This interesting and unusual surname is of Scottish origin, and is locational from Muckart, near Dollar, in Clackmannanshire, of uncertain etymology. The placename may be derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century "micel", meaning large, big, and the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O' hAirt", descendant of Art, a byname meaning Bear, Hero; the place was probably named after its original owner. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The P(atrick) de Mukard (recorded below), who appears as a charter witness in the Book of Charters of the Priory of St. Andrew, Scotland, was also a cleric. John Muckart was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1569, and William Muckart was burgess there in 1596. One John Muckart, from Lanark, in Scotland, applied to settle in Canada on February 27th 1815. Recorded in the Scottish Church Registers is the christening of William, son of Eduard Muckart and Agnes Clark, on May 16th 1618 at St. Nicholas', Aberdeen. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of P(atrick) de Mukard, which was dated 1250, charter witness in the "Book of Charters of the Priory of Scotland", during the reign of King Alexander 111 of Scotland, 1249-1286. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.