Surname McMonigal - Meaning and Origin

McMonigal: What does the surname McMonigal mean?

The last name McMonigal is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Maonghaile," which means "son of Maonghal." The term "Maonghal" is a personal name composed of the elements "maoin," which means "wealth" or "riches," and "gal," which stands for "valor." The McMonigal surname therefore may be translated as “son of the wealthy and valiant.” These types of surnames commonly originated from ancestral chieftains or clans. However, most Gaelic names were anglicized during the 17th and 18th centuries due to British colonization and the families' need to adapt for social and economic reasons. Therefore, the surname may have various spellings like McMonagle, McMennamin, and more, depending on the historical transcription and regional dialects.

McMonigal: Where does the name McMonigal come from?

The surname McMonigal is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Maonghaile. This name is a patronymic form meaning "son of Maonghal," where "Maonghal" refers to a "wealthy or valorous person." The name is more commonly found in the northwestern counties of Ireland, especially in Donegal where it is most likely to have originated. However, it is not a common surname and is quite rare even in Ireland. Over the centuries, due to emigration and the anglicization of Irish surnames, variations of the name such as Monagle and Monagle have surfaced.

Today, McMonigal and its variants are scattered across English-speaking countries where Irish diaspora settled, like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. It's still more concentrated in Ireland, though it's not among the most common Irish surnames even there. The exact numbers worldwide are hard to pin down, given its rarity and variations in spelling.

Variations of the surname McMonigal

The surname McMonigal has various variant spellings, which may have developed due to phonetic translations, regional accents, or errors in historical documentation. These variants include McMonagle, McMonigle, McMonagle, McMonical, and McMonagal.

The spelling variations are largely associated with Irish surnames, as the prefix "Mc" is commonly used in Irish and Scottish surnames, denoting "son of". The latter part, "Monigal", could be derived from the Gaelic words 'Manach' meaning 'monk' and 'Gall' meaning 'stranger', although this is speculative.

Besides, there is a possibility that some of these variations may seem unrelated due to Anglicization, a process where non-English words or names were made to sound more English, particularly common when Irish immigrants moved to English-speaking countries.

It's also important to note that while there are variations based on phonetic spelling, there might not be a direct connection or shared ancestry between all people with these similar sounding surnames.

While it's helpful to know these variants, anyone doing genealogical research should bear in mind that surname variations can be wide and unexpected. Other sources such as location, family folklore, or DNA research might provide more definitive connections.

Famous people with the name McMonigal

• Jack McMonigal: professional boxer
• Ollie McMonigal: professional soccer player
• Jack McMonigal: professional golfer
• Keith McMonigal: professional snowboarder
• William McMonigal: Actor
• Nancy McMonigal: television writer
• Paul McMonigal: composer
• Anne McMonigal: Actress
• Eileen McMonigal: Singer/songwriter
• Maureen McMonigal: Politician
• Sean McMonigal: Musician
• David McMonigal: Professional golfer
• John McMonigal: Hockey coach
• Russell McMonigal: Basketball commentator
• Harold McMonigal: Physicist
• Mark McMonigal: Musician
• Sally McMonigal: Artist
• Tony McMonigal: Journalist
• Valerie McMonigal: Professional dancer
• Taylor McMonigal: Actor.

Other surnames

McMonigle