Surname Enraghty - Meaning and Origin
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Enraghty: What does the surname Enraghty mean?
The last name Enraghty originates from the Gaelic phrase, "O' nEanraite"—which roughly translates to mean "son of Anraite." Anraite was a 9th century Irish scholar and the ancestor of the Enraghty family. While the exact meaning of the moniker isn't known, it is likely related to a scholarly profession.
The Enraghty surname is most common in Ireland, but can be found in other parts of the British Isles. It is also a popular name in the United States, with the largest concentrations located in Illinois, Texas, and California.
The Enraghty family is believed to be descended from the O'Moxey clan, which had a reputation as one of the strongest forces in the pre-Norman Gaelic order. The O'Moxeys were powerful servants of the kings of Ulster and reportedly provided over 1,000 warriors to the Irish cause in the battles of Clontarf and Kinsale. Historically, the Enraghty's have been associated with farming, soldiery and the Catholic priesthood.
The Enraghty family has a long history of success and has been attributed to their strong faith and enduring strength. Even in the face of adversity, the Enraghty's have persevered—making a name for themselves not only in their homeland, but also in many places around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisEnraghty: Where does the name Enraghty come from?
The last name Enraghty is most commonly found amongst people of Irish heritage both in their native Ireland and in the countries to which Irish immigrants moved during the Anglo-Irish diaspora of the mid-19th century. It is particularly common in Northern Ireland, where the majority of the population are of Irish origin.
The Irish last name Enraghty is derived from the Irish Ó hIongardail. This is a surname meaning "descendant of Iongardail", with Iongardail being one of the ancient Irish names for Norway, so it is likely that the Enraghty family may have originated in Norway before settling in Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, the Enraghty surname is most popular in counties Antrim and Derry. In 2019, it ranked 677th among all surnames in Northern Ireland with 287 bearers, 247 of whom resided in Antrim and 32 of whom lived in Derry. In the Republic of Ireland, the prevalence of the Enraghty surname is lesser, although it is still one of the most commonly found last names in counties Offaly, Wexford, Kilkenny, Leitrim, and Cavan.
The Enraghty surname is also common in Australia, the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world, as the Irish diaspora continues to spread the family name.
Variations of the surname Enraghty
The surname Enraghty is believed to have originated in Scotland. It is thought to be a variant of the Irish surname O' n hEochaidh and Mac an Raithi. It is also found as Enright, Enraghty, Enraghtee, Enrighty, Eanrachtai, MacEnright, McEnrahtai, Enrahti, Enraughty, Enraughtey, and McEnraughty.
The spelling of Enraghty is derived from both Irish and Scottish forms, with its first element likely reflecting the Scottish Gaelic clan Mac an Raithi and the second element, O' n hEochaidh, being the Irish Gaelic clan O' hEochaidh. The two elements being joined together by the common prefix meaning “son of” gives the full name, Mac an Raithi O' n hEochaidh, which may have been shortened to Enraghty.
The variants of Enraghty often appear in a different order. For example, the name Enright is derived from the Irish form of the name and the name McEnrahtai is derived from the Scottish form. The surname Enraughty appears as a variant of the same origin, as though the spelling of the name has been adjusted to fit easier phonetics.
The meaning behind the surname Enraghty is still unclear, although some sources suggest that it may have been derived from the Gaelic words for horse or rider, as the original clan is believed to have been known for its riders and horsemanship. Others suggest the name translates to “son of the horseman”.
Famous people with the name Enraghty
- Aiden Enraghty: former professional Rugby League player who represented Queensland and Australia.
- Julien Enraghty: British photographer best known for his candid street photography.
- Lachlan Enraghty: British MMA fighter who held the belt in Cage Warriors.
- Ross Enraghty: writer, journalist and presenter from the UK.
- Patrick Enraghty: lead singer of the British band ‘The Imperials’.
- Bonnie Enraghty: actress who is known for her theater roles and performances in various horror films.
- Tucker Enraghty: Australian actor, screenwriter and impressionist.
- Danial Enraghty: British biologist, ecologist and conservation scientist.
- Ross Enraghty: aviation safety investigator from the UK.
- Austin Enraghty: former professional basketball player from the USA.