The name Maguire is of Irish Gaelic origin, derived from the Old Irish name Mág Uidhir, which means "the plain of the yew tree." It is a surname that has been used as a first name in more recent times.

In ancient Irish history, the Mág Uidhir were a powerful family who ruled over a territory in what is now County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The name first appears in medieval Irish annals and records, dating back to the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Maguire was Donn Mór Mág Uidhir, who was the King of Fermanagh in the late 13th century. He is noted for his role in the Irish Bruce Wars, where he initially supported the Scottish King Robert the Bruce's invasion of Ireland but later switched sides to support the English.

Another notable figure with the name Maguire was Cuconnacht Mág Uidhir, who was the Lord of Fermanagh in the early 16th century. He was known for his resistance against the English Crown's attempts to assert control over Ireland during the Tudor reconquest.

In the 17th century, Conor Maguire, Baron of Enniskillen, was a significant figure in the Irish Confederate Wars. He was executed in 1645 for his role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Moving forward in history, Thomas Maguire (1792-1854) was an Irish Catholic priest and a prominent figure in the Temperance Movement in Ireland during the 19th century.

Finally, one of the most famous individuals with the name Maguire was Constantine Maguire (1889-1975), an Irish-born American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Representative from New York from 1923 to 1927.

While the name Maguire has its roots in Irish history and culture, it has since been adopted as a first name in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with Irish diaspora populations.