Contents [hide]

McGuire History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

McGuire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

Etymology of McGuire

What does the name McGuire mean?

Many variations of the name McGuire have evolved since the time of its initial creation. In Gaelic it appeared as Mag Uidhir, which is derived from the word "odhar," meaning "dun-colored;" in the genitive case, the word is "uidhir."

Early Origins of the McGuire family

The surname McGuire was first found in County Fermanagh (Irish: Fear Manach) in the southwestern part of Northern Ireland, Province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the McGuire family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGuire research. Another 66 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1683 and 1707 are included under the topic Early McGuire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGuire Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name McGuire revealed many variations, including Maguire, MacGuire, Guire, Guirey, Guiry and others.

Early Notables of the McGuire family

Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McGuire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGuire World Ranking

In the United States, the name McGuire is the 494^th most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name McGuire is ranked the 867^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,138 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name McGuire is the 810^th popular surname with an estimated 4,840 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks McGuire as 933^rd with 7,399 people. 4

McGuire migration to the United States +

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the McGuire family relocated to North American shores quite early:

McGuire Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Bryan McGuire, who landed in Virginia in 1717 5
Constantine McGuire, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 5
Thomas McGuire, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1745 5
Annie McGuire, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 5
Dennis McGuire, who settled in New England in 1772
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McGuire Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles McGuire, who landed in America in 1803 5
Francis McGuire, aged 28, who landed in Maryland in 1813 5
Catherine McGuire, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 5
Ellen McGuire, aged 15, who arrived in America in 1822 5
Bernard McGuire, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McGuire Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Michael McGuire, who arrived in Alabama in 1913 5

McGuire migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGuire Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James McGuire, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Patrick McGuire U.E. who settled in Gullivers Cove, Digby County, Nova Scotia c. 1784 6

McGuire Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hugh McGuire, who landed in Canada in 1831
Peter McGuire, aged 36, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Owen McGuire, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
Mary McGuire, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
James McGuire, aged 19, a weaver, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Trial" in 1833
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McGuire migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McGuire Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Margaret Mcguire, (Murphy), (b. 1761), aged 32, Irish convict who was convicted in Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7

McGuire Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret McGuire, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Robert McGuire, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. Hugh Mcguire, English convict who was convicted in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Peter McGuire, (Weir), Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 13th March 1828, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
William McGuire, English convict from Kent, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 29, 1828, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McGuire migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McGuire Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Ellen Mcguire, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854 13
Eliza McGuire, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gipsy" in 1854
Mr. James Mcguire, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 13
Mrs. Ann Mcguire, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 13
Miss Mary Mcguire, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 17th October 1855 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McGuire (post 1700) +

William "Biff" McGuire (1926-2021), American two-time Tony award nominated actor, known for Serpico (1973), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Firebird 2015 AD (1981) and many more
Barry McGuire (b. 1935), American singer-songwriter, best known for his hit song "Eve of Destruction"
Deborah "Debora" McGuire, American actress who was married to actor and comedian Richard Pryor from September 22, 1977 to August 1978
Regis Pierre McGuire (b. 1961), American ice hockey analyst for the National Hockey League (NHL) broadcasts on NBC in the United States
Phyllis McGuire (b. 1931), American singer, member of The McGuire Sisters, a singing trio in American popular music
Dorothy "Dottie" McGuire (1928-2012), American singer, member of The McGuire Sisters, a singing trio in American popular music
Ruby Christine McGuire (1926-2018), American singer, member of The McGuire Sisters, a singing trio in American popular music
Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. (1920-1945), American ace during World War II, credited with 38 aerial victories, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944, eponym of McGuire Air Force Base
Kim Diane McGuire (1955-2016), American actress and author, best known for her role in the 1990 comedy musical Cry-Baby
Christine McGuire (b. 1926), American singer, member of the singing trio The McGuire Sisters
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McGuire family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Arthur T McGuire (b. 1909), English Chief Engine Room Artificer serving for the Royal Navy from Netley, Southampton, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14

HMS Repulse

Mr. William A Mcguire, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 15

USS Arizona

Mr. Francis Raymond Mcguire, American Storekeeper Second Class from Michigan, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16

USS Indianapolis

Denis Mcguire, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 17

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1828 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1828
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew