Surname Meguire - Meaning and Origin

Meguire: What does the surname Meguire mean?

The surname Meguire is believed to have Irish origins, specifically deriving from the original Gaelic name "Mag Uidhir". This name is combined from the Gaelic term “mag” which means “son of” and “uidhir”, which literally translates to "dun or dark colored". So the overall meaning of the surname can be interpreted as "son of the dark colored one."

The name became prominent through the Maguire dynasty - a powerful and noble family in Ireland, who were the historical rulers of the Kingdom of Fermanagh for several centuries. The most famous bearers of the name would be Sean, the 156th king, and Hugh the 162nd king.

Historically, the surname has variations in spelling which include but are not limited to McGuire, Maguire, MacGuire. This variation is often due to the translation of the name during different periods of time and in various regions.

While the surname Meguire is less common than its other variants, it carries the same meaning and historical significance. Today, the surname is found globally as a result of the Irish diaspora.

Meguire: Where does the name Meguire come from?

The last name Meguire is an Irish surname that has its origin in the Gaelic name Mag Uidhir. The Gaelic name translates to "son of the pale-colored one". It has varied spellings, with McGuire being the most common. The original Gaelic clan, known as Mag Uidhir, was based in County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland.

Today, the name remains most popular in Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, through centuries of Irish emigration, the name has spread across the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. While the spelling "Meguire" is less common, variants of the name including McGuire, Maguire, and others are fairly common. The Meguire or McGuire families are still considered quite influential in their traditional homeland of County Fermanagh.

Variations of the surname Meguire

The surname Meguire is likely a variant of the popular Irish surname 'Maguire'. Other variants including different spellings, pronunciations, and possible mispronunciations of the surname include McGuire, MacGuire, Maguyre, MagUire, and McGwire.

Additionally, it can be found as O’Maguire in many historical records. The Gaelic form of this surname "Mag Uidhir" which translates to "Son of Odhar" is another variant. This word "Odhar" means pale colored or dun, and could have been a nickname for the first chief of the family.

It's essential to mention also that while researching genealogical history, different spelling versions of the same original surname are quite common. Numerous factors contributed to this, such as translation and transcription errors, changes in language, and regional accents/dialects. Consequently, while the Meguire surname and these variants stem from a common origin, slight differences may have developed over time, separating these surnames into distinct familial lineages.

Overall, the most common spelling variants are Maguire and McGuire, and it's prevalent primarily in Ireland due to its historical and cultural roots there.

Famous people with the name Meguire

• Tobey Maguire: American actor, known for his role as Peter Parker in the Marvel Spider-Man trilogy
• Emma Maguire: British actress
• Naomi Meguire: Irish actress
• Ciarán Meguire: Scottish actor
• Donal Meguire: Irish actor
• Patrick Maguire: American film actor, director and producer
• Michael Maguire: American actor
• Fintan Maguire: Irish actor and producer
• John Maguire: Canadian actor
• Robert Maguire: American actor and director
• Paul Maguire: American football commentator and former NFL linebacker
• Peter Maguire: American film and television actor
• Ingram Maguire: American actor
• Dermott Maguire: British actor
• Harry Maguire: English professional footballer (soccer player)

Other surnames

MeguiarMeguin