Surname MacCoard - Meaning and Origin

MacCoard: What does the surname MacCoard mean?

The last name MacCoard is believed to derive from the Gaelic ‘Mac Comard’, meaning ‘son of Comard’. In the past, MacCoard was a very popular surname in Ireland, particularly in the province of Ulster.

The MacCoards were descendants of a sept of the great Irish O'Neills who were prominent in the province. It is believed that Comard was an important O’Neill chief. In 1367 the MacCoards were involved in the wars of Bruce and the Scottish army, and helped to defeat Edward Bruce in the Battle of Faughart, Ireland.

Whilst the clan’s numbers have declined in Ireland since then, a number of MacCoard descendants can still be found throughout the country and beyond. Outside of Ireland, there are many MacCoard people in Britain, the US, parts of Canada, Australia and South Africa.

Many MacCoards today can trace their ancestry right back to the O'Neills of Ulster. The MacCoard legacy is remembered through the family's many well-known personalities, contributing to Irish culture in various ways.

Today, the MacCoard name represents the strong personal traits such as leadership, loyalty, strength and ambition that have been passed down from generation to generation. The MacCoard family legacy and its values are something to be proud of and will live on in generations to come.

MacCoard: Where does the name MacCoard come from?

The MacCoard surname is most commonly found today in the regions of Scotland, England, Ireland, and the United States. Scots of the MacCoard name are descended from a branch of the Clan MacBain, most likely originating from the 10th century. The original progenitor of the MacCoard clan was Coard, an abbot from the Benedictine Monastery in Dunfermline in Fife, Scotland.

Scots of the MacCoard surname immigrated to America and Canada after the Revolutionary War in search of religious and economic freedom, and can be found in populations in all fifty states today. Similarly, following the Great Irish Famine in the mid-19th century, Black Irish descendants with MacCoard surnames emigrated to the United States and other parts of the English-speaking world.

Australian settlers bear MacCoard surnames as well. Records of the MacCoard surname date back to the 19th century when the first settlers arrived from Scotland and England. As the European diaspora from the British Isles wound its way around the world, more and more MacCoards can be found in Europe, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and other regions beyond.

Of course, the MacCoard surname retains its popularity in the British Isles, particularly in Scotland. It can be found in many counties across the United Kingdom, including Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh in Scotland, Liverpool in England, and Armagh County in Northern Ireland.

Variations of the surname MacCoard

The surname MacCoard, also known as MacCoard/McCoard, is an Irish name of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Irish words "Mac" and "corda," meaning "son of the guardian," or "son of the hero." Variants of the name MacCoard include MacCord, MacCaward, and MacCoward. Alternate spellings for the same origin include McCard, McCoard, Macoard, Macard, Maccord, Macord, Makkord, and Makord.

The surname MacCoard is derived from the ancient Irish clan of O'Corda, comprised of descendants of an ancestor named Corda. Notable members of this clan include poet Maire MacCoard and Padraig MacCoard, an Irish poet of the 17th century.

The MacCoard surname also appears in other forms, such as MacCoid or MacCoy, a variant from County Wexford in Ireland. This variant is derived from the Irish words of "Mac" and "Coidhe," which means "son of the wood." Similarly, in Scotland, the variants MacCoy and MacKay may have derived from the MacCoard surname, based on geography and sound resemblance.

In the United States, the MacCoard surname is found among the descendants of Scots-Irish immigrants. Other surnames found among these families include MacCone, MacQuoid, and MacWord. Variants of these surnames most likely developed over time as immigrants settled and their names were adjusted based on the language of the local population.

Famous people with the name MacCoard

• Garrett MacCoard: American actor and model
• Robert MacCoard: Canadian jazz pianist and composer
• Brian MacCoard: British-born Canadian actor
• Christopher MacCoard: former professional Canadian ice hockey player
• John MacCoard: Canadian ice hockey coach
• Abigail MacCoard: Scottish singer, songwriter and vocal coach
• Louise MacCoard: Canadian classical pianist
• Aiden MacCoard: American environmentalist and animal rights activist
• Douglas MacCoard: American politician
• Eliza MacCoard: Canadian television writer and producer

Other surnames

MacCoan