McArdle Irish Surname: History, Origins & Heritage of an Oriel Family

McArdle family woven blanket with a family crest on Irish tartan, celebrating McArdle Oriel Monaghan heritage

McArdle is a Gaelic name of the old territory of Oriel in the north-east of Ireland.

Where does the McArdle name come from?

McArdle is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Ardghail, “son of Ardghal” — a personal name combining ard (high) with gal (valour), in effect “high valour.” The family was a branch of the great MacMahons, lords of Oriel.

McArdle in Ireland

The name belongs especially to counties Monaghan and Louth, in the old kingdom of Oriel, where the McArdles were long established as a sept of the MacMahons. As an old Gaelic name, it appears in several spellings and is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.

McArdle family crest mug on Irish tartan, a McArdle heritage gift

Related Irish family names

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Frequently asked questions

Is McArdle an Irish surname?

Yes — McArdle is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Mac Ardghail, a sept of the MacMahons of Oriel, in Monaghan and Louth.

What does McArdle mean?

It means “son of Ardghal,” a name combining ard (high) with gal (valour).

Is there a McArdle family crest?

Families of the name have heraldic traditions.