Common Irish Surnames
Prefixes:
Mc, Mac = son of
O = can signify either grandson, or earlier ancestor
Fitz, from French fils = son of
Ní, Nic = girl's use before her
father's name
Ban = wife's use before her married name
The Counties and places listed are where the names are/were (most) prominent.
Ahearne — (AY-hern) only Irish name spelled with the first letter of the alphabet. Originally Ó hEachtighearna, meaning "lord of the horse". Also, Aheron, and changed in the 18th C. by emigrants to Canada, the USA, and Australia to Herne, Hearne. Heron.
Barrett — Báróid. Ancestors came with the Norman invasion circa
1169. Cork, Galway, Mayo.
Barry — from Wales with the Anglo-Norman
invasion of 1170 and soon possessed a vast area of County Cork. To distinguish
from all the different Barrys, they were known as Barry Mór (the Senior), Barry
Óg (the Younger), Barry Roe (the Red), Barry Maol (the Bald), and Barry Liadir
(the Strong). Barrymore probably derived from Barry Mór (the Senior).
De Barra, Barrymore. Cork.
Beirne — Ó Beirne. With or
without the Ó, is not to be confused with Byrne, although they sound alike.
Beirne is thought to originate from Norse Bjorn. The Beirnes settled in County
Roscommon and formed an important sept. O'Birn.
Blake — They
came with the Normans through Wales with the name Caddell. A dark-hued member of
the family was nicknamed "Le Blaca" (the Black), and it evolved to Blake. They
settled in Galway city and county and became rich landowners and merchants, and
part of the 14 Tribes of Galway. In the west of Ireland there are Blake families
of Gaelic origin whose name Ó Blathmhaic was anglicized to Blowick, and then to
Blake. Blowick, O'Blathmhaic, Caddell.
Boland — Ó
Beolláin. Their name comes from a Norwegian who came to Ireland long ago. In
Irish it is Ó Beolláin, in English it used to be O'Bolan. One branch claims to
descent from Mahon, one of King Brian Boru's brothers, who went to Clare where
they lived around Lough Derg. Ballybolan perpetuates their name. The other
family settled in Sligo with their headquarters in Doonalton. Bolan.
Boyle — Ó Baoighill, Ó Baoill, possibly means "having
profitable pledges". In recent years, use of the "O" prefix has resumed.
O'Boyle. Cork, Derry.
Brady — MacBrádaigh, "spirited".
Sometimes confused with the O'Gradys of Limerick. Matthew Brady (1823-1896) was
one of the first war photographers during the American Civil War. Cavan,
Leinster, Ulster.
Breen — O Braoin, "sadness, sorrow".
MacBreen, Brawney. Kilkenny, Westmeath, Wexford.
Brennan —
O Braonáin, "little drop" or "sorrow". Louis Brennan invented the torpedo
used in WWI; Maire Brennan and her twin brothers are part of the music group
Clannad, and their sister Enya is also well known. Kerry, Kilkenny, Westmeath.
Brody — MacBruaideadha. Attached to the O'Briens of Thomond.
Clare.
Brown — came with the Normans in the 12th C., and known as le
Brun, settling in Galway and marrying into the leading families and joined the
14 Tribes of Galway. Browne, Broun, le Brun.
Buckley — O
Buachalla, "boy". Many were outlawed after Kings James II was defeated.
Cork, Kerry.
Burke — originally de Burgo or de Burca, both mean "of
the borough". The Burkes descend from William the Conqueror, and are the most
numerous and integrated of the Normans who came to Ireland in the 12th C.
Bourke, de Burgh, de Burgo.
Butler — one of the most
outstanding of Norman-Irish families, with Anne Boleyn and William Butler Yeats
among kinsman. The family name came about when Theobald Fitzwalter was created
Chief Butler of Ireland by Henry II in 1177. Butler is very common in England
and Ireland, lacking an authentic pedigree and almost impossible for one to
trace their ancestry to the Ormonds or any other branch of the family.
Byrne — see O'Byrne.
Cahill — one of the earliest recorded surnames; originally
MacCathail, Cathail is the Irish form of Charles, "manly" or "valour".
Cahill remains most numerous in Munster; but the "O" prefix seems to have been
dropped completely. Clare, Galway, Tipperary.
