Cormac is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

in the Irish and English languages. The name is ancient in the Irish language and is also seen in the rendered

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

as ''Kormákr''.

Mac Mac or MAC may refer to: Common meanings * Mac (computer), a line of personal computers made by Apple Inc. * Mackintosh, a raincoat made of rubberized cloth * Mac, a prefix to surnames derived from Gaelic languages * McIntosh (apple), a Canadi ...

is Irish for "son", and can be used as either a prefix or a suffix. The derivation of "cor" is not so clear. The most popular speculation is that it is from "corb," the old Irish for wheel, perhaps designating someone who fought in a cart or chariot as male names are often derived from the order of battle. (For instance " Gary, Garth, etc., from "gar" for "spear.") However, some etymologies suggest it derives from the old Irish for "raven", a bird laden with mystical meaning for the Celts, and often used to mean "legend" or "legendary". Similarly, it might refer specifically to Corb, one of the legendary

Fomorians The Fomorians or Fomori (, Modern ) are a supernatural race in Irish mythology, who are often portrayed as hostile and monstrous beings. Originally they were said to come from under the sea or the earth. Later, they were portrayed as sea raider ...

of Irish mythology. Today the name is typically listed in baby names books as meaning "raven" or "legend" or sometimes as "charioteer".

People with the name

* Cormac Antram (1926–2013), American priest *

Cormac of Armagh Cormac (also called Corbmac; c. 430 – 17 February 497), Bishop of Armagh and Abbot of Armagh monastery, Ireland from 481 to 17 February 497. Genealogy and birth Cormac was from the Clann Chernaig in Crioch-an-Earnaidhe ('Territory of the ...

, medieval Irish archbishop *

Cormac Breslin Cormac Michael Breslin (25 April 1902 – 23 January 1978) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 1967 to 1973. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1937 to 1977. He was born in Bunbeg, Gwee ...

(1902–1978), Irish politician * Cormac J. Carney (born 1959), American judge *

Cormac Cond Longas Cormac Cond Longas (Connlongas, Connloinges, "Exiled Prince") was the eldest son of Conchobar mac Nessa by his own mother, Ness, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. His foster father was Fergus mac Róich. Cormac followed Fergus into exile in ...

, legendary Irish prince *

Cormac Costello Cormac Costello (born 18 July 1994) is a Gaelic football forward for the Dublin county team, with which he has won eight All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals and five National Football League medals. The former Ardscoil Rís studen ...

(born 1994), Gaelic football player *

Cormac Cullinan Cormac Cullinan is a South African environmental attorney, author and leading figure in the global Rights of Nature movement. He is a director of the leading South African environmental law firm, Cullinan & Associates Inc, and director of the Wi ...

, South African attorney *

Cormac Devlin Cormac Devlin (born 30 August 1980) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since the 2020 general election. Early and personal life Devlin was educated at Harold Boys National ...

(born 1980), Irish politician * Cormac Izuchukwu (born 2000), Irish rugby union player * Cormac Kennedy-Leverett (born 2000), Australian rower *

Cormac Kinney Cormac Kinney is a serial entrepreneur, known for Diamond Standard, a regulator-approved fungible diamond commodity, Heatmaps, cited in 5,800 US Patents, and a publisher social network acquired by News Corp. Early life Kinney grew up in Unive ...

(born 1981), American entrepreneur *

Cormac mac Airt Cormac mac Airt, also known as Cormac ua Cuinn (grandson of Conn) or Cormac Ulfada (long beard), was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He is probably the most famous of the ancient High Kings ...

, legendary Irish king *

Cormac Mac Carthaigh Cormac is a masculine given name in the Irish and English languages. The name is ancient in the Irish language and is also seen in the rendered Old Norse as ''Kormákr''. Mac is Irish for "son", and can be used as either a prefix or a suffi ...

, medieval Irish king *

Cormac Laidir MacCarthy Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry (1411–1494), was an Irish chieftain. He founded Kilcrea Friary and built Kilcrea Castle. Birth and origins Cormac was born in 1411, the eldest son of Teige MacC ...

(1411–1494), Irish royal *

Cormac mac Cuilennáin Cormac mac Cuilennáin (831 A.D. - 13 September 908) was an Irish bishop and the king of Munster from 902 until his death at the Battle of Bellaghmoon. He was killed in Leinster. Cormac was regarded as a saintly figure after his death, and h ...

(died 908), Irish bishop and regional king of Munster *

Cormac McAnallen Cormac McAnallen (; 11 February 1980 – 2 March 2004) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Eglish St Patrick's club and the Tyrone county team. With Tyrone, McAnallen won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 2003, a ...

(1980–2004), Irish Gaelic footballer *

Cormac McCarthy Cormac McCarthy (born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr.; July 20, 1933 – June 13, 2023) was an American author who wrote twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays, and three short stories, spanning the Western, post-apocalyptic, and Southern Got ...

(1933–2023), American novelist *

Cormac Murphy Cormac Murphy (born 21 April 1993) is an Irish hurler who plays for Cork Premier Championship club Mallow and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team. He currently plays as a right wing-forward, but can also be deployed as a ...

(born 1993), Irish hurler *

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (24 August 1932 – 1 September 2017) was a British Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Westminster from 2000 to 2009. He was also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He was made ...

(1932–2017), British cardinal *

Cormac O'Brien (disambiguation) Cormac O'Brien may refer to: * Cormac O'Brien (author) * Cormac O'Brien (hurler) {{hndis, Obrien, Cormac ...

, multiple people * Cormac O'Doherty (born 1996), Irish Gaelic footballer *

Cormac O'Raifeartaigh Cormac O'Raifeartaigh (Cormac O'Rafferty) is an Irish physicist based at Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland. A solid-state physicist by training, he is best known for several contributions to the study of the history and philosophy of ...

, Irish physicist * Cormac Roth, 16th century Irish archbishop * Cormac Rowe (born 1983), Irish chef * Cormac Ryan (born 1998), American basketball player *

Cormac Ua Liatháin Cormac Ua Liatháin was a 6th-century Irish saint who is only known from Adomnan of Iona's ''Vita Columbae''. In Adomnan's narrative, Cormac is mentioned three times. He is described as an anchorite who searches for islands on which to live as ...

, Irish saint

References

{{given name English-language masculine given names Masculine given names Irish-language masculine given names

People with the name

See also

References