Surname MacQuhire - Meaning and Origin

MacQuhire: What does the surname MacQuhire mean?

The last name MacQuhire is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name MacFheara, which means, "son of the heir". Historically, the clan was based in the province of Leinster, in the east of Ireland, and the clan name is associated with well-established clans in counties Wicklow, Longford, Offaly, and Carlow.

The MacQuhires were once an important and influential family in the region of Leinster. They were devoutly Catholic, and possessed considerable amounts of land. Many of them were clerics, and a few of them were even bishops.

The clan is believed to have originated from the Heremon dynasty of kings that ruled Ireland before the arrival of the Normans in 1169. In the 15th century, the MacQuhire family was associated with prominent families in the province.

The descendants of the MacQuhire clan are still found all over the world today. They're often distinguished by their red hair and blue eyes, and can be found in countries such as the United States, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Today, the name is still associated with wealth and prestige, and many Macwhires are well-respected in business and politics.

MacQuhire: Where does the name MacQuhire come from?

The surname MacQuhire is a clan name associated with Scotland and Ireland. The name is most commonly found in the western regions of both countries, and is especially concentrated in areas such as Ulster, Connacht, and the Hebrides. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 people with the MacQuhire surname scattered across the world today.

In Ireland, the name is the anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Uidhir, meaning “son of Odhar” or “son of Uidhir”. This name belongs to a medieval sept of the Clan McDermott, one of the many clans of the Connacht province of Ireland. The MacQuhires of Ireland are most heavily concentrated in Counties Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo.

In Scotland, the name is a variation of Mackenzie, a Gaelic surname meaning “son of Coinneach”. Like the Irish name, this name belongs to a larger clan, the Clan MacKenzie who can trace their ancestry back to the Highlands of Scotland in the 12th century.The MacQuhires of Scotland are most heavily concentrated in the Western Isles and the Grampian Highlands.

Although both countries have seen waves of emigration, the surname MacQuire, and its variants, remain a popular surname in the counties where it first originated.

Variations of the surname MacQuhire

The surname MacQuhire has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include: MacCuish, MacCuish, MacQuisk, MacGuish, MacGeesh, MacHuish, MucCuish, MacHugh, MacSpurr, MacOury, and MacKyle.

The common origins of these names are Irish, Scottish, and Cornish. MacQuhire is an Anglicized version of an Irish Gaelic name "Mac Cuise", which means "son of Cúis". Drawing on other Gaelic variants, the spelling may vary a lot, as Irish names headlines ending with the “ċ” sound could also be written with a “Q” instead of with a “C”.

MacQuish, MacGuish and MacCuish are three other versions of the same Gaelic name; they are derived from the “Mc” prefix, which in Irish and Scottish means “son of” or “descendant of”, and the root “Cuise”. Notice that the spelling also changes according to the same spoken word.

In Scotland, the MacQuires, MacOuries, MacKyles, and MacSpurrs are also related to the MacQuhire surname and have Gaelic roots, although the exact variants are not known.

Regardless of the Gaelic and British Isles roots, the MacQuhire surname is still found throughout the world today in its various spellings and variants.

Famous people with the name MacQuhire

• Miles MacQuhire: Actor, best known for his roles in the television series The Gifted and Supergirl.
• Finley MacQuhire: Professional golfer
• Mel MacQuhire: Former tennis player and current tennis coach
• Desmond MacQuhire: Chef, cookbook author, and lead judge on the cooking show Top Chef.
• Madeline MacQuhire: Olympic rhythmic gymnast
• Terrance MacQuhire: Professional football player
• Abigail MacQuhire: Leading Broadway performer
• Lucas MacQuhire: PGA Tour Golfer
• Brooke MacQuhire: Country music singer and songwriter
• Will MacQuhire: Three-time NBA Champion basketball player and Hall of Fame inductee
• Mackenzie MacQuhire: Hollywood actress
• Simon MacQuhire: Film director, producer and screenwriter
• Nigel MacQuhire: Winner of an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Francis MacQuhire: Award-winning novelist and journalist
• Gwen MacQuhire: American pop singer-songwriter and television host
• Kaila MacQuhire: Skateboarder and X Games gold medalist
• Jenny MacQuhire: Professional snowboarder and five-time X Games gold medalist
• Don MacQuhire: Former Major League baseball player
• Tyler MacQuhire: Musician and vocalist
• Jessie MacQuhire: Stand-up comedian and actress

Other surnames

Macquhirr