McGrath or MacGrath derives from the Irish surname

Mac Craith Mac Craith (Meic Craith, plural form), meaning "Son of Grace", 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 ...

and is occasionally noted with a space: e.g. Izzy Mc Grath. In Ireland, it is pronounced "Mack Grah" "Mick Grah" or "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 an Irish theologian, Anglican priest, intellectual historian, scientist, Christian apologist, and public intellectual. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religion in the F ...

(born 1953), Anglican theologian * Desmond McGrath, 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 history ...

(1882–1961), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff, Wales * Patrick Joseph McGrath (1945–2023), 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 Windsor, Ontario. On his own, his live performances are most often folk-oriented, where McGrath plays songs from his discography on acoustic instrument ...

(born 1988), Canadian indie rock musician *

Gunner McGrath Christopher Leslie "Gunner" McGrath (born September 29, 1978) is the American founder, lead singer, and guitarist of the punk rock band Much The Same. In April 2007, he quit Much The Same citing an overwhelming frustration with the music ind ...

(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. McG ...

(born 1968), American rock vocalist

Writers and poets

Campbell McGrath Campbell John McGrath (born January 26, 1962) is an American poet. He is the author of twelve full-length collections of poetry, including ''Seven Notebooks'' (Ecco Press, 2008), ''Shannon: A Poem of the Lewis and Clark Expedition'' (Ecco Press, 20 ...

(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 Co ...

(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 Sup ...

(born 1950), British novelist * Seán mac Ruaidhrí Mac Craith (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 Wendy McGrath is a Canadian poet and novelist. She was the inaugural winner of the $50,000 Prairie Grindstone Prize (2023-2024). Career McGrath's most recent poetry collection ''The Beauty of Vultures'' (NeWest Press 2025) is inspired by and inc ...

, Canadian poet and novelist

Actors, directors, and screenwriters

* Alethea McGrath, Australian actress *

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

(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."That face on U.S. TV returns to shoot movie" by Rita Zekas, ''Toronto Star'' (20 Oct, 1987) inal EditionRetrieved from His ...

(born 1951), Canadian actor *

Douglas McGrath Douglas Geoffrey McGrath (February 12, 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 Awa ...

(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. She was known for her roles as Colleen Powell in ''Prisoner'', Matron Gribble in ''Round the Twist'', Bernice Hudson in ''A Country Practice'', and Yvonne 'Von' Ryan ...

(1947–2017), Australian actress *

Katie McGrath Katie McGrath () is an Irish actress known for several television series: portraying Morgana Pendragon in BBC One's ''Merlin'' (2008–2012), Lucy Westenra on the British-American series ''Dracula'' (2013–2014), Saskia in the TV series ...

(born 1983), Irish actress

Athletes

Andrew McGrath Andrew McGrath (born 2 June 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 th ...

(born 1998), Australian rules footballer * Atle Lie McGrath (born 2000), Norwegian skier * Chase McGrath (born 1998), American football player * Craig McGrath (rugby union), former New Zealand rugby union player * Felix McGrath (born 1963), former American World Cup alpine skier *

Glenn McGrath Glenn Donald McGrath (; born 9 February 1970) is an Australian former international cricketer whose career spanned 14 years. He was a fast-medium pace bowler and is considered one of cricket's greatest bowlers and a leading contributor to Aus ...

(born 1970), Australian former cricketer *

Jeremy McGrath Jeremy McGrath (born November 19, 1971) is an American former professional motocross and AMA Supercross Championship, supercross racer. Considered one of the most popular and influential riders in the history of motorcycle racing, McGrath won se ...

(born 1971), American Motocross/Supercross champion * John McGrath (English footballer) (1938–1998), English footballer and football manager * Kyle McGrath (born 1992), American baseball player * Marion Mott-McGrath (born 1940), Australian chess player *

Mick McGrath (footballer) Michael McGrath (7 April 1936 – 18 April 2025) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a left half. Biography McGrath began his career with Dublin club Home Farm before moving to England to join Blackburn Rovers in August 1954. ...

(1936–2025), Irish footballer * Mick McGrath (athlete) (born 1947), Australian triple jumper *

Mick McGrath (rugby union) Michael McGrath (born 5 January 1991) is an Irish rugby union player for Wanderers FC where he plays as a wing. He also plays for the Ireland national rugby sevens team as a forward. McGrath was educated at Catholic University School (CUS) in D ...

(born 1991), Irish rugby player *

Paul McGrath (footballer) Paul McGrath (born 4 December 1959) is an Irish former professional footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of his era and was known by the nickname 'God' at Aston Villa. Mainly a ...

(born 1959), Irish footballer * Robbie McGrath (born 1951), former Irish rugby union international * Sean McGrath (American football) (born 1987), American National Football League player *

Tahlia McGrath Tahlia May McGrath (born 10 November 1995) is an Australian international cricketer who is the vice-captain of the Australia women's national cricket team. She made her Women's One Day International cricket (WODI) debut South Africa women's cri ...

(born 1995), Australian cricketer * Tim McGrath (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 ...

, retired US Marine and politician *

Charles McGrath (politician) 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. Senat ...

(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 Newfou ...

(1932–2017), 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 * Linda McGrath, American politician * Michael A. McGrath (1942–2021), American politician * Patrick McGrath (Irish politician) (died 1956), Irish politician * Paul McGrath (politician) (born 1948), Irish politician * Roy McGrath (1969–2023), American politician and fugitive * William McGrath (1916–1992), Northern Irish Loyalist, convicted paedophile

Academia

Elizabeth McGrath (art historian) Elizabeth McGrath may refer to: * Elizabeth McGrath (artist), American artist nicknamed Bloodbath McGrath * Elizabeth McGrath (art historian) (born 1945), British art historian and academic * Elizabeth McGrath (dancer), American ballerina See a ...

(born 1945), British art historian and academic * Patrick McGrath (psychologist), Canadian psychologist * Sarah McGrath (born 1972), American philosopher * William Thomas McGrath, Canadian penologist

Others

* James McGrath (artist) (born 1969), Australian artist and architect * Kevin McGrath, 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) * Rae McGrath (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.Nich ...

(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 chairman of Crossroads Media, a company which invests in live and location-based entertainment on a global scale. He was formerly the Chairman of Crossroads Live, a glob ...

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