Mac Íomhair is a masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "son of Íomhar". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form Nic Íomhair is borne by unmarried females; the forms Bean Mhic Íomhair and Mhic Íomhair are borne by married females. A variant form of Mac Iomhair is Mag Íomhair; the feminine forms of this surname are likewise Nig Íomhair, Bean Mhig Íomhair, and Mhig Íomhair. All these Irish surnames have various Anglicised forms.
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👉 Mac Íomhair in the context of Norse-Gaels
The Norse–Gaels (Old Irish: Gall-Goídil; Irish: Gall-Ghaeil; Scottish Gaelic: Gall-Gàidheal; Manx: Goal-Gael, 'foreigner-Gaels') were a people of mixed Gaelic and Norse ancestry and culture. They emerged in the Viking Age, when Vikings who settled in Ireland and in Scotland became Gaelicised and intermarried with Gaels. The Norse–Gaels dominated much of the Irish Sea and Scottish Sea regions from the 9th to 12th centuries. They founded the Kingdom of the Isles (which included the Hebrides and the Isle of Man), the Kingdom of Dublin, the Lordship of Galloway (which is named after them), and briefly ruled the Kingdom of York (939–944 AD). The most powerful Norse–Gaelic dynasty were the Uí Ímair or Ivar dynasty.
Over time, the Norse–Gaels became ever more Gaelicised and disappeared as a distinct group. However, they left a lasting influence, especially in the Isle of Man and Outer Hebrides, where most placenames are of Norse–Gaelic origin. Several Scottish clans have Norse–Gaelic roots, such as Clan MacDonald, Clan MacDougall and Clan MacLeod. The elite mercenary warriors known as the gallowglass (gallóglaigh) emerged from these Norse–Gaelic clans and became an important part of Irish warfare. The Viking longship also influenced the Gaelic birlinn and longa fada, which were used extensively until the 17th century. Norse–Gaelic surnames survive today and include MacIvor, MacAskill, and [Mac]Cotter.