Carey — O
Ciardha. O'Kerry, Kerry, Carew. Kerry, Kildare.
Carroll —
Ó Cearbhaill, from Cearbhal, "warlike champion", one of King Brian Boru's
leadind swordsman at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. MacCarvill.
Cassidy — O Caiside, originated from a personal name of the
head of a family who were teachers and physicians to the Maguire chieftains of
Fermanagh for 300 years. Fermanagh originally, now widespread.
Clancy
— MacFhlannchaidh, "ruddy warrior". Clanchy, Glanchy, MacClancy.
Clare, Leitrim.
Clarke — Cleireach, "clerk". Clerys changed
their name to Clarke after Gaelic Irish names were outlawed by English
conquerors. O'Cleirigh, O'Clery, Macalary, MacClery. Ulster.
Clery — Ó Cleirigh; cléireach is the Irish word for "clerk".
Cleary dates from an early 9th C. Cléureach of the lineage of King Guaire of
Connacht, reknowned for his hospitality. Julie, Queen of Spain, and Desiree,
Queen of Norway and Sweden, were daughters of a Clery in Marseilles in
Napoleonic times. Cleary, Clarke.
Coghlan — MacCochlain
or O Cochlain, "cape or hood". Coughlin, O'Coughlan, Coughlan,
Cohalan, MacCoughlan. Cork, Offaly.
Collins — anglicization of
Irish Ó Cioleáin, "young whelp or young creature". The hero of the family
is Michael Collins, "The Big Fellow", whose promising political life was cut
short in the civil war in 1922. West Cork.
Conaghan — Ó
Connacháin, usually found anglicized as Cunningham. Ulster.
Connolly — Ó Conghaile, the original Gaelic Conghaile means
"valorous". An ancient sept of Connacht, which separated and dispersed as three
distinct families. At one time they were one of the Four Tribes of Tara. "Little
Mo" the USA tennis star of the 1950's was a Connolly; as was patriot James
Connolly (born in Scotland), who was an Irish trade union pioneer and commanded
the Republican army in Dublin. Before his execution, he signed the Proclamation
of the Irish Republic. Connely, Connolley. Connacht, Cork, Monaghan,
Ulster.
Conroy — O Conratha, "hound of prosperity".
O'Mulconry, Mulconry, Conary, Conree, Conry. Clare, Roscommon.
Conway — MacConnmhaigh. "hound or wolf of the plains" or
"head-smashing". Thomas Count Conway (d. 1800) fought in the American
Revolutionary War. O'Conway. Clare, Kerry, County Dublin.
Cooney — O Cuanaic, "handsome, elegant". Conan, Coonan,
O'Cuana, Counihan. Clare, Galway, West Cork.
Corcoran — O
Corcrain, "ruddy". Brigadier General Michale Corcoran took parting the
Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War. O'Corcoran. Fermanagh,
Kerry, Mayo, Offaly.
Costello — MacOisdealbh, "son of
Oistealb". A Norman name beginning in Connacht as de Angulos. Paul Costello (b.
1945) is a top designer whose clientele included Princess Diana. Nangle,
Costelloe. Connacht, but widespread.
Costelloe — A a separate
clan from Costello (the Norman de Nangles) and the one anglicised as Costelloe
(Dalcassians). The modern Irish village of Costelloe has been regaelicised as
CASLA and means "inlet from the sea". The original form of the tribal/clan name
was probably Caisle (or gCaisle) — a seafaring tribe, hence the use of
the "E" at the end of the anglicised name to differentiate the two septs, one
Norman, one Celtic who had the misfortune to meet the English. The modern
regaelicisation of the Costello sept is MacCoisdela, which has no
equivalent for the Costelloe sept. They never used O', Ui, Mc or Mac: the tribal
signifier was gCais (= Dalcais).
Crowley — O
Cruadhlaoich, "hunchbacked" or "strong hero". Thady Crawley was chaplain to
King James II. Crawley. Cork, Roscommon.
Cuif — French version
of the surname O'Keeffe. O'Keefe.
