Surname M'Guaire - Meaning and Origin
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M'Guaire: What does the surname M'Guaire mean?
The surname M'Guaire is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Maghraoir, meaning "son of Maghraoir." The root of the name is Magh, the Irish for "plain," indicating the ancestral family was identified by the land they cultivated. Variations of the name are MacGreevey, MacGhriskey, MacGurr, MacHenery, and MacGarry. The M'Guaire family can be traced to Connacht, particularly the counties of Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon.
The M'Guaire family has had a distinguished history in Ireland; in particular, the name was notoriously associated with the Red Branch Knights, an elite group of warriors in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Throughout history, the M'Guaire family has been well-respected, with some of its members serving as lawyers, clergymen, warriors, and public administrators for centuries.
The M'Guaire surname can still be found in Ireland and the rest of the world today, indicating its survival through hundreds of years of struggle, war, and turmoil. Family members have spread out across the globe, taking up residence in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, and other places. It stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of the M'Guaire family, who have proudly held on to their ancient Irish heritage, even when times were tough.
Order DNA origin analysisM'Guaire: Where does the name M'Guaire come from?
The last name M'Guaire is generally associated with Irish origins. Historically, it was a name that was used amongst some of the Gaelic clans in Scotland and Ireland. Gaelic names were also adopted by some of the Scottish and Irish emigrants who settled in North America and Australia.
M'Guaire is quite a rare surname; according to the 2018 US Census, there were only 758 people in the USA with the surname M'Guaire. This surname is most commonly found in the USA today, with the highest concentration of people with the surname living around the northeast, in states such as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
In Ireland, the surname M'Guaire is found largely in the counties of Donegal and Leitrim. There are some people with this surname in the UK, located mostly in the London area and Scotland. Canada also has a small population of M'Guaire, the majority living in Ontario and Quebec.
It is likely that the origin of the M'Guaire surname is a combination of Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The specific origin is unknown, but given its prevalence in Scotland and Ireland it is likely Scottish in origin. The name could have evolved from one of the old Gaelic spelling variants of the Scottish and Irish names such as "Maguire," "McGuire," and "MackGuire."
Over time, variations of spelling existed, lessening to the M'Guaire spelling of today. In Irish cultures, the term 'M'Guaire' might also have been a contraction of the Irish words 'Mac' (son) and 'Guaire' (a popular Irish surname).
The M'Guaire surname has an interesting and wide reach, spanning the world, thanks to the many emigration stories of their family who ventured to the USA, Australia and UK in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname M'Guaire
The surname M’Guaire has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The commonly used variant of this surname is Maguire, which is often spelled McGuire, Mcquire, and even MacGuire. The most common Irish form is Mac Uidhir, which is usually Anglicized as MacGuire. The ‘Mac’ prefix in this spelling means “son of” in Gaelic.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for M’Guaire include Mac Goyal, Mac Gowal, Mac Gowall, Mac Gwall, Mac Gwell, Mac Gwill, Mac Guill, Mac Guille, and Mac Quill. All of these spellings have the same root as Mac Uidhir, with slight modifications.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for M’Guaire also include Magaw, Magwood, MacGahey, MacGahey, Makay, Makay, Maguway, Mag彷aire, and MacUaige. Some of these spellings are more common in some areas than others, and all of them have a similar origin to M’Guaire.
In addition to the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for M’Guaire, there is also one spelling variation that is neither Gaelic nor Irish by origin: Magurie. This spelling originated in Scotland and is closely related to MacGuire. It is often used in America today, especially when an individual does not have an established Irish or Gaelic background.
Overall, M'Guaire is a surname with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. All of these spellings share a common root and some have become more common in certain areas than others. While some variations are more popular than others, all of these spellings are family names with distinguished origins.
Famous people with the name M'Guaire
- Conor McGuary: professional soccer player from Scotland who currently plays for the Scottish Premiership club Hamilton Academical.
- Piers McGuary: British businessman and entrepreneur, co-founder of Berkeley Street Capital.
- Pierce McGuary: American actor and singer who has appeared in films such as The Expendables 3.
- Rory McGuary: professional rugby union player for the Glasgow Warriors in the Pro14.
- Kathryn McGuary: Australian-born artist, academic, and lecturer at Australian National University.
- David J. McGuary: American diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Mali from 1992 to 1994.
- Brendan McGuary: Australian actor best known for his role in the soap opera Home and Away from 2004-2008.
- Seamus McGuary: Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for the Donegal county team.
- John McGuary: Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Hibernian, Rangers and Dunfermline Athletic.
- Jim McGuary: former American football linebacker who played for the New England Patriots from 1989-1991.