MAGUIRE
Recorded variant spellings include Ma Guire
Maguire is a surname of Gaelic Irish origin that first appears in the annals of the British Isles. The name emanates from the ancient Gaelic Mag Uidhir, literally meaning “son of Odhar.” The personal byname Odhar translates to “dun” or “dark‑coloured,” describing a person with a fair or tawny complexion.
The surname is historically associated with the province of Ulster, particularly County Fermanagh. The Maguire sept rose to prominence during the Middle Ages, becoming feudal lords of the valley surrounding Lough Erne. Their seat was in Enniskillen, where they held the barony and exercised considerable influence over the neighbouring clans of the O’Neills and the O’Connells.
Records indicate that the earliest attestation of the name is the form MagUidhir in the Ancient Annals of Ulster dated 956, during the reign of Brian Boru, who was High King from 940 to 1014. In the 16th century the chiefs of the sept were still notable: Hugh Maguire led the victorious Irish cavalry at the Battle of the Yellow Ford in 1598, and Connor Maguire served as the second Baron of Enniskillen from 1616 to 1645.
Variations of the surname have arisen over the centuries through Anglicisation and regional pronunciation. Common spellings include Maguire, MacGuire, McGuire, and Macquire, with earlier forms such as MagUidhir and MagUirish. In contemporary usage these variants are found throughout Ireland and in the Irish diaspora of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Australasia.
The coat of arms associated with the Maguire family is described as a green shield bearing a white horse fully caparisoned. The horse carries a knight in full armour upon its back; above the helmet a plume of ostrich feathers in full display, and the knight’s right hand brandishes a sword accurately depicted. This heraldic device recognises the martial heritage of the sept.
Notable individuals who have carried the surname include Nicholas Maguire (1460–1512), who served as bishop of Leighlin; Thomas Maguire (1831–1889), a professor of classical composition at Trinity College, Dublin, who held the chair in 1880; and various other figures of influence in Irish ecclesiastical, military and academic spheres.
Despite substantial emigration during the Great Famine of the mid‑19th century, the concentration of the surname remains highest in County Fermanagh and its surrounding counties of Monaghan and Cavan. The name continues to be common within Ireland and in territories forming part of the wider Irish diaspora.
Typical given names associated with the Maguire surname
Male
- David
- James
- John
- Kevin
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Angela
- Anne
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Maguire in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Maguire are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Cookie.
There are approximately 14,400 people named Maguire in the UK. That makes it the 618th most common surname in Britain. Around 221 in a million people in Britain are named Maguire.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Maguire
- Harry Maguire - Football player
- Tobey Maguire - American actor and film producer
- Sean Maguire - Actor and singer
- Stephen Maguire - Scottish snooker player
- Chris Maguire - Scottish football player
- Mairead Maguire - Peace activist
- Les Maguire - Pianist
- Laurence Maguire - Football player
- Clare Maguire - Singer
- Frank Maguire - Publican, politician (1929 to 1981)
- Joe Maguire - Football player
- Gavin Maguire - Welsh football player
- George Maguire - Actor
- Sharon Maguire - Television director
- Paul Maguire - Northern Irish barrister turned judge; political activist
- Leonard Maguire - Actor (1924 to 1997)
- Jordan Maguire-Drew - Professional football player
- Jon Maguire - Singer and songwriter
- Sean Maguire - Football player
- Barry Maguire - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.