Cullen — Ó Cuillin,
"holly tree". Settled and founded Kilcullen in County Kildare. Possibly
connected with a Scottish clan. An Australian shrub, eucalyptus cullenii,
is named after a Cullen horticulturist there. Cullion, Culhoun, MacCullen,
Cullinane. Kildare, Wexford.
Cummins — O Comáin, "a
hurley". Geraldine Cummins was a novelist and biographer; her sister Ashely was
an international hockey player. Commons, Comyns, Hurley. Kerry, Limerick,
Mayo.
Curran — O Corráin, "a descendant of O'Corrain". Galway,
Kerry, Ulster, Waterford.
Curtin — Mac Cuirtin, at one time in
Irish it was Cruitín "hunchback". The MacCurtin family was prominent in
France during the Revolution; and a Cork man, Tomás MacCurtain commanded the
Cork Brigade during the war of independence and later Lord Mayor of Cork, was
brutally murdered by misguided militia in 1920. MacCuirtin, MacCruitin,
MacCurtin, Curtayne. Cork, Dublin, Limerick.
Cusack —
Cíomhsóg. Cusacks came from the French province of Guienne in 1211 in the
wake of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Known in County Mayo as MacIosóg.
Notable Cusacks are Cyril Cusack, of stage and screen, along with his kids Anne,
Joan, and John; Michael Cusack of Clare, helped found the Gaelic Athletic
Association in 1884. Kildare, Meath.
Daly — Ó Dálaigh was the word for "a meeting place", as in Dail
Eireann. Ancestry goes back to the 14th C., to Niall of the Nine Hostages, the
High King who had his palace at Tara, County Meath, and from whom descend also
the O'Neills and the O'Donnells. Dawley.
Delany — O
Dubhshlaine, "of the river Slaney". From dubh "black" + Slaine
"the river Slaney". Delane, Delaney. Dublin, Leix.
Dempsey —
O Diomasaigh, "proud". Claim descent from Ros Railghe, eldest son of
Cathaoir Mor, 2nd C. king of Ireland. Jack Dempsey was a famous boxer in the US.
Leix, Offaly.
Devine — O Daimhin, "poet, bard". Davin,
Devane, Devin, Downes. Cavan, Dublin, Fermanagh, Louth, Tyrone.
Devlin — O Doibhlin. Sligo, Tyrone.
Dillon —
Arrived from Brittany as de Leon 800 years ago, and they are a widespread and
well-recorded family that has merged indistinguishable with the Irish.
Doherty — Ó Dochartaigh, "obstructive". Doherty is the most
common variant of O'Doherty. Descended from the powerful 14th C. King Niall of
the Nine Hostages. Dougharty, Dougherty, MacDevitt, O'Dogherty. Ulster.
Dolan — O Dobhailen, "black defiance, challenge". Doolan,
Dowling, Doelan, O'Doelan. Galway, Roscommon.
Donoghue — Ó
Donnchadha, comes from the personal name Donnchadh (Donogh). A 12th C.
O'Donoghue founded the Jerpoint Abbey in County Kilkenny. Donohue, Donohoe,
O'Donoghue, O'Donagh, Donaghue, Dunphy, Donju (Spanish).
Doran —
O Deoradháin, "exile or stranger". Armagh, Down, Kerry, Leix, Wexford.
Dowling — O Dunlaing. Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenney, Leix,
Wicklow.
Doyle — Ó Dubhghaill, from dubh-ghall "dark
foreigner", when Norsemen came to Ireland circa 9th C. Of this family were Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes novels; and Jack Doyle, "The
Gorgeous Gael" of boxing. Doyelle, Doyley, MacDowell. Wexford.
Driscoll — see O'Driscoll.
Duffy — Ó
Dubthaigh, meaning unknown, but dubh means "black"; little is
recorded of their origins except for their prominence at the church in Monaghan
in the 7th C. Doohey, Dowey, Duhig, O'Duffy. Roscommon, Ulster.
Duggan — O Dubhagain, "black head". Doogan, Dougan.
Cork, Donegal, Galway, Tipperary.
Dunne — Ó Duinn, "brown".
The Dunnes were very active in the Jacobite wars, and emigrated to the USA
afterwards, serving in the church, law, and army. In recent years Dunne's
Stores, a countrywide chain store group, has become a household word.
Dunn.
