Surname Maher - Meaning and Origin
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Unearthing Historical Depths of My Name, Maher through iGENEA's DNA Analysis
My journey with iGENEA's DNA analysis offered deep insights into my Irish family name, Maher. The results connected me to the M222 Haplogroup in northwestern Ireland, ancient Irish High King Niall Noígíallach, and shed light on the historical importance and meaning of my surname. This expansion of understanding reshaped my view of my personal identity and heritage.
F. Maher
read moreMaher: What does the surname Maher mean?
The last name Maher is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "O Meachair," meaning "the descendant of the kind". It is an anglicized form of the original Irish surname Ó Meachair. The root word "meachar" translates to "hospitable" in English. Therefore, the surname is often interpreted as ‘kind’ or ‘generous’. It is prevalent in counties Tipperary and Kilkenny in Ireland. Variations of this surname include Mahar, Meagher, and O'Meagher. Like many Irish surnames, it was formed by adding a prefix to a personal name or nickname. Despite its origins in Ireland, the surname Maher could now be found across many countries, and bearers of this surname found around the world are more than likely to trace their ancestry back to Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMaher: Where does the name Maher come from?
The surname Maher is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Meachair," meaning "hospitable" or "kind." It was first found in County Tipperary, and the name was particularly associated with this region for centuries.
Today, the surname is common in Ireland, but it has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly English-speaking countries, due to Irish diaspora. These countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Currently, Ireland and the United States probably have the highest concentrations of people with the Maher surname.
The surname occasionally appears in different variations such as Meagher or O'Maher. Some of the famous people with this surname include Bill Maher, the American comedian, and Steve Maher, the English footballer.
Variations of the surname Maher
The surname Maher has several variations, transliterations and associated surnames, due to differences in languages, dialects, and historical spellings. Mainly of Irish origin, some consider Maher as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Ó Meachair," meaning "kind" or "generous."
It can be commonly found as O'Maher, Meagher and O'Meagher, which were more prevalent before the English ban on Irish surnames and prefixes was lifted in the 19th century. In its Anglicized form without the "O" prefix, it can be found as Maher and also Mahir, although the latter may also have separate Turkish and Arabic origins.
The surname also appears as Marr, which might be an alternative spelling or potentially a completely different name stemming from Scotland or England. Additionally, the spelling of this surname can also appear as Mahher or Maharr in some documents due to manual transcription errors.
Variations could also include Mayher, Mear, and Mahare, again mainly owing to different accents and pronunciation. Some bearers of the surname, particularly in the United States, simplified it to Meager or even Mare.
However, it's important to note, multiple names might share the same spelling but have different origins, implying they’re not variants of the same name.
Famous people with the name Maher
- Bill Maher: an American comedian and political commentator
- Michael Maher: an Irish author and public speaker
- Bernie Maher: a Canadian politician
- Brehan Maher: an American actor and producer
- Mary Maher: an Australian poet and academic
- Mandy Maher: an American writer and family psychologist
- Donna Maher: an Irish stage and television actress
- Sandra Maher: an American model, actress and pageant titleholder
- Anne Maher: an American stand-up comedian and actor
- Ciara Maher: an Irish model and presenter