Surname Cormach - Meaning and Origin
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Cormach: What does the surname Cormach mean?
The last name Cormach is of Irish origins. It is a variant of the Gaelic name Ó Corbmaic, which means "son of Cormac." Cormac is a byname derived from the Irish Gaelic word meaning “charioteer.” The name likely comes from the Irish sept of Ui Corbmaic, found in County Limerick and County Tipperary. During the eleventh century, King Corc Mac Oilioll became the chief of the Ui Corbmaic, and over time some members of the sept took the name as their surname.
The first recorded use of the name Cormach in Ireland is from 1399 when it appears in the rolls of the local friary of County Wicklow. It quickly spread throughout the remainder of the country, with some Cormachs emigrating to Scotland. In more recent history, the Cormachs have been prominent members of Irish society, nationally and internationally. From politicians and public servants to inventors and academics, members of the Cormach family have left an indelible mark on the country's history and culture.
The name is still relatively common in Ireland today and present-day Cormachs can be found in a variety of places. Despite having made their mark in various fields, the Cormachs' original role as charioteers has been retained in the name, hinting at the proud and powerful heritage of the family.
Order DNA origin analysisCormach: Where does the name Cormach come from?
The surname Cormac is a popular one throughout Ireland and can be found all over the country. This surname is especially common in County Kerry, where it is a derivative of an ancient Irish family name. This name originates from the old Irish pre 10th century Gaelic. Citation marks Cormac are also seen in Scotland, the Isle of Man, England, and in the United States. It is believed that many of these families descended from a common ancestor knows as Cormac, as he is considered to be the progenitor of the Cormac surname.
The Cormac surname is also found in Wales, with many people bearing the name being from Carmarthenshire, which has the Welsh variant of the name as Curmac, or the traditional spelling of Cormac. As for the rest of Britain and the US, the Cormac surname is mostly found in southern U.S. states such as North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and Maryland. The popularity of the Cormac surname in the United States stems from a surge of Irish immigration in the 1800s.
The Irish variant of the surname, Cormac, appears to be the most common today, as it is the original form and is associated with Irish heritage and ancestry. There is a great deal of history and pride associated with the Cormac name.
Variations of the surname Cormach
Cormach is an old Irish name that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Cormach itself is usually spelled with an o. However, it can also be written Cormack, Cormak, Cormac, Cormick, Cormik, Cormake, and Cormack.
The different spellings may have been created by sound or by sight. In the phonetic spellings of Cormak and Cormick, the "ie" might have been used to show that the second syllable should have a long ‘i’ sound, as opposed to a short one in Cormack and Cormac. Meanwhile, Cormake might have been used to help differentiate a word from a similarly spelled word, such as "cormorant" or "storax".
The surnames associated with Cormach are Cormack, Cormac, Cormackie, Cormackson, Cormach, Cormick, Cormik, Cormake, Coremac, Cormacke, and Cormackson. Cormack may come from the Middle Irish word "cormack", meaning Desire or Love. Cormac is an alternate spelling of the Gaelic name Cormag, which means Charioteer. And Cormackson might have been created from the suffix "son" for "son of Cormack".
Overall, Cormach is an old Irish name that has many variants and derivatives. Whether they changed due to sound or sight, these variants, spellings, and surnames all trace back to the one original name.
Famous people with the name Cormach
- Anthony Cormach: American actor, musician, and author.
- James Cormach: British lecturer and economist.
- Graeme Cormach: Scottish visual artist and designer.
- Alasdair Cormach: Irish boxer.
- Regina Cormach: American poet and playwright.
- Iain Cormach: Scottish painter.
- Ross Cormach: American singer/songwriter.
- Ross Cormach: British music producer and composer.
- Beverly Cormach: Canadian artist and author.
- Thor Cormach: Norwegian political commentator and journalist.