Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
MCNAMARA
There are approximately 10,742 people named McNamara in the UK. That makes it the 988th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 170 are named McNamara.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
Ireland
Language of origin
Gaelic
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
Celtic
From name of parent
Related and similar surnames
MacNamaraMacnamaara
Mac'namara
Macnamarea
Macknamara
Macnamar
Mackknamara
Macnamaran
Macnamarar
Macnamarad
Macknemara
Maccnemara
Macnamair
Macnaimar
Macnamare
Macknamarra
Macnamaree
Macnamarah
Macanamara
Macknemarra
Macnamari
The McNamara surname in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: Celtic.) From Mac, son, and cu-marra or or con-marra, "the hero of the sea." Con-marra was descended from Cas, King of Thomond, from whom came McConmara, or Macnamara. This family were anciently hereditary lords in the County of Clare.