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| Mac Grath Tartan Ancient Colors |
He also has DNA ties to McGrath ancestors who came from County Waterford, Southeastern Ireland to Rhode Island, USA.
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| Family Crest |
Mac Craith (Meic Craith, collective form), Irish surname, now rendered McGrath.
The Gaelic personal name Macraith means "son of grace." During the Middle Ages, the name was used by many unrelated families. There were at least two distinct families named Mac Craith in medieval Ireland.
It is traditionally held that the Clann MacCraith was a name bestowed upon the descendants of King Brian Boru's brother Ahearne (Brian Bóruma Mac Cennétig, c. 941 - 1014, King of Thomond). The Clan McGrath held a special place for themselves as hereditary poets and bards among the Gaelic Tribe of the Dalcassian and served Brian and his descendants, the O'Brien princes of Thomond.
There are two main septs of the MacGrath family. One was located in County Clare where the family served as poets and bards to the O'Briens of Thomond. Today's descendants of the Thomand McGraths are located mostly in Counties Tipperary and Waterford.
The other sept was located at Termon MacGrath on the borders of Donegal and Fermanagh.
Resources:
The Possibility of A Common McGrath Origin (pdf)
Wiki: Mac Craith
Wiki: Clan McGrath
Wiki: Clan Macrae (in Scotland)
