Surname Mac an bhaird - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mac an bhaird: What does the surname Mac an bhaird mean?
The last name Mac an bhaird is an ancient Scottish-Gaelic surname. It is derived from the personal name “Mac”, which means “son”, and “Bhaird” which means “bard” or “poet”. Literally translating to “son of the bard”, it is believed to be specifically associated with the professional “Bards” who were a significant part of the culture and the Gaelic literary tradition during the early Medieval period in Scotland.
Bards were typically the keeper of the culture, responsible for maintaining the musical and poetic traditions as well as chronicling the daily lives, events and history of the people. They acted as historians and story tellers, preserving recorded history and culture orally from generation to generation long before writing and the printed word became the standard for recording information.
Among their privileges and responsibilities, Bards were authorized to compose and sing songs in praise of Kings or Chiefs, and the people bearing the last name Mac an bhaird are thought to descend from one of these bards. It is also believed that the modern day spelling of the name, Mac an bhaird, is the result of centuries of erosion of the Gaelic language due to the ever-evolving cultural and linguistic influences in Scotland.
As such, to the modern day, the surname Mac an bhaird carries with it a legacy of importance, not only of the ancient Irish cultural and literary traditions, but also represents a long line of staunch tradition and continuity dating all the way back to the Celtic settlements of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMac an bhaird: Where does the name Mac an bhaird come from?
The last name Mac an bhaird is a Scottish surname that is still quite common in Scotland today. While it is mainly concentrated in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, it is not unheard of to find the last name being used elsewhere in the UK.
The last name translates from the Gaelic 'Mac an Bhaird', which means something akin to 'son of the bard'. This could have various meanings, as bards traditionally referred to poets, storytellers, and even lawyers. It could indicate the lineage of an individual or be a sign of their occupation.
The last name Mac an bhaird has been found as far back as the 13th century in Scotland, so it can be seen that the name is deeply ingrained in Scottish heritage. There are various spellings of the name depending on the area, such as Mac an Bhaird in the Lowlands, McAmbaird in the Highlands, and Macantroward in Northern Ireland.
Today, it is not just limited to Scotland, as many others with Mac an Bhaird lineage have since moved away from Scotland to all corners of the world. From North America to Australia, the name is one of the more common Highland surnames found in the census records across the world.
Variations of the surname Mac an bhaird
The Mac an bhaird surname has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Mac an Bhaird, MacEnbarr, and McEnbarr. All of the variants are anglicized versions of the Gaelic name Mac Aindreis, which is derived from the Irish Aindriú, which means 'manly power'.
The variations can also be spelled MacAnBhaird, MacAnBharra, MacAvarr, MacEnvair, Mackinbarr, MacKenery, and MacKinnear. These are all anglicized forms for the Irish Mac Aindreis. In Scotland, the Mac an Bhaird surname is often spelled MacAnevard, MacEnevard, MacEnevair, MacKenevar, or MacKenevair.
The Mac an Bhaird surname can also be found in various other languages and countries and places throughout the world. For example, the surname is found as Makinbarr in Northern Ireland, Machinbarr in Scotland, Makinbure in Germany, and Makinbar in Russia.
In addition to variants and spellings, there are several surnames that are derived from the Mac an Bhaird surname. These include Macanefield, Macanering, Macanevery, Macanerin, and Macanerney. All of these names are anglicized versions of the Irish Mac Aindreis.
Overall, the Mac an Bhaird surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants, spellings, and surnames can be found in various languages and countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Mac an bhaird
- Seosamh Mac an Bhaird (Iraqi-born Irish musician and actor)
- Hugh Mac an Bhaird (Irish dramatist and playwright)
- Niallí Mac an Bháird (Irish poet)
- Douglas Mac an Bhaird (Irish playwright and novelist)
- Mícheál Ó hEithir (Irish journalist)
- Seán Mac an Bhaird (Irish language journalist and writer)
- Padraig Mac an Bhaird (Irish politician and former Speaker of the Seanad Éireann)
- Pádraig Mac an Bhaird (Irish sculptor and artist)
- Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Irish fiddle player and singer in the group Altan)
- Treasa Ní Mhocháin (Irish hurler and dual player)