Surname McGara - Meaning and Origin
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McGara: What does the surname McGara mean?
The surname McGara is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mag Fhearadhaigh". The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" typically means "son of", and "Fhearadhaigh" can be translated to "man of ardor". Therefore, McGara could be interpreted as "son of the man of ardor" or "son of a spirited or enthusiastic man". It's important to note that exact interpretations can vary as surnames often evolved based on factors such as region, language changes, and transcription errors. The variations of the surname McGara can include McGarry, McGarrie, MacGarry among others. Like many Irish surnames, McGara is likely to have geographical roots or familial significance based on ancestral occupations, characteristics, or locations. However, the exact historical significance of the name may require individual genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGara: Where does the name McGara come from?
The surname McGara is most commonly found in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic-Irish surname Mac Gabhradh. The prefix 'Mac' means 'son of', while 'Gabhradh' is derived from the old Gaelic term for 'brave'. The McGara name was first recorded in Clonakilty, in County Cork, where the McGara clan were chiefs of the area for a long time, before moving to the nearby Killeagh parish.
In Scotland, the surname is commonly found in Aberdeenshire, Clydesdale, and Argyll, and is usually a variation of the Dalriadan surname MacGorrie. The origins of this name are believed to come from Scotland's Isle of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides.
In Northern Ireland, the surname is most commonly found in Counties Down and Antrim, where it is a variation of the ancient Irish McGrory. This name is of unknown origin.
Many McGaras settled in the United States in the 19th century, and the name is now widely distributed in the United States, especially on the east coast. There are McGaras in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
Today, the McGara surname is not overly common, but there is still a sizable number of people with the name, particularly in the countries of its origin: Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Variations of the surname McGara
McGara is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
McGara - This is the most common spelling of the surname, and is found in both Ireland and Scotland.
McGarry - This spelling of the surname is found mainly in Ireland, and tends to have different origins to the McGara spelling.
MacGara - Another spelling of this surname is MacGara, which is a Scottish variant.
MacGarry - This is a Scottish variant and is rarer than the other versions of this surname.
MacGaraigh - This is a dialectal variant of the surname, found mainly in Scotland.
Maccara - This is another form of the surname which is found mainly in Ireland.
McGarie - This is a rare spelling of the surname which can be found in Ireland.
McGarra - This is another spelling of the surname which is found mostly in Scotland.
MacGarraigh - This is another Scottish form of the surname which is rarer than the others.
McGarragh - This is a rare form of the surname, found primarily in Ireland.
McGarrioch - This is a rare form of the surname, found mainly in Scotland.
McGarr - This is the rarest of the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the McGara surname, and is found mainly in Scotland.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the McGara surname are McGara, McGarry, MacGara, MacGarry, MacGaraigh, Maccara, McGarie, McGarra, MacGarraigh, McGarragh, McGarrioch, McGarr. All of these spellings are of Irish or Scottish origin, and the rarer forms of the name are found mostly in Scotland.
Famous people with the name McGara
- Cooper McGara: American actress
- Shannon McGara: British writer
- Joe McGara: Olympic athlete
- Beth McGara: Irish dancer
- Gareth McGara: Gilligan's Island actor
- Jessica McGara: Late night talk show host
- Carla McGara: Fine art painter
- Pat McGara: Soccer player
- Kevin McGara: News anchor
- David McGara: TV producer