McGrath or MacGrath derives from the Irish surname

Mac Craith Mac Craith (Meic Craith, plural form) is an Irish surname, one branch of which is rendered McGrath. Alternate forms Among many alternate forms are McCragh, Crah, Crow and Crowe. Some of the forms may link the Mac Craith name to the ancestral na ...

and is occasionally noted with a space: e.g. Izzy Mc Grath. In Ireland, it is pronounced "Ma Grah". In Australia and New Zealand it is pronounced ''MuhGrah''. Notable people with the surname include:

Clergy

Alister McGrath Alister Edgar McGrath (; born 1953) is a Northern Irish theologian, Anglican priest, intellectual historian, scientist, Christian apologist, and public intellectual. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religio ...

(born 1953), Anglican theologian *

Desmond McGrath The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) Union is a trade union in Newfoundland and Labrador that represents 15,000 workers. Most of the members are in the fishing industry but the FFAW also has organized workers in the hotel, hospitality, brewin ...

, Canadian politician and Catholic priest *

Michael McGrath (bishop) Michael Joseph McGrath (24 March 1882 – 28 February 1961) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served first as the bishop of Menevia from 1935 to 1940, then the archbishop of Cardiff from 1940 to 1961. Personal histo ...

(born 1882), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff, Wales *

Patrick Joseph McGrath Patrick Joseph McGrath (pronounced ; born June 11, 1945) is an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of San Jose in California from 1999 to 2019 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdi ...

(born 1945), Roman Catholic Bishop of San Jose, California

Musicians

Eamon McGrath Eamon McGrath is a Canadian musician and writer from Edmonton, Alberta and currently based in Toronto, Ontario. On his own, his live performances are most often folk-oriented, where McGrath plays songs from his discography on acoustic instruments ...

(born 1988), Canadian indie rock musician * Gunner McGrath (born 1978), American vocalist and guitarist *

Mark McGrath Mark Sayers McGrath (born March 15, 1968) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist of the rock band Sugar Ray. McGrath is also known for his work as a co-host of '' Extra'', and he was the host of '' Don't Forget the Lyrics!'' in 2010. M ...

(born 1968), American rock vocalist

Writers and poets

Campbell McGrath Campbell McGrath (born 1962) is an American poet. He is the author of nine full-length collections of poetry, including ''Seven Notebooks'' ( Ecco Press, 2008), Shannon: A Poem of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Ecco Press, 2009), and In the Kingd ...

(born 1962), American poet *

Eamonn McGrath Eamonn McGrath (14 June 1929 – 5 May 2008) was an Irish author. Life Born the third of four children, McGrath spent his childhood in a small farming community near Taghmon, County Wexford. He was educated by the Augustinians at the Good C ...

(1929-2008), Irish novelist *

Harold MacGrath Harold MacGrath (September 4, 1871 – October 30, 1932) was a bestselling and prolific American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. He sometimes completed more than one novel per year for the mass market, covering romance, spies, my ...

(1871–1932), American novelist and screenwriter *

Patrick McGrath (novelist) Patrick McGrath (born 7 February 1950) is a British novelist, whose work has been categorised as gothic fiction. Early life McGrath was born in London and grew up near Broadmoor Hospital from the age of five where his father was Medical Supe ...

(born 1950), British novelist *

Seán mac Ruaidhrí Mac Craith Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as ''Shaun/ Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; angl ...

(fl. 14th century), author of ''

Caithréim Thoirdhealbhaigh ''Cathreim Thoirdhealbhaigh'', or ''Triumphs of Torlough'' in English, is a historical account written in the 14th century in Irish by Seán mac Ruaidhrí Mac Craith, the chief historian to the Uí Bhriain dynasty.Moore, Norman. It depicts the ...

'' *

Thomas McGrath (poet) Thomas Matthew McGrath, (November 20, 1916 near Sheldon, North Dakota – September 20, 1990, Minneapolis, Minnesota) was a celebrated American poet and screenwriter of documentary films. McGrath grew up on a farm in Ransom County, North Dakota. ...

(1916–1990), American poet * Wendy McGrath, Canadian poet and novelist

Actors, directors, and screenwriters

Alethea McGrath Alethea Ada McGrath (1 June 1920 – 9 February 2016) was an Australian actress and comedian. She played Jocasta Nu in '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones''. Her roles on television included Dot Farrar in ''Prisoner'' and three d ...

, Australian actress *

Bob McGrath Robert Emmett McGrath (June 13, 1932 – December 4, 2022) was an American actor, musician, and children's author best known for playing original human character and music teacher Bob Johnson on the long-running educational television series ' ...

(1932–2022), US actor, known for ''Sesame Street'' *

Derek McGrath Derek McGrath (born June 4, 1951) is a Canadian actor and writer. Life and career McGrath was born in Timmins, Ontario. His career began as Linus in '' You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''. He is known for his roles in ''Cheers'' as Andy Schroe ...

