Surname Groarty - Meaning and Origin

Groarty: What does the surname Groarty mean?

The last name Groarty is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Grúartaigh, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name Grúarach meaning ‘maimed’ or ‘lame’. The name likely originated many centuries ago with a family whose ancestor had a physical disability.

The name most likely originated in County Donegal, Ireland and there are still many Groarty families who reside there. Groarty can be found in other countries with an Irish diaspora, such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Groarty family is not a large one, but they have been in Ireland for a long time. A variation in the spelling of the last name comes from families’ attempts to assert a new identity in the new countries in which they settled. Many people chose to Anglicize their name into Groarty in order to make it sound more familiar to the local population.

Today, the Groarty surname is a proud symbol of a family’s Irish heritage. It can be a source of pride to those who know the story behind the name’s meaning and how it has withstood the tests of time and immigration.

Groarty: Where does the name Groarty come from?

The last name Groarty is most commonly found today in Ireland. According to records, the Groarty surname is a diminutive of the Irish name Mac Craurtaidhe, deriving from the words meaning "son of Craurtaidhe", which is a personal name meaning "son of the craftsman".

The surname can be traced back to County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, although many Groarty families also settled further south in County Limerick in the 1600s. The name can be also found in Scotland and a few families with the name are present in England. The most prominent Groarty family is located in County Mayo, Ireland.

This Irish surname of Groarty is now to be found in many parts of the world, particularly the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There are also significant numbers in continental Europe, particularly in France and Spain.

It is thought that the name Groarty is derived from the old Irish language word gortach, meaning "field" and the surname may have originally referred to a person who lived near a field. The name may also have indicated a person who was particularly proficient at gardening and working the land.

Variations of the surname Groarty

Surname Groarty is an Anglicized version of an Irish-Gaelic surname that has several other variants and spellings.

The most common variants of the surname Groarty are: Grogan, O'Groarty, Magroarty, Grogane, Gronerty and McGrorty. In some cases it has also been spelled as Groorty, Gruarty and Groarke.

The most common form of the name is O'Groarty, derived from the old Irish surname "O'Gruairce," which is attributed to the Ui Gruairce dynasty who were an ancient clan in county Donegal, Ireland. This name is derived from the Irish words ‘gruairce’ meaning 'said person' and 'O' meaning 'grandson of.' In some cases, McGrorty is a variant of O'Groarty, in which the prefix 'Mc' signifies 'son of.'

Among other variants, Grogan is derived from the Irish surname 'O'Gruagáin,' which means ‘descendant of Gruagán’; Gruagán being a personal name derived from the Gaelic word 'gruag' which means 'a mane.' Groorty is derived from the Irish surname 'Mac Riocard,' which means 'son of Riocard.' Groarke traces back to the Old Irish surname 'O'Maoilriaghail,' which is derived from the personal name 'Maoilriaghail.' The ancient Irish surname Gronerty is derived from the Gaelic name 'O'Gronnertaidh,' which means 'descendant of Gronnertaidh.' Magroarty may come from the Gaelic name 'Mac Ghiolla Ruaigh,' which means 'son of the red-haired servant.'

In short, the surname Groarty has several variants and spellings, which all trace back to the ancient Irish family of Ui Gruairce.

Famous people with the name Groarty

• Shaun Groarty: Shaun Groarty is an American actor and filmmaker, best known for his role as Nick in the 2004 movie, 13 Going on 30.
• Brendan Groarty: Brendan Groarty is a cinematographer who has worked on several films such as Uncertainty, Anna Karenina, and The Revenant.
• Dr. Adrian Groarty: Dr. Adrian Groarty is a prominent general practitioner and considered one of the Penrith region’s public health advocates.
• Gary Groarty: Gary Groarty is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has supported initiatives such as providing clean water to rural villages, and building free libraries in developing countries.
• Sarah Groarty: Sarah Groarty is a former world-champion synchronized swimmer who competed in the 2004 Olympics.
• Eddie Groarty: Eddie Groarty is an American country and blues musician who played at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1920s.
• Conor Groarty: Conor Groarty is the current mayor of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and a human rights activist.
• Karen Groarty: Karen Groarty is a renowned Broadway star who has starred in several productions including The Lion King, Oklahoma!, And Cats.
• Robert Groarty: Robert Groarty is a children's book author who has written several award-winning books, including The Magic Flower of Time.
• Maureen Groarty: Maureen Groarty is a panelist on the popular legal program Judge Judy and author of the memoir And Justice For All.

Other surnames

Groarky