Surname McGirr - Meaning and Origin

McGirr: What does the surname McGirr mean?

The last name McGirr is an anglicized version of the Scots Irish surname Mag Fhearadhaigh, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Fhearadhaigh, meaning "son of Faradach," or "son of judgment". Faradach was an early Christian king who is said to have ruled in the 5th century.

The McGirr name is found primarily in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Several branches of the family are thought to have immigrated to other parts of the world, such as America, Australia, and Canada.

The McGirr surname is relatively uncommon compared to other popular Irish last names. People bearing this name are believed to be related to the O'Fearghail clan—a renowned group of warriors from Leinster, Ireland. It is also possible that there were separate families with the McGirr name that operated independently.

The McGirr name carries a sense of honor, tradition, and tenacity. People with this last name today might continue to carry these 14th century traditional ideals of kingship, justice, and loyalty with them wherever they go.

McGirr: Where does the name McGirr come from?

The last name McGirr is most common in the Republic of Ireland. Data from the Irish Central Statistics Office suggests that there are approximately 2,419 people with the surname living in Ireland.

McGirr is mainly a surname of Irish origin. The name originates from the Gaelic Mac Giobhair, meaning “son of Giobhair”. The Old Irish name Giobhair, which means “helper of the king”, can be further traced back to the ancient Gaelic words “giudhal” and “odhar”, which mean “help” and “king”, respectively.

McGirrs are mainly concentrated in counties Antrim and Derry, in Northern Ireland. While the name is uncommon outside of this region, it has been recorded in significant numbers in some parts of England, Scotland, the United States, and Canada.

McGirr is a spelling variant of the surname McGirr, with members of both variants being mostly descended from the ancient lords of Fermanagh and Laggan, the O'Gowans. It was the O'Gowans who acquired the lands of Fermanagh and Laggan, located on the western side of Lower Lough Erne in the modern-day Fermanagh district. The O'Gowan family is believed to have had branches, including the O'Gobhains (later McGirr) from the 10th century.

Today, people with the name McGirr still carry the distinct culture and history of the O'Gowan family, as well as their ancient roots in Fermanagh and Laggan.

Variations of the surname McGirr

The surname McGirr is an anglicised version of the Gaelic name “Mac Girr”. This name is often used interchangeably with its variants Mac Geer, Magirr, Magir and MacGirr. The name is derived from the Irish name “mac Fhearghas”, meaning “son of Fhearghas”. This name was also commonly anglicised to ‘Fergie’.

The surname McGirr is found mostly in Northern Ireland, where it originated. It is one of the few surnames that originates from County Antrim. The name is also found in Scotland, mainly in the Highlands. In Scotland, however, it is more commonly known by its variant spellings Magir and Magirr.

In both Ulster and Scotland the name is often associated with the Mac Giolla Eireamhoin and Mac Giolla Ruadh Clanns, the two most common septs originating with the McGirr name.

In America, the name is often found spelled as McGirr, MacGirr or MacGeer – all of which are derived from the original Gaelic surnames. Other less common variants and spellings of the McGirr surname include McGerr, MacGerr and MacGerrie.

The McGirr surname has a long and proud association with both Ulster and Scotland. It is a strong family name and is a reminder of the many contributions its ancestors have made to both countries.

Famous people with the name McGirr

• Sean McGirr: Former Australian professional footballer
• Maeve Mcgirr: Irish language teacher and media specialist
• Michael McGirr: Australian Catholic priest, author and columnist
• Catriona McGirr: Northern Irish actress
• Patrick McGirr: Traditional Irish harpist and composer
• P.J. McGirr: Award-winning independent filmmaker
• Peter McGirr: 1996 Olympic swimmer from Ireland
• Ronald McGirr: Retired Australian FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) referee
• Conor McGirr: Irish professional footballer
• Seamus McGirr: Irish actor and playwright.

Other surnames

McGirt