Surname McMonegal - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMonegal: What does the surname McMonegal mean?
The surname McMonegal is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Mac Conaill." According to traditional etymology, it means "son of Conall." The name Conall itself has roots in Old Gaelic “Conall,” which translates to "Strong as a wolf." Thus, McMonegal could indirectly imply "son of the strong wolf." Bear in mind that patronymic surnames, like McMonegal, were based on the given name of the father. It reflects the practice in Ireland’s history where a man’s son would take on a surname derived from their father’s first name with the prefix ‘Mac’ meaning ‘son of’. This surname has various spellings including McMonagle, McMonigal, and McMonagle. The variations in spelling often occurred when families emigrated and names were orally relayed to officials who then wrote them down, leading to deviations. As Irish diaspora spread globally, particularly during the Great Famine in the 1840s, names such as McMonegal can be found in scattered populations worldwide.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMonegal: Where does the name McMonegal come from?
The surname McMonegal originates from Ireland, specifically from the Gaelic name Mac Conaill, which translates to "son of Conall." The Conall part refers to a personal first name with the meaning "powerful as a wolf." It's a variant of McMonagle and has been anglicized over time on different occasions. The surname sprung from the county of Donegal in the northern part of Ireland and the name bearers have a long history in the region. Apart from its origin, the McMonegal and its variants have made their way across the world due to migrations from Ireland. Today, the surname is found in many English-speaking countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. However, it is less common overall and remains most frequently found in its country of origin, Ireland. There, it is specifically ubiquitous in the regions of Ulster and Donegal.
Despite its relative rarity, individuals with the surname McMonegal have contributed to society in various fields such as literature, academia, and sports. The spread of the name McMonegal beyond Ireland echoes the wider story of the Irish Diaspora and the global presence of Irish identities.
Variations of the surname McMonegal
The surname McMonegal is of Irish origin and indicates the descendants of a man named Monegal. The surname is quite rare and its unusual spelling makes it distinctive. Nonetheless, it's possible that some similar surnames might be variants, including McMonagle, McMonigal and McMonagle, which all maintain the key elements of the original.
The surname likely derives from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Maonghaile, meaning 'son of Maonghal'. This would suggest that spellings from the original Irish would also be relevant, such as MacMaonghaile, MacMoneagle or even variants like McGonegal, McGonagle, MacGonagle.
Further, the prefixes 'Mac' and 'Mc', both meaning 'son of' in Gaelic, are often used interchangeably depending on regional usage and pronunciation. Therefore, the use of 'Mc' or 'Mac' would add further spelling variations.
However, due to the gradual anglicisation and simplification of surnames, it might only speculated that the similar-sounding surnames such as Monagle, Monegal, Monigal, Mongal, Monagale could be linked to McMonegal, although historic or genealogical records would be needed to establish these connections definitively.
Famous people with the name McMonegal
- Irv McFadden McMonegal: a former American football player and coach
- Financier Malcolm McMonegal: an American investor, businessman, philanthropist and real estate investor
- Justin McMonegal: a British-born actor
- Jeanette McMonegal: an American actress and playwright
- Mae McMonegal: an American painter
- Donald McMonegal: an American criminal defense attorney
- Tedd McMonegal: an American record producer
- Noel McMonegal: an American former professional basketball player
- Brett McMonegal: a Canadian actor and director
- Hugh McMonegal: a former English rugby league footballer
- Lyle McMonegal: an Australian rules footballer
- John McMonegal: an American theatre director and professor
- Robert McMonegal: an American composer and conductor
- Robert McMonegal III: an American retired professional basketball player
- Ann McMonegal: an American politician and businesswoman