Surname Macquaire - Meaning and Origin

Macquaire: What does the surname Macquaire mean?

The last name Macquaire is derived from the Gaelic name MacDhuibh, which means "son of Dubh." It is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it is commonly found amongst Highland clans and families. It has been passed down many generations and is now found in many parts of the world.

The Macquaire surname can be traced to the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada, which was located in northwest Scotland. The kingdom was established by a group of Irish pagan immigrants who crossed the sea into Scotland in the 6th century. They were then joined by other Gaelic speakers from Ireland and parts of Scotland. Because of these intermingling of cultures, the Macquaire surname often has a dual origin, drawing influence from both Scottish and Irish sources.

The Macquaire name is believed to be a variation of MacDhuibh. It was commonly associated with a region known as MacDhuibh, which was located in the southwest of modern-day Scotland. It is also believed to derive from Mac Naois, meaning "son of the champion" and may indicate a person who was a skilled warrior or champion.

The traditional spelling of Macquaire is MacQuary or McQuaire and is still found in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. The Macquaires are proud of their heritage and often take pride in sharing their history and traditions with future generations.

Macquaire: Where does the name Macquaire come from?

The surname Macquaire is most commonly found among people of Scottish and Irish heritage, although its history stretches back farther to the ancient Celts of the British Isles. Today, the name Macquaire is primarily associated with Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the name appears to be particularly concentrated in Tayside, where many of the original Macquaire clans settled in the Middle Ages. In Northern Ireland, the surname is most common among descendants of Gaelic-speaking families in counties Antrim, Donegal, and Londonderry.

The Macquaire surname is also found among descendants of Scottish and Irish immigrants who took the name to different corners of the world, particularly North America and Australasia. These populations are often concentrated in the traditional Western settlements of countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, the Macquaire surname is often found in the Central and Eastern regions of the country, as well as states such as Missouri and West Virginia, which previously experienced large influxes of Scottish and Irish settlers.

Today, the surname Macquaire is not necessarily all that common. However, due to its history and association with centuries of proud and steadfast Scottish and Irish clans, it is a name that carries a sense of respect and admiration. It is commonly used as a given name among those of Scottish and Irish heritage as a tribute to the families whose name it was originally borne.

Variations of the surname Macquaire

Variants of the surname Macquaire include MacQuarrie, MacQuarrey and MacQuarry. These variants typically come from other countries such as Ireland, Scotland, England and Canada. The Macquaire surname is most commonly spelled as MacQuaire, but some other possibilities are; M’Quaire, MacQuaarley, MacQuerrie, MacQuarry, Macqueraoe, M’Surrrie, M’Cuerray, Mak Kwarrée, M’Quoeray, M'Cuerrie, MakQuairrie, MakKwarrée, MacKworrie, Makqueurrie, MacKwarrée, Mak-Qurrey, M’Kurrie, McKwarey, MacKwurrie, M'Cuerey, McQuarrie and MacKuayree.

The Macquaire surname is derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac Guaire, which is composed of the Gaelic prefix Mac meaning "son of", and the personal name Guaire, which was used for multiple sources of origin, such as "proud" or "valorous". The Macquaire surname may have also evolved from other Gaelic sources such as Macc Giollamhuire (son of Giollamhuire) or Mac an Bhaird (son of the bard or historian).

Variations in spelling of the surname are common, and include MacKoire, M’Coaire, MacKwayre, M’Kwair, M’Quaaire, M’Querrie, Macquair, MakKware, MacQueery, M'Cwairoy and MacKworrey.

The Macquaire surname is primarily found in Scotland, Ireland, and England but can also be found in Canada, United states, Australia, and other English speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Macquaire

• Lachlan Macquarie: Colonel in the British Army, Governor of New South Wales, Australia
• Elizabeth Macquarie: Wife of Lachlan Macquarie, poet, writer and anthropologist
• Ellison Macquarie: British Army Officer and Elder Brother of Lachlan Macquarie
• Henry Macquarie: British Army Officer and Youngest Brother of Lachlan Macquarie
• Donald Macquarie: Scottish Chief of Clan Macquarie
• John Macquarie MacTavish: Canadian journalist
• Pearl Macquarie: Irish Singer/Songwriter
• Barry Macquarie: Australian Film Score Composer
• Gordon Macquarie: Scottish Television Host
• Kathy Macquarie: Australian Radio Presenter

Other surnames

MacQuaidMacQuain