Surname MacRedmond - Meaning and Origin
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MacRedmond: What does the surname MacRedmond mean?
The last name MacRedmond originated in Ireland, and is part of the larger family of Irish surnames that are derived from Gaelic. The Mac stands for "son of", and Redmond is both a Gaelic phrase meaning "reedy valley" and an anglicized version of the Gaelic phrase "Mac Raghnall".
MacRedmond is an old Irish surname, and its history dates back many centuries. It is linked to many branches of the Irish people, including the O'Raghallaigh from Ulster, the O'Roudane from Leinster and the O'Radinge from Munster. The surname is also connected to the Fomorians, a mythical race of ancient Irish people.
The most common occupation associated with the MacRedmond family were farmers and merchants. The family also had roots in military, and many MacRedmonds served in the Irish Army. Over time the name spread to North America, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Today, the surname MacRedmond is carried by many people around the world, and still retains its Gaelic roots. The original etymology of the name still stands, and is a reminder of the Irish people's long and fascinating history.
Order DNA origin analysisMacRedmond: Where does the name MacRedmond come from?
The last name MacRedmond is most commonly associated with Irish ancestry today. It is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Ruaidhri, which means "son of Ruadhri". MacRuaidhri is derived from the Gaelic elements ruadh, meaning "red" and ri, meaning "king". The MacRedmonds were a branch of the Ui Fiachrach dynasty, based in what is now County Mayo in Ireland's west.
The name is found today in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other countries with substantial Irish diasporas, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also occurring in places like South Africa, Brazil, and Germany, where the Irish arrived during the height of mass emigration from the 1840s to the 1920s.
The majority of people named MacRedmond now live in Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, counties with the highest concentrations of the name include Cork, Kerry, and Wexford. There are also relatively large concentrations in Sligo, Limerick, and Galway. Within the United Kingdom, MacRedmond is most common in Counties Tyrone, Fermanagh, Down, Armagh, and Derry in Northern Ireland, as well as Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The diaspora of the MacRedmonds is far-reaching, with communities throughout the world. The commonality of the name in the United States is concentrated in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and California, though it is present in all fifty states. In Canada, MacRedmond is most prevalent in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, and in Australia it is largest in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Variations of the surname MacRedmond
The surname MacRedmond is an Anglicized form of a Gaelic Irish surname. It is a variant of the eighteenth-century spelling of the surname, Mac Raghnall and can be found in various spellings such as MacReynolds, MacRanolds, MacRannells, MacRannolds, MacRandles and MacRennells.
MacRaghnall is derived from the Irish personal name Raghnall which itself is composed of two elements – the Old Norse Rögnvaldr (‘mighty ruler’) and the Gaelic Mag Raghnaill or (Mac Raghnaill). The Gaelic Mag prefix implies 'son of’ as well as having other meanings in certain contexts.
The MacRedmond surname was usually found in the English language context, however, native Irish Gaelic variation of the name were more common, such as de Réamonn (or O’Réamonn), Mac Réamoinn (or Mac Raghnall), Mac Réama or Mac Réamann. Throughout history, many MacRaghnall households have had to anglicize their names, in many cases, to Redmond in order to move up in social standing or fit within the United Kingdom's emerging legal system.
The spelling of the surname has evolved over centuries, and in some records the family have spelled their surname differently; MacRannold, Mactests, MacRedmonds, MacReynolds, MacRandolson, MacRandom, MacRalines, MacRannnolds, MacRennolds, and MacRanal.
Therefore, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacRedmond are MacRaghnall, MacReynolds, MacRanolds, MacRannells, MacRannolds, MacRandles, MacRennells, de Réamonn (or O’Réamonn), Mac Réamoinn, Mac Réama, Mac Réamann, MacRannold, Mactests, MacRedmonds, MacReynolds, MacRandolson, MacRandom, MacRalines, MacRannnolds, MacRennolds, and MacRanal.
Famous people with the name MacRedmond
- Mickey Macredmond: professional golfer
- Orla Macredmond: Celtic harpist
- Eoin Macredmond: Irish actor
- Maura Macredmond: Irish journalist
- Mark Macredmond: philosopher and theologian
- John Macredmond: actor
- Christina Macredmond: Olympic swimmer
- Maureen Macredmond: Irish author
- Liam Macredmond: Olympic Skeleton Racer
- Owen Macredmond: Irish television presenter.