Surname Mac-Guire - Meaning and Origin
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Mac-Guire: What does the surname Mac-Guire mean?
The last name Mac-Guire, as with many Irish surnames, is derived from a Gaelic personal name. The name can be anglicized as MacGuire, McGuire, Maguire, or other spellings. Traditional Gaelic versions of the name include Mac Uidhir, Mheic Uidhir, O hUidhir, and MacGuire.
The surname is native to Northern Ireland and originally was written in the Gaelic language. The name comes from the Irish man Uidhir, whose descendants adopted this last name. Researchers speculate that the name is derived from two words from the Gaelic language. "Mac" means "son," while "guaire" is thought to refer to brave warriors, with the overarching meaning of the last name being "son of a brave warrior."
Other sources suggest that the name could also be derived from the Irish term “mac meaning “son”, and “guaire” which may have been derived from a personal name meaning “noble”. The name was brought to Ireland by the Normans and was most common in Counties Armagh and Fermanagh in Ireland.
Overall, the last name Mac-Guire suggests a proud heritage of brave warriors and noble people. Depending on the spelling of the name, descendants of Mac-Guire today can be found all over the world, with many in areas of the United States and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMac-Guire: Where does the name Mac-Guire come from?
The last name Mac-Guire is most commonly found in Ireland, Scotland, and England. It is believed to have been first used by the O'Quires, an ancient family of Welsh origin, who moved to Scotland (or possibly Ireland) around the 11th century and eventually adopted the name as their own. From here the surname spread to England where it can still be found in many locations throughout the country today.
The name Mac-Guire is also found in other parts of the world, including the United States, Australia, and Canada. In the United States, the surname can be found primarily in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. Migration to the United States and other English-speaking countries during the 19th century and later, spurred by famine and economic opportunity, led to the dispersal of the Mac-Guire name around the world.
Mac-Guire is a particularly common surname in Ireland, with an estimated 10,000 people bearing the name. Here the name is often spelled 'McGuire', and is among the top 50 surnames in the country. In Scotland, too, the name is quite well established and is ranked among the top 100 surnames. In England it is less common, but it is still ranked as the 828th most common surname.
Overall, the Mac-Guire name is still somewhat common today, with many who still bear the name found throughout Ireland, Scotland, and England, along with other countries that have populations which trace back to these regions.
Variations of the surname Mac-Guire
The surname Mac-Guire is a Gaelic Irish name derived from the name Mag Uidhir. Variations of the surname range from MacGuire to MacGuire, McGuire and even Gwire.
The simplest variant of the name is simply “Guire”. This was likely the form the name took when the families left Ireland and settled in the United States.
In Scotland, the name decreased in popularity due to Anglicization and became Mac-Kyrie. This would be represented in records as Mack or McKyrie.
In Ireland, the name appears as Mac Uidhir or Mac Guire and can be found with both the Mac and Mc prefixes. The hyphenated variant of Mac-Guire is seen in several families who have adopted it in America.
Other less common variants of the name include Mag Uidhir, Maguire, Magwire, Magwier, Gwire and Gwyre.
Finally, MacQuire and Macquire are also seen and would be derived from the Irish Mac Uidhir.
No matter which spelling is used, the surname Mac-Guire is of Gaelic Irish origin and has been in use for over one thousand years. Its legacy continues with families throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Mac-Guire
- Cameron MacGuire: British actor best known for his roles in the television series Primeval and Merlin
- Nico Macguire: Canadian actor and singer, best known for his roles in CSI: Miami, The Tudors, and Unforgettable
- Thomas MacGuire: American actor, best known for his roles in the films The Last of the Mohicans and National Treasure
- David MacGuire: American voice actor, best known for his roles in the video game Tomb Raider and the animated series Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
- Heath MacGuire: Australian actor and producer, best known for his roles in The Black Balloon, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, and The Killer Inside
- Colin MacGuire: Canadian actor, best known for his roles in the television shows Haven and The 4400
- Cerise MacGuire: American singer-songwriter and musician, best known for her solo albums Shine and Fire
- Emma MacGuire: British singer and actress, best known for her roles in the films Wolf Creek and Cinderella Man
- Ryan MacGuire: American actor and voice artist, best known for his roles in Power Rangers and Camp Rock
- Jon MacGuire: English actor, best known for his roles in the films Alien Resurrection and The Equalizer