McArdle

McArdle or MacArdle is an Irish surname. It originates in County Monaghan, where it was the fifth most common surname in 1970. The surname in Irish is MacArdghail, from ardghal, meaning 'high valour' or from the Irish "ardghail" meaning "tall foreigner" with roots "ard" meaning "tall" and "gail" meaning "foreigner", indicative of their original ancestor being a Viking or from Viking stock. The surname is also common in County Armagh and County Louth.

They are a branch of the McMahon clans of Oriel, descendants from 'Ardghail Mor MacMahon' (Irish name: Ardghail MacBriain MacMathghamhna), who was chief of the MacMahons and King of Oriel from 1402 to 1416. They were based originally in the barony of Monaghan and a branch became sub-chiefs in County Armagh under the O'Neills of the Fews.[1][2][3]

People with the surname

See also

References

  1. ^ Peadar Livingstone, The Monaghan story, published by Enniskillen : Clogher Historical Society in 1980.
  2. ^ Robert Bell, Book of Ulster Surnames, p.130, published by The Blackstaff Press in 1988.
  3. ^ "A Sample of Irish Family Names". Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
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