Surname MacQueary - Meaning and Origin
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MacQueary: What does the surname MacQueary mean?
The surname MacQueary is an Irish surname originating from the Gaelic ‘Mac Uí Choimdhearga’ meaning ‘son of the descendant of Comdhearg’. The Coimdhearga was a general term for a variety of people such as, a leader or ruler, a steward, a general and an earl.
The MacQueary family is an ancient family associated with a region known as the Kingdom of Thomond (now the northwest corner of County Clare). This kingdom was centered around the monastery of Killaloe and also included the areas of Corcomroe, Burren and Inchiquin. It was during the 10th century that the first MacQuearys settled in the area.
Throughout the centuries, the MacQueary family became known as an influential and proud family of the area. Many of them held positions of power and ultimately became a major force in the region. They played an important role in the political and social landscape of the area as well as in the fields of trade, Christianity and the military.
The MacQueary family today is still present in Ireland, but also has members around the world. The legacy that the MacQueary family has left will continue to live on through the many generations that still honor its roots.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQueary: Where does the name MacQueary come from?
The last name "MacQueary" is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. It is associated primarily with Irish immigrants and their descendants in these countries. The surname originated in Ireland, likely in the province of Ulster in the north of the country, and may also have been adopted in parts of Scotland.
The name is certainly Irish in origin, and more specifically Scots-Irish, a term used to refer to the descendants of Lowland Scots who moved to Ulster in the 1700s. This region was heavily settled by a wave of Protestant planters from Scotland, and the old Scottish and Irish cultures were heavily intertwined in the area, leading to an amalgamation of surnames from both traditions.
The MacQueary surname today is often found among family lines descended from the Scots-Irish settlers. It can be especially common in states along the Appalachian Mountains, where the Scots-Irish made up a large part of the population in the colonial period. The states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia all have pockets of MacQueary family lines to this day.
The name is also occasionally found in other states where Scots-Irish immigration was more limited - for example, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony where some weavers and other skilled workers from Ulster had moved in the 18th century.
Overall, the name is quite rare but is consistently found in one area – the United States and Canada. Its popularity has likely grown since the days of the Scots-Irish immigration, and it may become increasingly common in the coming decades.
Variations of the surname MacQueary
Macqueary is a surname of Scottish origin associated with Clan MacFarlane. It is spelled in many different ways, including Macquarrie, Macquarie, Macquarrie, M’Queary, Macquarrey, MacQuary, Macquire, MacQuary, Makquarey, Mackquary, Macquere, Macquergy, Maguire, Maguirey, Makquerry and Maguary. It can also be found as McGqueary, McGquairy, MacGeary, MacGuary, Magurey, McGorry, Makarre, Makquary, MacKwuary, MacKwery, MacGeuery, and MacQuary.
The surname Macqueary is derived from the Gaelic Mac an Choire, meaning "son of the cauldron". The name could have originally referred to an individual associated with smithery or metalwork. It is believed the Clan MacFarlane was founded by a person of the same name in the 13th century. They were descended from Ailean, son of Niall of Islay, in the southwest of Scotland.
Various branches of the Clan then began to form the various spellings of the name, resulting in the diverse surnames seen today. In the 17th century, individuals bearing the Macqueary surname settled in Ireland, particularly County Derry.
The first known recording of the surname was seen in 1263, when John Makquary was recorded as witness to a charter. Other Mackquaries from the same period include Robert Makquare, in 1304; and Warnebold Makquere, in 1338.
Today, the various spellings of the name are found throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, and North America.
Famous people with the name MacQueary
- 1.Chip MacQueary: Former American college football coach and television analyst
- Sean MacQueary: Retired American soccer defender
- Mike MacQueary: Retired American college football player and coach
- Dan MacQueary: Retired American professional football guard
- Ryan MacQueary: Retired American professional football player
- Ed MacQueary: Retired American professional boxer
- Sare MacQueary: Retired American baseball player
- Chris MacQueary: American actor
- Amy MacQueary: American television personality and blogger
- Hugh MacQueary: American Pac-12 sports journalist
- Joe MacQueary: American reality television star