Maguire

Maguire is a surname of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic Mag Uidhir, meaning “son of Uidhir,” with Uidhir a personal name that is often interpreted as meaning gray, pale, or dour. The form is common in Ulster, particularly in counties such as Fermanagh and surrounding areas, and has several Anglicized variants, including McGuire and MacGuire.

Historically, bearers of the name were associated with Gaelic lordships and septs in Ulster. In medieval records, the Maguires appear in relation to the dynastic and clan structures of the region, contributing to the historical landscape of what is now northern Ireland. Today the surname is dispersed widely across Ireland and the Irish diaspora, and is found in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Notable people with the surname include Tobey Maguire (born 1975), the American actor and producer best known for playing Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s film trilogy. Beyond this, Maguire appears across fields such as arts, sports, and academia, reflecting the broad dispersion of Irish families globally. In onomastics and genealogical research, Maguire serves as an example of Gaelic name formation and the ways in which Irish names have been Anglicized and distributed through migration.