Ciardha

Ciardha is a Gaelic-language name used as both a surname and a given name. It is found among people of Irish heritage and appears in Irish genealogical records, civil registries, and contemporary name databases.

Origin and meaning: The exact etymology is not definitively established. In Gaelic onomastics, Ciardha is generally treated as a traditional name element with possible connections to ciar, meaning dark or black, or to other common Gaelic building blocks. The form is predominantly masculine in traditional use, though modern usage can be gender-inclusive in some contexts.

Usage and distribution: Ciardha remains most common in Ireland. It is also present in the Irish diaspora in Britain, North America, and Australia, often through family migration and anglicization of Gaelic spelling in records over time.

Notable people: Individuals bearing Ciardha as a surname or given name have appeared in local government, academia, and the arts, largely within Irish communities. No widely known international figure bears the name as of contemporary public life.

See also: Related names with Gaelic roots include Ciarán and Ciara; these names share some linguistic ancestry but Ciardha remains a distinct form in usage and spelling.