Surname MacNamara - Meaning and Origin

MacNamara: What does the surname MacNamara mean?

The surname MacNamara originates from the Irish surname Mac Con Mara, which translates to "son of the hound of the sea". It is a patronymic surname, meaning it derives from the father's given name, and is particularly associated with the powerful MacNamara sept from Thomond, County Clare in Ireland.

The MacNamaras emerged during the 12th century in Munster and later in Connacht as a warlike sept, renowned for their strategic ability and prowess on the battlefield. They were renowned for their strong loyalty to the O'Brien clan, to whom they were lords. The MacNamara clan became an influential voice in Thomond and their power was consolidated when the clan was appointed to a viceroyal position and were granted vast estates to expand their domain.

The MacNamaras played an important role in defending Thomond against the Anglo-Norman invasion that began in the late 12th century. By the 17th century, the MacNamaras had become one of the largest clans in Western Ireland, with many scattered branches providing a strong presence across the surrounding counties of Limerick, Tipperary and Clare.

Today, the MacNamara surname is common amongst Irish-American and Anglo-Irish families and continues to be popular amongst families travelling throughout the world.

MacNamara: Where does the name MacNamara come from?

The last name MacNamara is most commonly associated with Ireland where it is found primarily in the provinces of Connacht and Munster in the western part of the country. This ancient Irish surname originated with the MacNamara clan which was once a powerful and wealthy family that laid claim to much of the land in the area.

There are many variants of the surname such as MacNamara, McNamara, MacNamaron, McNamaroo and many others. This Irish clan is most famously associated with the O’Brien dynasty, where many MacNamara’s have held high positions in government and military service over the centuries.

The MacNamara name is also quite common in the United States. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, there are over 49,000 people with the last name MacNamara living in America today. This is largely due to the influx of Irish immigrants who came to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of them had the last name MacNamara and took that name with them to America and it has since become quite common in the US.

It is also found in Australia and Canada which both have sizeable populations of people of Irish descent. The MacNamara surname can also be found in France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, South Africa and other countries all around the world as a result of the immigration of Irish people over the years.

Variations of the surname MacNamara

The MacNamara surname has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are MacNamara, McNamara, and MacNamara. It is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic MacConmara, meaning “son of Conmara”.

The primary spelling of the surname is MacNamara, which is by far the most commonly used variation. It is used in both Irish and Anglo-Irish forms. McNamara is a variant of the original spelling, which is almost as popular as the original form. It is usually found among people of Irish, Scottish, and English descent, as well as among Americans of Irish ancestry.

Other variants of the MacNamara name include McNamare, MacNamrua, MacNamroe, MacNamra, MacNamrah, MacNamree, McNamres, MacNamrie, MacNamrree, and MacNamry. Many of the MacNamara variants have both Irish and Anglo-Irish variants.

The Scottish Gaelic version of the name is MacRomaire, while an anglicized version is occasionally found as McNamer. In the United States, the name can also be spelled as 'MacNameer', 'MacNamere', or 'MacNamer'. Other surnames which have evolved from the same root include McNamery, McNamerye, MacNamery, MacNamerye, and MacNemery.

The MacNamara name has evolved over time and can be seen across Europe and in the United States. While some of the spellings and variations of the name may differ, they all have their origins in the same Gaelic name.

Famous people with the name MacNamara

• Matthew MacNamara, the Irish actor known for his roles in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
• John MacNamara, the former MLB player for the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers
• Joe MacNamara, the retired American hockey player who played for the Boston Bruins
• Robert MacNamara, the former Secretary of Defense for the United States
• Claire MacNamara, the Irish novelist and journalist
• Aine MacNamara, the Irish singer and songwriter
• Cody MacNamara, the musician and lead singer of The Used
• Marky MacNamara, the Irish singer and member of the Dublin-based band The Corrs
• Bruce MacNamara, the Canadian rugby union player and coach
• Donald MacNamara, the Australian physicist and professor at the University of Melbourne

Other surnames

MacNama