McArdle explained

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

Notes and References

  1. [Peadar Livingstone]
  2. Robert Bell, Book of Ulster Surnames, p.130, published by The Blackstaff Press in 1988.
  3. Web site: A Sample of Irish Family Names . 11 March 2010 . 20 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110520072253/http://www.ulsterancestry.com/irish-surnames.html . dead .