Surname McSharry - Meaning and Origin
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McSharry: What does the surname McSharry mean?
The last name McSharry originates from Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic ‘Mac Searraigh.’ This surname was adopted by a group of connected individuals from County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland during the reign of Henry VIII. The name essentially means ‘son of Searraigh’, and Searraigh translates as ‘a small, king’.
Historically it was believed that the McSharry family line originated in Scotland, where they ultimately began to claim their unique family name. However, this theory has been disproved after new evidence has revealed that the McSharry family began in Ireland after a group of related families in County Tyrone adopted the surname in the sixteenth century.
This Irish surname is extremely rare, and is primarily found concentrated in the County Tyrone area of Ireland. The McSharry surname is associated with a proud family tradition that stretches back centuries, and whom have an enduring legacy within the ancestral homeland. The name has been bestowed on a variety of prominent political figures throughout history, with numerous members of the McSharry family making an influential difference to Irish life over the centuries.
Today, those who bear the McSharry surname are rightfully proud of their Irish heritage and cherish the Jaunting traditions of their ancestors which continue to be passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcSharry: Where does the name McSharry come from?
The last name McSharry is predominantly found in Ireland, particularly in Connacht, where it originated. Outside of Ireland, McSharry is rarely seen, though a small number can be found in parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This is not surprising considering the strong historical ties between Ireland and Britain.
In the United States, McSharry is much rarer, but not unheard of. In 2020, the US Census showed there were 360 individuals with the McSharry last name living in the United States. However, its distribution is uneven, and the greatest concentration of individuals with the McSharry last name can be found in California, followed by New York, and then Florida.
The rarity of the McSharry name can be attributed to the high rate of migration that has taken place from Ireland to the United States and other parts of the world. Millions of Irish citizens have emigrated in search of better opportunities abroad, leading to a reduction in the spread of the McSharry name within Ireland and other countries. Nonetheless, the McSharry name is still alive and many of its descendants proudly carry it on today.
Variations of the surname McSharry
The surname McSharry is derived from the Irish language and is considered an Ulster surname. It is derived from the name Mac Searraigh which translates to “son of Searraigh”. Searraigh is an Irish name derived from the Gaelic word for ‘honour’. This surname can be spelled a number of different ways, including MacSharry, McSharrie, MacSharry, and MacSherry. It can also be found as McCrary, Sharie, and Shirreff. Other variants of the surname include Sherry, Sharkey, and O’Sherie.
In Scotland, the surname is sometimes seen as MacShirie or MacHorie. In the Irish-speaking region of Donegal, the surname is sometimes seen as MacSearraigh. Additionally, the surname is sometimes found in Scotland and Ireland as variants of McCall, McSherry, MacSeary, MacSherry, and MacCurrie.
McSharry can also be found in some non-English speaking countries, where the surname is often found as McCharrie, McCharry, or MacCario. Variations of the name have also been known to appear in Norway, Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
In some cases where the initial ‘Mc’ has been dropped, the name can be seen as Sharry or Sharey.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McSharry, including McSharie, MacSharry, McCrary, MacHorie, MacSearraigh, MacSeary, MacSherry, MacCurrie, McCharrie, McCharry, MacCario, Sharry, and Sharey.
Famous people with the name McSharry
- Francis McSharry: An Irish former professional hurler, and sports reporter for RTÉ Sport.
- Michael McSharry: An Irish former hurler who played as a right wing-forward for the Clare senior team.
- Stephen McSharry: An Irish politician and businessman from Co. Mayo, who is currently a deputy leader of the Fianna Fáil party.
- Bart McSharry: A Northern Irish traditional singer and songwriter, also known as the "Songbird of Rathlin Island."
- Eoghan McSharry: An Irish folk singer from Dublin, who won the 2012 RTE Folk Music Singer of the Year Award.
- John McSharry: An Irish politician and barrister, who served in Dáil Éireann, in the Fianna Fáil party, from 1969 to 1992.
- Maureen McSharry: A former Irish Gaelic footballer who represented Dublin in the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship.
- Tadhg McSharry: An Irish rugby union player who plays the position of lock for Connacht and formerly for Leinster.
- Daniel McSharry: An Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender for Derry City Football Club.
- Francis J McSharry: An Irish Jesuit priest, poet and musician, and Professor Emeritus of Theology at the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy.