While it is impossible to identify all individuals from centuries back to present, a surname study can at least render a generalized family history. P.O. Gallachair wrote of McGirr "This Tyrone surname, common too today, in other parts of the North, and not even listed in the published indexes to the native Annals, originated in Clogher Valley". McGirr is a type of surname of native Celtic origin which is derived directly from a nickname. We find in the Annals of Loch Ce, the surname Mac-in-ghirr first appears in relation to the MacCathmhaoils (of ancient Ui Neill stock) in the year 1365 A.D. in Clogher Valley, Tyrone..... The Kalends of January on Wednesday, and the twenty-ninth of the moon: M.ccc.Ixv.:xvii,,.Cycli lunaris: iii. Anno Indictionis: x iii. Sycli solaris, Ruaidhri, son of Domhnall ONeill of Tir eoghan was killed by Maelsechlain Mac-in-ghirr MacCathmhaoil, with one shot of an arrow. Maelsechlain Mac-in-ghirr MacCathmhaoil translates as Malachy son of the wee man MacCathmhaoil. Malachy was a son of the ruling family of the Clogher valley, the MacCathmhaoils (a surname found in modern times in the form of McCawell, McCaul and Campbell). The Gear MacCathmhaoils regarded themselves as a separate family from the ruling house house of Clogher. The death of Cu-Uladh mac in ghirr is recorded in 1368, where the Annals style him cenn aicme a chinidh fein : head of the family of his own tribe. Today the surname mac-in-ghirr is commonly found as McGirr, McGerr, McKerr and anglicized as Short. *See http://www.geocities.com/geer_family/index.html The family MacAngearr (Shortt or Short or MacGirr) were Galloglas (Gall Oglaigh) from the Western Scottish seaboard who settled initially in the Clogher Valley in South Tyrone and parts of Cavan and Monaghan. *See Castle Short & The Royal Galloglas (An Gallóglaigh na Rítheaghlach) Rev. P.O. Gallachair is an authority on Irish history and genealogy and he has transcribed and authored many publications that are available at the Trinity College in Dublin. For further information on the MaCathmhaoils of Clogher refer to The Clogher Record 1957 by S.O. Dufaigh B.A. B.D. clones ISBN 0 949012 04 1 Genevieve Price 14-08-2004
- WELCOME
- CELTIC
- TRAVEL
- GENEALOGY
- TYRONE
  - Tyrone Origins
  - St. MaCartans
  - McGirr 1600s -
  - FREEHOLDERS
  - Hearth Money
  - Tyrone to Fermanagh
  - GUESTBOOK 1
  - GUESTBOOK 2
- FERMANAGH