Surname Magwire - Meaning and Origin

Magwire: What does the surname Magwire mean?

The last name Magwire is a Scottish-Irish surname derived from the personal name “MacGhwire,” which is an Anglicized form of the original Gaelic name “MacGuaire.” The Gaelic name is derived from the elements “mac” meaning “son of” and “Guaire” which is thought to be a personal name of uncertain origin.

The Magwire family originates from County Donegal, Ireland during the 17th century. It is likely that the Magwire family may have moved to Scotland due to political or religious reasons, as the 1665 Scottish Statutes of Iona discouraged the Scottish people from practicing Catholicism, which is the faith of the Magwire family.

The Magwire surname is now found predominantly in Scotland. During census records, most individuals with the Magwire surname were recorded in counties such as Edinburgh, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. From this research, it is apparent that the Magwire surname is relatively rare.

Throughout the years, the Magwire family has been known for its courageousness and loyalty, thus being attributed to the motto “cor unum” which is Protuguese for “one heart.” This is reflective of the family's inclination towards maintaining close alliances with each other throughout the years.

In summary, the last name Magwire is a Scottish-Irish name derived from the name “MacGhwire” which is an Anglicized form of the original Gaelic name “MacGuaire.” The surname is found predominantly in Scotland and its members are known for their courage and loyalty, an attribute of the family motto “cor unum.”

Magwire: Where does the name Magwire come from?

The last name Magwire is a relatively uncommon name. It is primarily found in the United States, with the vast majority of the population with this name residing in California, followed by New Jersey and Washington. It is also found in some parts of Canada, primarily Saskatchewan, as well as in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

The Magwire name originated in Ireland and Scotland, and is believed to have been derived from Magees, which is a form of Maurice. The Magwires are thought to have left Ireland and Scotland around the 1600s and 1700s, and many of them settled in colonial America.

In the United States today, the last name Magwire is primarily found in those areas where the earliest Magwire families settled, such as the East Coast (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, etc.), and California. The highest concentrations of the name Magwire today are believed to be in California and New Jersey.

The Magwire name is fairly uncommon today, although there are a few people with this name scattered in other parts of the world. The last name Magwire can be found in records of various industries, including in the military, in entertainment, and in business.

Variations of the surname Magwire

Magwire is a surname of Irish origin derived from the Gaelic Mac Ugáire. The original form of the surname was Mac Ugáire—which was Anglicized to Magwire. This name was associated with the Irish noble family of O’Gara who were a powerful and influential sept of the southern Uí Néill and from which descended the famous Gaelic poet, Ferriter MacAgwire.

Other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Magwire include Mag Uidhir, McGeer, MacGuire, Magauran, McGuier, Magure, McGauran, MCGwyer, McGourer, McGuire, McGwier, Maguire, McGower, and Makwire.

No matter the spelling or variation, the Magwire name is most often associated with the great Irish clan of O'Gara and thus carries a great deal of pride in its Irish heritage. Variations of the Magwire surname have been found to have spread to various regions across the British Isles as well as across the Atlantic to the New World.

Since surnames began to be recorded in the early 1600s, a number of people with the surname Magwire have made great accomplishments in their life. For instance, Thomas Magwire, a Union Army infantryman in the US Civil War who was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing six Confederate soldiers at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Today, the surname Magwire is mainly found in Ireland and the United States, though the many spellings and variations can also be found throughout the English-speaking world.

Famous people with the name Magwire

• Mark McGwire: former professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB), former coach for the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, and current hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Kieran Magwire: American football player who has played for multiple teams in the National Football League (NFL).
• Dieter Magwire: German photographer and sculptor, primarily known for his close-up, large format photography that combats society’s conventional view of beauty.
• Dylan Magwire: American musician and singer-songwriter who has released two albums and received critical acclaim for his unique blend of folk and modern alternative rock.
• Cornelius Magwire: American painter and installation artist whose work has been featured in numerous solo and group art exhibitions around the world.
• Kade Magwire: British-born journalist and writer who has covered international news and events for numerous publications, including the Financial Times, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.
• Tania Magwire: Australian actress who has starred in multiple feature films and television series.
• Marilyn Magwire: French-born actor who appeared in several films in the early 2000s, as well as various theatre and television productions.
• Quinn Magwire: Canadian actor most well-known for his roles in the TV show "Haven" and the Major League Baseball-based movie "Moneyball".
• Mick Magwire: English-born poet and professor of literature at Oxford University. He is best known for writing the widely praised collection of poems 'The Sound of Loss'.

Other surnames

Magwin