Family name origins & meanings
- Irish : Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Eachmharcaigh, ‘son of Eachmharcach’, a personal name composed of the elements each ‘horse’ + marcach ‘rider’, ‘knight’. The sound change ch to f also occurs in a number of other names. Compare Murphy. The surname is found in Donegal, probably a branch of the O’Dohertys.