

111 records of the McCarthy name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 85
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 18
  • Other New Zealand records 8
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alice Matilda McCarthy

    Died 1951, aged 83; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Genevive McCarthy

    Died 1939, aged 81; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Gilbert McCarthy

    Died 1994, aged 79; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 111 records for McCarthy in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Ireland16 records

16 records of the McCarthy name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary McCarthy

    Died 1937, aged 74; buried at Cortoon, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jane McCarthy

    Died 1869, aged 23; buried at St Marys, Tuam, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 16 records for McCarthy in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France5 records

5 records of the McCarthy name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Thomas McCarthy

    Born 1929 in Ireland; died 2000 in Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 5 records for McCarthy in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the McCarthy name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  • Dutch population registers 2
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Alfred Edward Mc Carthy

    In the population register of Liverpool (Gb); student, born 1901 in Liverpool (Gb).

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 5 records for McCarthy in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to McCarthy.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McCarthy is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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