MacArthurs

MacArthurs is a surname of Scottish origin, a variant of MacArthur. It derives from the Gaelic Mac Artuir or Mac Artair, meaning “son of Artuir/Arthur.” The spelling MacArthurs is used both as a plural reference to people bearing the name and as an alternative form for individual bearers in some families. The name is associated with Clan MacArthur, a Scottish clan historically linked to the western Highlands and Islands.

In public life, the most widely known bearers are Arthur MacArthur Jr. (1835–1912) and his son Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964), both prominent U.S. military figures. The MacArthur surname is widely dispersed in North America and other regions due to Scottish and Irish emigration in the 18th to 20th centuries, with communities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond.

Institutions bearing the MacArthur name include the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a philanthropic organization best known for the MacArthur Fellows Program, commonly referred to as genius grants, which supports individuals across disciplines. In contemporary usage, MacArthurs may refer to any people with the surname, or to discussions of the MacArthur family in historical contexts.