Surname McGonagle - Meaning and Origin

McGonagle: What does the surname McGonagle mean?

The surname McGonagle is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mag Congail". The name is a combination of “Mag”, meaning "son of" and "Congail", which can be interpreted as "strong as a wolf". The name could also possibly mean "fierce with valor". This name is more prevalent in County Donegal in the northwestern part of Ireland. As with many Gaelic names, it has been anglicized into various forms such as McGonigle, Magonagle, and others. The name might have emerged to describe a person distinguished by these attributes of strength, fierceness, and valor. Like many surnames, McGonagle would have been used to identify people from a particular clan or family, especially in areas where the same clan names existed.

McGonagle: Where does the name McGonagle come from?

The surname McGonagle is of Irish origin. It stems from the Gaelic 'Mag Congail,' which means "son of Congal." The name "Congal" itself is believed to mean "high and mighty," presumably reflecting characteristics of the original bearer of the name. The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' is often used in Irish and Scottish surnames, and it means 'son of,' indicating lineage or descent.

Like many Irish surnames, McGonagle has several variants, including McGonigle and Mcgonagall, amongst others. The name originated in the northern parts of Ireland, and to this day, it is most common in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

The widespread emigration from Ireland during the 19th and 20th centuries, primarily due to famine and economic struggles, led to the dissemination of Irish surnames worldwide. Consequently, the surname McGonagle can also be found in other English-speaking countries, particularly the United States, Canada, UK, and Australia, where many Irish diaspora settled.

Variations of the surname McGonagle

The surname McGonagle is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic name Mag Congail. Its equivalents may vary in spelling due to different interpretations, phonetic translations, anglicizations, and regions. Some common variants and spellings include: McGonigle, McGonagle, Gonigle, Gonagle, McGongle, McGonegal, McGonnigle, McGonnagle, McGonigal, Conigle, Conagle, and Gongle.

There might also be variants like McConigle, McConagle, Mcgonnell or McGonigell, based on the pronunciation.

It is always important to consider the region or area as surnames can change or be modified based on local dialects and accents. For instance, in certain parts of Ireland, the spelling might be condensed to something like "McGon'gle". Similarly, in the USA or other English-speaking countries, the surname might be simplified to a spelling like "McGonigal" or "McGonagle".

Further, there are some possible surname variants such as Conley, Conly, Connelly, and Connolly that might have a common origin with "McGonagle", given the second part of the name 'Congail'. But these connections are often speculative and require a detailed genealogical research to confirm or deny such links.

Famous people with the name McGonagle

• Stephen McGonagle: an Irish Gaelic footballer from County Mayo who was member of the Mayo senior team from 1996 until 2001.
• John McGonagle: a former Major League Baseball infielder who played one season with the St. Louis Browns in 1895.
• Seán McGonagle: an Irish former international footballer who has represented his country at every level from U15 to senior.
• Tomás McGonagle: a prominent member of the Dublin political life throughout the 19th century, McGonagle was elected to representation of Dublin during the Union.
• Peggy McGonagle: an Irish folk singer and traditional fiddler from Donegal, associated with the Irish Traveller and Gaeltacht communities.
• Joe McGonagle: a prominent Kerry politician who was the founder of the Democratic Left party and served as a TD of the Dingle area from 1977–1981.
• Dessie McGonagle: a former hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Donegal senior team.
• Jackie McGonagle: an Irish-American soccer player who became an Irish international in 1974 after emigrating to the US.
• Seamus McGonagle: an Irish republican activist who was a leading figure in Sinn Féin in the early years of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
• Anthony McGonagle: a former Irish professional footballer who played as a midfielder for several clubs in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Other surnames

McGonagill