Surname McQuire - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McQuire: What does the surname McQuire mean?
The surname McQuire is of Irish origin and is a variant of the name Mag Uidhir, which translates to 'son of Odhar'. 'Odhar' is a Gaelic word meaning 'dun' or 'pale colored'. Hence, the surname could possibly denote someone who is the son of a person with a pale or dun complexion. This name is quite common in the Northern regions of Ireland. It's important to note that spellings of Irish surnames can vary considerably, mainly due to the pronunciation differences and regional dialects. Other variants of this surname can include Maguire, McGuire, and MacGuire.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuire: Where does the name McQuire come from?
The surname McQuire is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir," which means "son of Odhar" or "son of the dun-colored one." Though there are variations in the spelling, such as McGuire, Maguire, and Macguire, it all traces back to the same Irish roots. The name came into existence in Fermanagh, a county in Northern Ireland, where Maguires were known as princes ruling the kingdom of Fermanagh in the Middle Ages.
Today, the surname McQuire or McGuire is common in Ireland and has spread to other English-speaking countries due to Irish migration, predominantly to the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK. A significant number of people bearing this surname are found in New York and Pennsylvania in the USA. Globally, the highest number of people with the McQuire surname reside in the United States, followed by England and Australia. It remains an important name in its place of origin, Ireland.
Variations of the surname McQuire
The surname McQuire is of Irish origin and is often associated with the families of Counties Fermanagh and Monaghan. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir", which means "son of the dun or dark colored one".
There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin due to region-specific variations, phonetic spellings and translations. Some of these include:
- McGuire: The most common variant of the surname, prevalent in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.
- MacGuire: A variant emphasizing its Gaelic roots ('Mac' depicts 'son of' in Gaelic).
- Mc Guire: Another common spelling which is a space-separated phonetic variant.
- Maguire: This is another Gaelic spelling of the surname.
- M’Guire: An older phonetic variant.
- McGwire: A less common variant, often found in Scotland.
- M'Quire: Another variant used in English speaking countries.
These surnames do not necessarily imply familial connection, as in earlier times, surnames were often given based on physical characteristics, professions, or places of origin. Nonetheless, all these surnames embody the heritage and historical richness of Irish culture.
Famous people with the name McQuire
- Eddie McGuire: An influential Australian television presenter and businessman, recognized for his role as the president of the Collingwood Football Club and host of the show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"
- Tami Stronach: Born as Tamara McQuire Stronach, she is a Scottish-American dancer, choreographer, and former child actress best known for her role as The Childlike Empress in the film "The NeverEnding Story."
- Phyllis McGuire: She was an American singer and the last surviving member of the 1950s trio, The McGuire Sisters, which achieved success with songs like "Sincerely" and "Sugartime."
- Marty McGuire: A fictional character from kids literature, created by Kate Messner. Please note that the correct spelling for the above-mentioned surnames is "McGuire". Direct matches for the surname "McQuire" are not prolific in the public sphere.