Surname Carmody - Meaning and Origin

Carmody: What does the surname Carmody mean?

The last name Carmody is of Irish origin and is derived from the ancient Gaelic name Mac Thoirdhealbhaigh, which translates to Son of Toirdhealbhach. The name is composed of two elements, the prefix, Mac, meaning “son of”, and the second element, Thoirdhealbhaigh, derived from the personal name, Toirdhealbhach, composed of the elements toir (a name element meaning “chief” or “prince”) and dealbhach (“form”).

In its earliest days, the surname Carmody likely referred to an ancestor or relative of considerable social standing, as many of the families that adopted this patronym were found among the Erenaghs, or hereditary stewards of church lands in Ireland.

Throughout the centuries, Carmody has become a common surname throughout Ireland, particularly in the counties of Limerick, Clare, and Kerry. In the United States, Carmody is found predominantly in the eastern and midwestern states, with some of the more prominent concentrations in communities of Irish descent such as New York City and Chicago.

Many branches of the family have also emigrated to countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, continuing the legacy of this influential and ancient name across the world.

Carmody: Where does the name Carmody come from?

The last name Carmody is most commonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In Ireland, it is most often found in County Kerry. It is also found throughout the rest of the country as well as in Northern Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the name Carmody is most commonly found in England, particularly in London and the south-east. It is also quite common in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The last name is also found in other parts of the world. It can be found throughout the United States, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. It is also found in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. In Australia, the last name Carmody is quite common in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. It is also found in other countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, and India.

In terms of derivation, the name Carmody derives from the Gaelic Irish surname O Ciarmada, which means "descendant of Ciarmaid". The name Ciarmaid itself means "gentler" and could refer to a playful or kind person. Therefore, the last name Carmody literally means "descendant of a gentle person."

Variations of the surname Carmody

The surname Carmody is of Irish origin, with different variants, spellings and surnames derived from it.

Carmody is considered the main spelling of the surname, but there are also variants or other closely related surnames, to include:

Carmoady, meaning ‘son of Carmod’ or ‘son of Maud’, which is an Irish variant of the name Matthew.

Cormody, a variant of Carmody with a similar origin.

Cremoddi, a variation of Carmody meaning ‘son of the grey-haired one’.

Karmody, a variant of the surname used in America and Canada.

MacComaidh or MacChomaidh, a Gaelic spelling referencing the same origin as Carmody, meaning ‘son of Comadhach’ or ‘son of Comhan’.

MacCormod, synonymous to MacComaidh, but with a slightly different spelling.

MacCormack, another variant of Carmody with the same meaning.

MacCormick, an Americanized spelling of the surname, with the same origin.

McComish, a shortened version of the name, which references the same origin as Carmody.

McComoy, yet another shortened version of the same origin as Carmody.

MacDevitt, derived from Devitt, a patronymic surname rooted in McGarrell, a similarly related ancestor.

O'Comhaidh or O'Comhan, variants of the original Gaelic name, meaning ‘son of Comadhach’ or ‘son of Comhan’.

The above variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Carmody have contributed largely to the diverse history of the Irish Carmody family.

Famous people with the name Carmody

• Stephen Carmody: a professional tennis player in the late 1960s and early 1970s
• Brian Carmody: a former NFL offensive tackle
• Berenice Carmody: a Dominican-American actress, voice artist, and writer
• Chris Carmody: an American actor, producer, and director
• James Carmody: an American mathematician and professor at the University of California, Davis
• Matt Carmody: an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist
• Mike Carmody: an American college basketball coach
• Robert Carmody: an American film and television actor
• Shannon Carmody: an Australian politician
• Briana Carmody: an American model and reality TV star

Other surnames