MacNamara
MacNamara comes
from the Irish Mac Conmara or Mac Con na mara, "Son of the sea hound".
The surname arose in County Clare,
where the family were part of the famous Dál gCais tribal grouping. They were
second only to the O'Briens, to whom they were hereditary marshals. From
relatively minor beginnings, they grew in power to become rulers of the
territory of Clancullen, a territory including a large part of what is now east
Clare, where they held sway for almost six centuries, down to the final defeat
of Gaelic culture in the seventeenth century. At that time most of the
MacNamara’s lost their lands, and for the next three centuries - together with
the whole Irish people - suffered religious repression, loss of civil rights
and dire poverty under British occupation. The Macnamara’s were divided into
two septs, the MacNamara Fionn ("Fair") ruling the west of the
territory and the MacNamara Reagh ("dark") ruling the east. In the
course of their lordship they built dozens of castles, forts and abbeys,
including two of the most famous castles in Ireland, Bunratty Castle and
Knappogue Castle, both completely restored and in use as banqueting halls. They
also built Quin Abbey. Today, the surname is widespread throughout Ireland, but
the largest concentration remains in the area of the original homeland, in
counties Clare and Limerick.
Robert MacNamara was U.S. Secretary of Defence from 1961 to 1968 and President of the World Bank from 1968 to 1981. James MacNamara (1768-1826) a native of Clare, was an officer in the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars and became an admiral in 1814. Francis MacNamara (1885-1962) was Air Vice-Marshal of the Australian Flying Corps.
My direct line
· 1. Sean
MacNamara (John McNamara) born ca 1800 in Ireland and baptised in the Roman
Catholic Church.
· 2. Michael
McNamara born ca 1830 in Ireland, perhaps baptised 20 Oct 1831 in Saint John’s
R. C. Church at Limerick, died in 1906. On 4 Jun 1854 he wed Mary Cloney (Maire NiCluanaigh),
who was born 15 Mar 1835 in Knockroe, Carlow, Ireland, baptised in the R.C.
Church, and died 16 Dec 1877 of lung inflammation.
· 3.
Edward McNamara born in Mar 1855, baptised in the R.C. Church, died 19 Oct 1905 of heart
disease. In 1880 he wed Emma de
Friest, who was born 5 Dec
1859, baptised in the Dutch Reformed Church, and died 13 Jan 1906 of lung
sickness.
· 4. Earl
de Friest McNamara born 27 Dec 1889, died 8 Jul 1972.
· (5. N.N. born 23 Jun 1922,
died 10 Aug 2008.)
· 6.
Myself, Bert , born Robert, baptised in the R.C. Church as Albertus.