Surname MacMoyers - Meaning and Origin

MacMoyers: What does the surname MacMoyers mean?

The last name MacMoyers is thought to be an Irish derived surname. It is most likely a variant of the surname MacMahon or MacComay, both of which are anglicized versions of the Gaelic name Mac Mathghamhna, meaning “son of Mathghamhain”. Mathghamhain was a personal given name of a 10th century dynastic ruler in Ireland.

The surname MacMoyers is also associated with the clan MacMoyers of the south of Ireland, who may have derived their name from Mac Conmhaighe, meaning 'son of Conmhaighe'. Conmhaighe was an 11th century Gaelic nobleman.

Generally, the MacMoyers surname typically is a sign of a proud Irish heritage, and is associated with a powerful and noble past. The name itself emerged soon after the collapse of Gaelic dominance in Ireland, and so it is associated with the newfound independence of the Irish people as they sought to create their own identity. As a result, the surname MacMoyers is steeped in Irish history and culture.

MacMoyers: Where does the name MacMoyers come from?

The last name MacMoyers is most commonly found in the United States, where it ranks as the 15,071st most common surname. It is said to be of Scottish and Irish origin, and is believed to derive from a variant of the Irish name MacMuirí or MacMurry. It is also sometimes spelled McMoyers.

MacMoyers can be found scattered throughout the United States, particularly in larger cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and New York City. It is most commonly found in the East and Midwest, with the highest concentrations of the surname being clustered in states such as Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Since MacMoyers is somewhat less common than some of the more popular last names, there haven't been many well-known people who have gone down in history as having the name. However, a quick search will reveal a handful of notable people, such as billionaire businessman Wayne McMoyers, former NFL player Louis MacMoyers, and former MLB outfielders Jeff and Craig McMoyers.

Ultimately, if you are researching the last name MacMoyers, you are likely to find the greatest concentration of records and stories related to populations from the Midwest or Eastern regions of the United States.

Variations of the surname MacMoyers

The surname MacMoyers is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Mhuirich. Variants of the surname include MacMoir, MacMurry, MacMurrie, MacMuree, MacMurphy, MacMoury, MacMourrie, and MacMoye. All of these variations are derived from the same source: the Gaelic name ‘mhuirich’ which means 'sea-lord' or 'sea-king’.

The MacMoyers name is also related to the anglicized name MacMorris, an Irish variant of the old Scottish name Murray, which is derived from the Gaelic name “Muireadhach”. Varients of MacMorris include MacMoorish, MacMorrice, MacMorrey, MacMorrie, MacMurry, MacMurphy, MacMouris, MacMourn, MacMown, and MacMoyne.

In Scotland, the name is also found to have been spelled several ways, such as MacMuarach, MacMaurie, MacMeurach, MacMouary, and MacMoireach.

The name MacMoyers is also related to the following surnames: MacMurry, MacMurray, MacMorris, MacMorrow, MacMooris, MacMoir, and MacMoorish.

All of these variations and spellings are based on the same root name, which was given to chief warriors of the sea or to land owners situated on a coast. As a result, the main source of the MacMoyers surname is probably the Gaelic name Muirich, which was originally based on the elements Muire, meaning ‘sea’, and each, meaning ‘lord’ or ‘king’.

Famous people with the name MacMoyers

• Kevin MacMoyer: American football player who was a running back with the Houston Oilers in 1971.
• Harry MacMoyer: former professional NHL goaltender who won one Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings while playing from 1951–52 to 1953–54.
• Brian MacMoyer: American figure skater who was the 1972 U.S. champion. He was also the bronze medalist at the 1972 World Championships.
• Jack MacMoyer: American television writer who wrote for many TV shows including The Beverly Hillbillies, Diagnosis: Murder, Pet Hospital, Garfield and Friends, and other animated series.
• Renee MacMoyer: Captain in the United States Navy and an awarded doctor who serves on several boards and leads the Navy Medicine board.
• Joe MacMoyer: Journalist and former editor for the Voiceless Voices, a New York City non-profit organization. He has also written articles for the Huffington Post, the New York Times, and other outlets.
• Donna MacMoyer: Award-winning author and professor of creative writing. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and more.
• Robert MacMoyer: Film producer who won an Emmy Award in 2005 for his work as a producer of the cult classic film “The Last Man Standing”.
• Chris MacMoyer: Videographer and cinematographer who is best known for his work on the documentaries “Keepers of the Light” and “The Oxygen Adventure”.
• Tessa MacMoyer: Professional ballerina and former cast member of the Radio City Rockettes.

Other surnames

MacMoyer