Surname McNamarra - Meaning and Origin

McNamarra: What does the surname McNamarra mean?

The last name McNamara is of Irish origin and is derived from two Gaelic words: "mac" meaning "son" and "Conmara" signifying "hound of the sea." Therefore, the surname McNamara literally means "Son of the Hound of the Sea". This surname is linked to the county Clare region in the west of Ireland. The Clan McNamara were a powerful family which held extensive lands in the aforementioned area during medieval times. This clan was known as chiefs and lords, and their chief was often seen as a trusted advisor to the notable O’Brien Clan, descendent of Brian Borou, the legendary High King of Ireland. The name is quite popular in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora worldwide. The McNamaras were known for their naval expertise, very much living up to their "hound of the sea" moniker.

McNamarra: Where does the name McNamarra come from?

The last name McNamara is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Conmara, which means “son of the hound of the sea”. The name is a combination of the words "mac" meaning son of, "cu" meaning hound, and "mara" meaning sea. It originated mainly in County Clare and its surroundings on the west coast of Ireland, where the McNamaras were part of a sept, or clan, considered nobility in ancient Irish society.

The McNamara clan was historically significant, with influence and territories stretching across large parts of Clare, and today, the last name McNamara remains mostly common in Ireland. However, due to Irish diaspora, it has also dispersed worldwide, with significant populations in the United States, Australia, and other countries that were popular destinations during periods of Irish emigration. Variations of the spelling can also include MacNamara and McNamarae. Even though, it is not as common as Murphy or O'Brien, McNamara is still a prevalent name within the Irish communities around the world.

Variations of the surname McNamarra

The surname McNamarra is of Irish origin, specifically deriving from the Gaelic Mac Conmara which translates to "Son of the Hound of the Sea." Different variants and spellings of the surname McNamarra primarily have arisen due to Anglicization, localization, and phonetic interpretations.

These can include MacNamara, MacConmara, McNamara, MacNamera, MacNamara, MacConmara, McNama, McInerney, and McNamera. Sometimes the "Mc" or "Mac", which means 'son of', can be dropped, leading to further variants like Namara or Namera. These changes can also arise due to regional dialects or transcription errors in official documents.

Variants can also be attributed to the subdivision of the clan into two distinct septs, the MacNamaras Fion (Fair) and MacNamaras Reagh (Swart). However, it's important to note that despite these variations, the core ancestry and lineage of the surname remain the same, tracing back to the Gaelic Mac Conmara clan. Moreover, "Mc" and "Mac" represent the same meaning and often used interchangeably.

It should also be noted that it's among one of the most popular surnames in Ireland, especially in the county of Clare where the MacNamara clan was historically very predominant and played significant roles in local governance and military events.

Famous people with the name McNamarra

• Dictionary publisher Robert McNamara
• Musician Rory McNamara
• Radio host Joe McNamara
• Actor Malcolm McDowell
• NBA player Mark McNamara
• Golf pro Tim McNamara
• Hockey player Peter McNamara
• NFL Player Mike McNamara
• Politician Robert McNamara Jr.
• Sculptor Joe McNamara

Other surnames

McNamara