Gaelic sept

Cormack

Ó Cormaic

Also: Cormac, O'Cormack, Cormick

“descendant of Cormac — 'son of Corb', or charioteer”

🏔 Derry / Londonderry · Doire 🏔 Cork · Corcaigh Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

Not one family but several. Woulfe traces Ó Cormaic to a branch of the Oirghialla who held the barony of Tirkeeran in County Derry until the O'Kanes dispossessed them, and to a branch of the Corca Laoighdhe in south-west Cork, where the name was common in the 16th century. Woulfe adds a Dál gCais family and a County Down family, both probably the same as Ó Cormacáin. It is a different name from Mac Cormaic, MacCormack, son of Cormac rather than descendant of him.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Ó Cormaic
Ó — descendant of (originally grandson of)
Cormaic — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Cormack an Irish name?

Cormack is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

People of the name

John McCormack ↗ (1884–1945) · born in County Westmeath

From the people listed on the county pages; sharing a surname does not mean sharing descent.

Where the Cormack country is

County Derry / Londonderry County Cork Cork Derry Coleraine Cobh Midleton Mallow Limavady Bandon 5 castles in Derry / Londonderry 37 castles in Cork

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Hegarty · Derry / Londonderry, Cork Ahern · Cork Barrett · Cork Barry · Cork Branagan · Derry / Londonderry Broderick · Cork Buckley · Cork Cagney · Cork Canavan · Cork Carew · Cork Carey · Cork Casey · Cork Coffey · Cork Coleman · Cork

Quick answers

Is Cormack an Irish name?

Cormack is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Ó Cormaic.

What does the surname Cormack mean?

Cormack (Irish: Ó Cormaic) means “descendant of Cormac — 'son of Corb', or charioteer”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Cormack from?

The historic homeland of the Cormack name is Derry / Londonderry, Cork. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Cormack?

Ó Cormaic. Related spellings: Cormac, O'Cormack, Cormick.

Looking for the Cormack family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Cormack ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

Not your spelling? Try the full A–Z. Know more about the Cormack name? Add to the story.