Surname MacInroe - Meaning and Origin
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MacInroe: What does the surname MacInroe mean?
The Irish surname MacInroe is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac an Fhionghail, meaning "son of the proud one". It is an ancient name derived from the Irish word fionnghuala, meaning "brave one" or "nobleman".
The majority of MacInroe families are believed to have originated in County Mayo, where their ancestors were part of the O'Malley clan. The O'Malleys were a seafaring branch of the larger O'Neill clan, who had settled along the west coast of Ireland.
The MacInroe name is found throughout Ireland, most notably in County Donegal and spent a large amount of time in Inishowen. Other prominent MacInroe locations include County Cork, County Clare, County Kerry, County Galway, and County Monaghan. The name is also widespread in Scottish lowlands, and members of the MacInroe family were active in politics in Scotland during the 16th century.
The coat of arms of the MacInroe family is a green shield with a silver chevron and three silver mythical eagles, which symbolize courage and strength of family. The surname is still quite common today, and is likely to become even more so as the years go by.
Order DNA origin analysisMacInroe: Where does the name MacInroe come from?
The last name MacInroe is found most commonly in Scotland. According to forebears.io, it is statistically the 192nd most common surname in Scotland, placing it firmly in the top 200. It is most populous in Lanarkshire, accounting for 1 in every 1060 people and is found in lesser concentrations in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Midlothian, and Perth and Kinross.
The surname MacInroe is also in use in the United States, though less widely. Forebears.io estimates that it is the 7,912nd most common surname in the US, and concentrated most densely in the states of Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Iowa. Worldwide, the last name MacInroe is estimated to be held by at least 8,650 people.
The meaning of the surname MacInroe is uncertain. It may be a variant spelling of the Irish name Mac Anrua, or may be a surname derived from "the son of the territories of Roe." In either case, many people with this surname today have Scottish ancestry, though its usage is more widespread. The surname may also be a variation of MacInroy, a Scottish surname derived from multiple Gaelic words meaning "royal hill."
Variations of the surname MacInroe
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacInroe include MacInnis, MacKinnis, MacKinnock, MacInnery, MacInnes, MacInney, MacInnis, MacInnish, MacInnach, MacInas, MacInaugh, McKenneigh, Mckinnis, and Makanaw.
MacInroe is an Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Aonghuis, which is derived from the forename Aonghus, which is believed to mean "one strength". Historically, this surname is thought to be of both Scottish and Irish origin; however, records of the name in Scotland have not been found, and it is believed to have originated in Ulster in Ireland, with the majority of those with the surname settling in County Donegal.
Variants of the surname MacInroe started to emerge in the next couple of centuries, most likely due to the misinterpretation of the original Gaelic Relatives would often change or shorten the spelling of surnames due to factors such as illiteracy among the population, or simply for the ease of pronunciation.
The spelling variations that we have today, such as MacInnes, MacInnery, and MacInney, arose as the result of a changing language and a transitioning form of the Gaelic alphabet. It was not until recently, with the advent of computerized genealogical research, that the true origin of the MacInroe surname could be determined.
Famous people with the name MacInroe
- John McEnroe: American former World No. 1 professional tennis player
- Alec McEnroe: English actor
- Maureen McEnroe: American television and film actress
- Mary Lou McEnroe: American Women's Open golf champion
- Patrick McEnroe: American former professional tennis player and brother of John McEnroe
- Angus MacEnroe: Canadian actor
- P.J. MacEnroe: American singer and actor
- Rob MacEnroe: English actor, writer and comedian
- Siobhán MacEnroe: Irish television presenter
- Aidan MacEnroe: Canadian actor