McArdle

The surname McArdle or MacArdle was the twelfth most numerous in its homeland of County Monaghan 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's 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. http://www.ulsterancestry.com/irish-surnames.html
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