The given name Macario has its origins in the Latin language and culture. It is derived from the Latin word "macarius", which means "blessed" or "fortunate". This name gained popularity during the early Christian era, around the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

Macario was initially a name associated with saints and martyrs in the early Christian Church. One of the earliest recorded mentions of this name is found in the writings of St. Augustine, who lived from 354 to 430 AD. He referred to a Christian martyr named Macario who was persecuted during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian.

During the Middle Ages, the name Macario was particularly popular in Spain and Portugal, where it was often given to children in honor of various Catholic saints. One notable figure bearing this name was Macario of Ghent, a Flemish Franciscan friar and theologian who lived from 1605 to 1676.

In the 19th century, the name Macario gained some popularity in Latin American countries, particularly in Mexico and Central America. One of the earliest recorded uses of this name in the region was Macario Gómez, a Mexican military officer who fought in the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848.

Another notable figure with this name was Macario Sacristán, a Spanish philosopher and essayist who lived from 1925 to 2023. He was known for his writings on Marxism and existentialism.

In literature, the name Macario is featured in the Mexican novel "Pedro Páramo" by Juan Rulfo, published in 1955. The character Macario is a muleteer who plays a significant role in the story.

Other historical figures with the name Macario include Macario Vitoria, a 16th-century Spanish theologian and philosopher, and Macario Gómez Morin, a Mexican politician and founder of the National Action Party (PAN) in the 20th century.