(born 1951), Canadian actor *

Douglas McGrath Douglas Geoffrey McGrath (February 2, 1958 – November 3, 2022) was an American screenwriter, film director, and actor. He received various accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Tony Award, and Primetime Emmy Awar ...

(1958–2022), American screenwriter, director, and actor *

Frances McGrath Frances McGrath (born ) was an American actress. Early years McGrath first appeared on stage when she was years old. Her parents were friends with some of the actors presenting ''The Country Editor'', and the actors asked that McGrath be allowe ...

, American actress * Frank McGrath (1903–1967), US actor * Joseph McGrath (born 1930), Scottish film director *

Judith McGrath Judith McGrath (21 April 1947 – 20 October 2017) was an Australian actress. McGrath was known for her television roles, including soap opera's ''Prisoner'' (1979–84), as Deputy Governor/Officer Colleen "Poface" Powell, ''A Country Pract ...

(1947–2017), Australian actress *

Katie McGrath Katie McGrath () is an Irish actress. In television, she gained recognition for portraying Morgana Pendragon in the BBC One series ''Merlin'' (2008–2012), Lucy Westenra on the British-American series ''Dracula'' (2013–2014), Saskia in t ...

(born 1983), Irish actress

Athletes

Andrew McGrath Andrew McGrath (born June 2, 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Essendon Football Club with the first overall selection in t ...

(born 1998), Australian rules footballer *

Craig McGrath (rugby union) Craig McGrath (born 2 April 1974) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Melbourne Rebels, and coach of the Melbourne Rising. His professional playing career spanned five seasons, where ...

, former New Zealand rugby union player *

Felix McGrath Charles Francis Felix McGrath (born March 13, 1963) is an American retired World Cup alpine ski racer who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988, and three World Championships. Career McGrath raced for the United States Ski Tea ...

(born 1963), former American World Cup alpine skier *

Glenn McGrath Glenn Donald McGrath (; born 9 February 1970) is an Australian former international cricketer who played international cricket for 14 years. He was a fast-medium pace bowler and is considered one of the greatest international bowlers of all t ...

(born 1970), Australian former cricketer *

Jeremy McGrath Jeremy McGrath (born November 19, 1971) is one of the most popular American Motocross/Supercross champions in the history of the sport, racking up seven Supercross championships. He was most active in the 1990s earning the title the "King of S ...

(born 1971), American Motocross/Supercross champion *

John McGrath (English footballer) John Thomas McGrath (23 August 1938 – 25 December 1998) was an English footballer and manager in the Football League. He played as a defender, and started his career at Bury from 1955 to 1960. He then spent the next eight years with Newc ...

(1938–1998), English footballer and football manager *

Marion Mott-McGrath Marion Mott-McGrath (born 6 February 1940), née McGrath, is an Australian chess player. She is a four-time winner of the Australian Women's Chess Championship (1966, 1969, 1976, 1980). Biography From the 1960s to the 1980s Marion Mott-McGrath ...

(born 1940), Australian chess player *

Mick McGrath (footballer) Michael McGrath (born 7 April 1936) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a left half. McGrath began his career with Dublin club Home Farm before moving to England to join Blackburn Rovers in August 1954. He made 269 Foot ...

(born 1936), Irish footballer *

Paul McGrath (footballer) Paul McGrath (born 4 December 1959) is an Irish former professional footballer, who played as a defender. Mainly a centre back, he also played as defensive midfielder. McGrath is widely considered to be one of the greatest Irish players of a ...

(born 1959), Irish former footballer *

Robbie McGrath Robbie McGrath (born 18 July 1951) is a former Irish international rugby union player. His playing position was as scrum-half. McGrath played schools rugby for Newbridge College before joining Wanderers Football Club. McGrath was capped 17 ...

(born 1951), former Irish rugby union international *

Sean McGrath (American football) Sean McGrath (born December 3, 1987) is an American football tight ends coach at Missouri Southern State University and a former tight end. He played college football at Eastern Illinois and Henderson State, and signed with the Seattle Seahawks ...

(born 1987), American National Football League player *

Tahlia McGrath Tahlia May McGrath (born 10 November 1995) is an Australian cricketer. She made her Women's One Day International cricket (WODI) debut against South Africa on 27 November 2016. She made her women's Test debut in The Women's Ashes in November ...

(born 1995), Australian cricketer *

Tim McGrath Tim McGrath (born 7 October 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer for the North Melbourne Football Club from 1989 to 1991, and the Geelong Football Club from 1992 to 2002, in the Australian Football League (AFL), which was known as th ...

