Surname Mag-Uidhir - Meaning and Origin
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Mag-Uidhir: What does the surname Mag-Uidhir mean?
Mag-Uidhir is an Irish surname that translates to "son of Odhar" in English. The name "Odhar" typically implies a dull or dark colored person, possibly referring to the individual's hair or complexion. Hence, Mag-Uidhir might mean "son of the dark one". It's often anglicized to Maguire. The Maguires were a powerful clan that ruled over Fermanagh, a county in Northern Ireland, from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Today, the name is quite widespread not just in Ireland, but also among the Irish diaspora worldwide. It is a patronymic name, indicating that the family descended from a common male ancestor.
Order DNA origin analysisMag-Uidhir: Where does the name Mag-Uidhir come from?
The surname Mag-Uidhir originates from Ireland. The Gaelic form of the surname is "Mag Uidhir," which means "son of Odhar" or "son of the dun-colored one." This family was a part of the Gaelic aristocracy, who historically ruled the kingdom of Fermanagh (in Irish, Fear Manach) in the northern part of the country from the 13th to the 17th centuries.
The anglicized form of Mag-Uidhir is Maguire. After the English invasion and colonization of Ireland, many Irish names were anglicized, often to sound more palatable to English ears or to hide Irish origins. Despite its ancient Gaelic origins, the surname in its form "Maguire" is more widely recognized today.
This surname is common in its anglicized form in Ireland. According to a study of the distribution of surnames in Ireland, "Maguire" is the 33rd most common surname in the nation. The highest concentration of individuals with the surname can be found in the County Fermanagh area, reflecting their ancient roots. The surname is also present among the Irish diaspora in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Mag-Uidhir
The surname Mag-Uidhir is of Gaelic origin, from the north of Ireland. The name translates to "son of Odhar," the latter meaning "dun-colored" or "pale-colored."
This often leads to the name being Anglicised to Maguire, a more common version seen across Ireland and the diaspora. Variations on Maguire could include McGuire, Maguyre, Mcguire, or even Mac Guire. Sometimes, it is written without the prefix at all - as in Uidhir, Uther, or Uidher.
Interestingly, another common Anglicization of Mag-Uidhir is "Magwire," which likely attempts to replicate the original Irish pronunciation. Certain records also suggest that the name might have been changed entirely upon moving to English-speaking countries - names like "Wyers" or "Wiers" might originally have been Mag-Uidhirs.
It's important to note that due to the nature of surnames and their fluid spelling throughout history and across areas, this is not an exhaustive list and there might be other unrecorded or very rare versions of the name in existence.
Famous people with the name Mag-Uidhir
The surname Mag-Uidhir is of Irish origin, where it is more commonly spelled as McGuire or Maguire. Famous people with this last name in its various forms include; 1) Eddie McGuire: an Australian television presenter and businessman. 2) Dominic McGuire: a former American professional basketball player. 3) Mark McGuire: an American musician and artist. 4) T. P. McGuire: an Irish playwright and author. 5) Phelim McGuire: an Irish sports personality and Gaelic footballer. 6) Tom McGuire: a British music artist. 7) Barry McGuire: an American singer-songwriter best known for his hit song "Eve of Destruction". 8) Jennifer McGuire: an Irish journalist and editor. 9) Bridget McGuire: an Australian actress. 10) Brendan McGuire: an American actor and screenwriter. 11) John P. Maguire: an American businessman and former president of Polaroid Corporation. However, it should be noted that none of the listed individuals use the original Irish spelling Mag-Uidhir.