Egan — Mac Aodhagáin, "son of Aodh", anglicized to Hugh. The name has become Egan in modern times, seldom using their Mac prefix. Their origins are in Galway, Roscommon and Leitrim, and have scattered to Tipperary, Kilkenny and Offaly. Keegan, MacEgan.
Fagan — O Faodhagain, "little Hugh". O'Hagan, Fegan,
O'Hogan. Dublin, Kerry.
Fahy — O Fathaigh, "field green".
Fahey, Faghy, Green. Galway, Tipperary.
Fallon — O
Fallamhain, "ruler". Falloon. Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry Wexford.
Farin — Mac Fearachàin, Mac Mhearain, possible form of Ferran.
FitzGerald — fitz means "son", and Maurice, son of Gerald, came with
the Norman invaders in 1170. The FitzGeralds became one of the most powerful
families. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote novels, including The Great Gatsby.
Fitzpatrick — MacGiolla Padraig, "servant of St. Patrick". The
only Fitz surname that is Irish and not Norman in origin. Kilpatrick,
MacGillapatrick. Leix, widespread.
Flanagan — O
Flannagain, "red". O'Flannagan. Fermanagh, Offaly, Roscommon.
Flynn — O Floinn, "red, ruddy". Errol Flynn was a Hollywood
film star. Flinn, O'Loinn, O'Lynn. Antrim, Cork, Roscommon.
Fogarty — cognate with Gogarty; O Fogartaigh, "exiled,
banished". Tipperary.
Foley — O Foghladha, "plunderer". Mostly
Munster, Waterford.
Friel — Ó Frighil, "man of valor"; form of
Fearghal (Farrell).
Gaffney — O Gamhna, "calf". Could also be O'Caibheanaigh,
MacConghamhna, MacCarrghamhna, or Mag Fhachtna. Caulfield. Connacht.
Gallagher — Ó Gallchobhair. One of the principal septs of
Donegal. The translation of their Irish name gallchobhair, "foreign
help", was possibly acquired in the 300 years when they were marshals in the
armies of the O'Donnells. Frank Gallagher was a journalist who fought in the
civil war and was the first editor of De Valera's newspaper, the Irish
Press.
Galvin, Gallivan — Ó Gealbháin, "bright white".
Kerry, Roscommon.
Garvey — O Gairbith or Mac Gairbhith,
"rough peace". Armagh, Donegal, Down, Kilkenny.
Geraghty — Mag
Oireachtaigh, "court or assembly". Garrity, Gerity, but there are
more than 17 variants on the name. Galway, Roscommon.
Gilday — Mac
Giolla Dhé, meaning "the son of the devotee of God." Originally from County
Tirconnell and now found in Connacht and Clare. Gildea.
Griffin — Ó Gríobhtha, Ó Gríofa (modern Irish spelling). There
are two Gaelic Griffin surnames native to Ireland, and also those who descend
from Welsh-Norman planters of the name Griffith/Griffiths/Griffis whom have
changed there name to Griffin since first arriving in Ireland. With respect to
the Gaelic families, there are the Ó Grifín and the Ó Gríobhtha/Ó Gríofa. The Ó
Grifín are from County Kerry (Dingle) and the other family, the Ó Gríobhtha,
"Griffin-like", are from County Clare. In Kerry, Griffin was used as a nickname
for a brave warrior and later when surnames came into vogue, the descendants of
these warriors called themselves Ó Grifín, "descendants of the Griffin". Because
of this, Kerry Griffins are not necessarily related - different towns in Kerry
had different "Griffin" warriors - as it was a nickname. In Clare, the Griffins
descend from Angus, son of Dal (4th century chieftain of Thomond - Co. Clare
today). The Dalcassians (descendants of Dal) invented the surname (the first
people on the planet to use surnames), and Brian Boru - a Dalcassian himself,
made surnames compulsory for all Irish people 1000 years ago.
Guinness — MagAonghusa, "son of Aonghus" (one choice).
Ancestry goes back to a 5th C. chief of Dal Araidhe. Most notable is the
Guinness brand of ale, established in 1759 on the River Liffy in Dublin by
Arthur Guinness In 1894, there were sixteen different versions of this Ulster
surname. McGennis, MacGinnis, Magennis, MacGuinness, MacInnis.