(born 1970), former Australian rules footballer

Politicians

Amy McGrath Amy Melinda McGrath (born June 3, 1975) is an American former Marine fighter pilot and former political candidate from Kentucky. McGrath was the first woman to fly a combat mission for the Marine Corps, as well as the first to pilot the F/A-18 o ...

, retired US Marine and politician *

Charles McGrath David Charles McGrath (10 November 1872 – 31 July 1934) was an Australian politician. Originally a member of the Australian Labor Party, he joined Joseph Lyons in the 1931 Labor split that led to the formation of the United Australia Party ...

(1872–1934), Australian politician *

J. Howard McGrath James Howard McGrath (November 28, 1903September 2, 1966) was an American politician and attorney from Rhode Island. McGrath, a Democrat, served as U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island before becoming governor, U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Senator ...

(1903–1966), American politician *

James McGrath (Australian politician) James Anthony McGrath (born 14 May 1974) is an Australian politician and Senator for Queensland since 2014. He is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland and sits with the Liberal Party in federal parliament. Following his re-elect ...

(born 1974), Australian senator *

James McGrath (Canadian politician) James Aloysius McGrath, (January 11, 1932 – February 28, 2017) was a politician and the eighth lieutenant governor of Newfoundland, Canada. Life As a young man, McGrath was a member of the Responsible Government League which opposed Newfoun ...

(born 1932), Canadian politician *

Joseph McGrath (Irish politician) Joseph McGrath (12 August 1888 – 26 March 1966) was an Irish politician and businessman. He was a Sinn Féin and later a Cumann na nGaedheal Teachta Dála (TD) for various constituencies; Dublin St James's (1918–1921), Dublin North West (1 ...

(1887–1966), Irish politician * Michael A. McGrath (born 1942), American politician *

Patrick McGrath (Irish politician) Patrick McGrath (died 20 June 1956) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He represented Cork Borough as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) in Dáil Éireann between 1946 and 1956. Independent TD William Dwyer resigned his seat on 29 March 194 ...

(died 1956), Irish politician *

Paul McGrath (politician) Paul McGrath (born 13 February 1948) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for Longford–Westmeath and Westmeath constituencies from 1989 to 2007. McGrath, a native of Ballymore, County Westmeath was educated a ...

(born 1948), Irish politician *

William McGrath William McGrath (11 December 1916 – 1992) was a Ulster loyalism, loyalist from Northern Ireland who founded the far-right organisation Tara (Northern Ireland), Tara in the 1960s, having also been prominent in the Orange Order until his expuls ...

(1916–1992), Northern Irish Loyalist, convicted paedophile

Others

Elizabeth McGrath (art historian) Elizabeth McGrath, (born 20 March 1945) is a British art historian, curator, and academic. Spending all of her career at the Warburg Institute of the University of London, she was curator of the photographic collection from 1991 to 2010 and Prof ...

(born 1945), British art historian and academic *

Kevin McGrath Kevin David McGrath (born March 1963) is a British businessman, philanthropist. and Executive Producer of an Oscar and BAFTA Winning Film Early career McGrath graduated from the Polytechnic of the South Bank (renamed London South Bank Univ ...

, British businessman *

Patrick McGrath (Irish republican) Patrick MacGrath (1894 – 6 September 1940) was born into an old Dublin republican family and took part in the 1916 Rising (fighting on Church Street), as did two of his brothers (Peter-Paul and Gabriel). He was sent to Frongoch Internment Camp af ...

(1894-1940) *

Patrick McGrath (psychologist) Patrick J. McGrath, OC, FRSC FCAHS is a Canadian psychologist noted for his contribution to research on childhood pain. Biography Patrick McGrath was born in Ottawa and initially attended the University of Ottawa but transferred to the Univer ...

, Canadian psychologist *

Rae McGrath Raphael F. J. McGrath (born 5 November 1947), usually known as Rae McGrath, lives in Langrigg, Cumbria and is a British campaigner and specialist in humanitarian response to conflict and natural disaster. He founded the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), ...

(born 1947), British campaigner against landmines *

Raymond McGrath Raymond McGrath (7 March 1903 – 23 December 1977) was an Australian-born architect, illustrator, printmaker and interior designer who for the greater part of his career was Principal Architect for the Office of Public Works in Ireland.N ...

(1903–1977), British Australian architect *

Rory McGrath Patrick Rory McGrath (born 17 March 1956) is a British comedian, television personality, and writer. He came to prominence in the comedy show '' Who Dares Wins'' and was a regular panellist on the game show '' They Think It's All Over'' for ma ...

(born 1956), British comedian *

Tom McGrath (media executive) Thomas Berard McGrath (born 1956) is an American media executive. He is the CEO and chairman of Crossroads Live, a production company which invests in live and location-based entertainment on a global scale. He was formerly the CEO of STX Entert ...

(born 1956), American media expert * William L. McGrath (1894–1975), American business executive * William Thomas McGrath Canadian penologist