McCartney is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Cartaine, composed of the element Artan meaning "the Bear". It is not to be confused with McCarthy (Irish: Mac Cárthaigh), which has different origins.

Originally from Ireland, the Macartney Kerns were a branch of the great family of MacCarthy Mór of Munster, who were Kings of Cork and Princes of Desmond. The fifth son of Cormac Fionn (d. 1248) was Donogh Cartnach who is the ancestor of the kerns. Donough Cartnach left 2 sons, the eldest Donal joined Edward Bruce (King of Ireland), brother of Robert the Bruce (King of Scotland). For serving under Robert the Bruce’s standard, Donal received a grant of land in Argyll, called ‘Glen Artney’ (grid 56.22 degrees North 4.0 degrees West) from the King of Scotland.

Some of Donal’s descendants later moved to Galloway and settled in Auchinleck in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. In Auchinleck in 1522 a George Macartney married Margaret McCulloch. Their grandson, Bartholomew McCartney had one child, George Macartney (b. 1626). This George Macartney emigrated to Ulster from Scotland. He is the original ancestor of many of the families of Macartney in Ulster and Ireland including that of George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney. He bought the property of Lissanoure in 1649 near Cloughmills, Co. Antrim.