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Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!
You asked about the origin and meaning of the name <McCardle>.
This is an English spelling of the Irish surname <Mac A/rdghail>, which is well known in South Ulster. The sept is traditionally a branch of the MacMahons of Oriel. The literal and original meaning of the surname is 'son of <A/rdghal>'. (The slash denotes an acute accent over the preceding letter.)
The given name <A/rdghal> is more problematic. It is a compound, <A/rd-> + <-g(h)al>. The second element is early Irish <gal> 'valor'. The first, however, is uncertain. It may be related to <ard> 'high', or it may be related to <art> 'a bear'. The name was moderately common in early Munster.
Heather Rose Jones also contributed to this letter. We hope that the information is of use to you.
For the Academy,
Brian M. Scott
MacLysaght, Edward, _The Surnames of Ireland_ (Blackrock, Ireland: Irish Academic Press Limited, 1989).
O/ Corráin, Donnchadh, & Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990).
Woulfe, Patrick, _Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames_ (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967).