McGrath Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the McGrath surname: its meaning, its roots in Ireland, and its heraldry.
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Origin of the McGrath name
McGrath anglicises Mac Craith, "son of Craith", an old personal name of uncertain meaning. There were two main families: one in County Clare, hereditary poets to the O'Briens of Thomond, who later settled in Waterford, and one at Termon McGrath on the Donegal and Fermanagh border, keepers of church lands. The name is common in Munster and Ulster.
Our historical archives hold much more on the McGrath name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the McGrath name in Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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The researched McGrath pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized McGrath coat of arms.
McGrath name FAQ
What does the McGrath name mean?
Son of Craith. Common variants include Magrath, MacGrath, McGraw.
Where does the McGrath surname come from?
It originates in Ireland, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a McGrath coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single McGrath crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized McGrath coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.