Surname McGuaire - Meaning and Origin
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McGuaire: What does the surname McGuaire mean?
The last name McGuaire is derived from the Gaelic surname Mag Uidhir, which originated in Ireland in the 9th century AD. The meaning of the name is "son of Odhar." This Irish name belonged to the Mag Uidhir clan, a family closely associated with Gaelic literature and history.
The roots of the name Mag Uidhir are derived from two Gaelic words. The first, “mag”, is a noun meaning “son” or “offspring”. The second, “uidhir”, is a personal name meaning “odhar”, a colour associated with darkness and the underworld. Together, “mag Uidhir” translates to “son of Odhar”.
Over time, the Mag Uidhir clan changed their surname to McGuaire, which is more commonly used today. This clan is believed to have its roots in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. Though the McGuaire family has spread around the globe, it is still highly associated with this province.
In Irish culture, the last name McGuaire is associated with strength, courage, and powerful intelligence. As part of the Mag Uidhir clan, individuals bearing this surname are viewed as adherents of truth and justice. Today, the McGuaire surname is quite common throughout the world, though many of its bearers still remain in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGuaire: Where does the name McGuaire come from?
The surname McGuaire is most commonly associated with people of Irish and Scottish descent, so the areas where it is most common today are in Ireland and Scotland. It is also particularly common in Northern Ireland, especially in and around County Donegal, where it may be one of the oldest and most common surnames in the region. It is also found with some frequency in Wales and is quite rare across the rest of the British Isles, as well as in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The popularity of the surname is due to its historic presence in Ulster, an important region of Northern Ireland.
Though it was once one of the oldest clans in Ulster, McGuaire is today more likely to be found among the descendants of Irish immigrants in North America and Australia. It is also common among those with Scottish heritage, particularly in Ontario. As such, the prevalence of the name in the larger countries of the former British Empire, reflects the fact that many of these countries received large numbers of Irish immigrants during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Due to the history of Irish emigration, McGuaire can also be found with some frequency in Latin America and other parts of the Americas, as well as in parts of Europe, including, for example, Spain. However, it remains primarily an Irish and Scottish name, and is most frequently encountered in the British Isles, North America, and Australia.
Variations of the surname McGuaire
The surname McGuaire is primarily of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name MacQuaire. The original form of the surname is Mag Uidhir or Mag Fheorais, from the personal name Uidhir. Variations of this surname include, but are not limited to: Maguar, MacGor, McWharrie, Magoor, MacGeary, MacGuire, MacQuaer, Mcquire and McKuire.
The spelling of the surname has changed over the centuries, leading to many different variants such as McQuaire, McGwir, MacGwire, Machwarry, Magwart, MacWor, MacGwarrie, MacGwyer, Maguar, Maguero, MacGvoire and MacGwyre. In some cases, the name has even been anglicized to McGuirk, MacGurk, Magirk or Maguirk.
Consequently, it is common to encounter alternate spellings of the McGuaire surname. Some mutations of the name have become separated from the original root and are now considered their own distinguishable names, such as Maguara, MacGurka, Maguire, MacGurrie, Machwark, MacGvore, and MacGablue.
These variants and surname spellings are regularly associated with the McGuaire surname, and the ambiguous nature of the origins of the name continue to make it a source of interest and intrigue.
Famous people with the name McGuaire
- Wil Wheaton: American actor, writer and popular internet personality best known for his role in the classic television show Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- John McGahern: Irish novelist, short story writer, and literary critic
- Calum McGuaire: Canadian actor best known for his roles in the TV series Frankenstein and the Monster.
- Elliott McGuaire: American television actor best known for his role in Gossip Girl.
- Devon McGuaire: Canadian actor best known for his performance in the TV series The Listener.
- Michael McGuaire: British author and barrister best known for his book The Honorable Murders and the novel series The A.I.S. Files.
- Erin McGuaire: Australian novelist and short story writer, best known for her novel A Change of Heart.
- Lisa McGuaire: American singer-songwriter and musician, best known for her album Ashes to Ashes.
- VitaMcGuaire: American actress and voiceover artist specializing in voice overs for radio and television commercials.
- Joe McGuaire: Scottish actor and comedian; he is most recently known for his role in the BBC sitcom Rev.