McNamara
What is the origin of the last name McNamara?
Meaning and origin
The origin of the surname McNamara can be traced back to Ireland. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Conmara, indicating a patronymic ancestry, with "mac" meaning "son of" and "Conmara" derived from the Old Irish "Conmhachaire," meaning "hound of the sea". Today, the name is still common in Ireland and can be found across the globe due to Irish emigration.
The longer story
The last name McNamara is of Irish origin, and it holds significant historical and cultural relevance. Derived from the Gaelic name Mac Conmara, it is an occupational surname meaning ''son of Conmara'' or ''hound of the sea''. This name is primarily associated with County Clare, located on the west coast of Ireland.
The O'Brien dynasty, one of the most powerful and influential families in Irish history, had a close connection to the McNamaras. Their territorial dominance extended over the region surrounding the River Shannon and Lough Derg.
He fought alongside other Gaelic chieftains and was known for his zeal in resisting English colonization. However, the efforts of the Gaelic lords were ultimately unsuccessful, and the region fell under English control.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,329
McNamara was the 1,329th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 26,534 people, about 8.6 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like McNamara
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where McNamara is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.