Hagan — see O'Hagan.
Healy — Ó hÉildhe,
modern Healy/Hely is an amalgam of two distinct septs, Ó hÉildhe, éildhe
"claimaint", and Ó hÉilaighthe, éiladhach "ingenious". O'Healy, Hely,
O'Healihy. Cork, Sligo, Tipperary.
Hennessey — Ó
hAonghusa, from personal name Aonghus or Angus. Branches of this family have
completely dropped the "O" prefix, gradually transforming their name to
Hennessey, Hensey, Henchy. Cork, Limerick, Tipperary.
Hickey —
O hIcidhe, "healer". Clare, Limerick, Tipperary.
Higgins —
Ó hUigin, an ancient name in Ireland from the Irish Ó hUigín,
uigín "knowledge". Earlier, they were a branch of the Westmeath O'Neills.
Hogan — Ó hOgáin, Óg is Irish for "young". An Ó hOgáin
sept descends from the celebrated 10th C. King of Ireland, Brian Boru. They were
of the Dalcassian people who inhabited Thomond, around Clare and Limerick. They
divided to spread across Tipperary, where their chieftain has his fortress at
Nenagh. Clare, Limerick, Thomond, Tipperary.
Jennings — MacSheóinín, "son of little John"; John, originally
Burkes. Connacht.
Jorden — in Ireland, Jordan is an anglicization of
the surname Mac Siurtáin. As a first name, it's a Hebrew place name
(River Jordan), meaning "flowing down".
Joyce — from the French
personal name Joie, Joy; Gaelic version Seoigh. The name is deeply
embedded in Connacht since their arrival by sea after the Norman invasion. A
Joyce who was captured in the Middle East learned the art of gold and silver
smithing, and it is he who is creditied with the origins of the Claddagh ring.
James Joyce was a playwright, poet, musician, and author of Ulysses.
William Joyce broadcast Nazi propaganda from Germany in WWII, because of his
American background he was hanged for treason after the war. Connacht, Galway,
Ross.
Kavanagh — Caomhánach, direct descendants of Diarmuid
MacMurrough, a 12th C. King of Leinster, who started the Anglo-Norman invasion.
Cavanagh, MacMurrough.
Keane — Ó Cathain, originally
Mac Cathain of West Clare, Ó Cahain of Ulster and Ó Céin of Munster, and derives
from the personal name Cian. Kane, O'Cahan, MacCloskey. Munster, Ulster,
West Clare.
Kelleher — O Céileachair, "loving spouse".
Keller. Clare, Cork, Kerry.
Kelly — see O'Kelly.
Kennedy — see O'Kennedy.
Keogh — (KEE-oh)
anglicization of Irish MacEochaidh, Eochaidh is a personal name, but
adopted by a family with three distinct septs. John Keogh of Dublin was an early
pioneer of Catholic Emancipation. In some cases Keogh was anglicized to O'Hoey
or Hoy, septs that descended from the early kings of Ulster. Kehoe, Hoey,
Hoy, K'Eogh, O'Hoey, Haughey, MacKehoe. Leinster, Wexford.
Killoran — "servant of Saint Luairean". From Mac Giolla
Luairinn and Mac Giolla Luaithrinn. Luairinn derives from Saint
Luairean (also Luaran/Loran). Cloren, Cloran, Killoran, Killoren, Kiloran,
Kiloren, Killorn, Killorne, Killorin, Killaurin. Sligo.
Kinsella
— O Cinnsealach, originally Mac Murrough. Wexford, Wicklow.
Kirwan — Ó Ciardubháin, "black"; origins back to Heremon of
Milesians, probably from Spain. When they moved to Galway from Louth, with the
Darcys, they were the only native family accepted into the 14 Tribes of Galway.
Lacy — de Léis, the de Lacys took their name from Lascy in
Normandy, from which they came to conquer England and then Ireland. Founder of
the family was Hugh de Lacy. Lacey, de Lacy.
Lalor — O
Leathlobhair, "half-leper". Lawlor. Leix.
Lee — O
Laoidhigh, "poetic"; or Mac an Leagha, "son of a physician". Cork,
Galway, Limerick, Tipperary.
Lennon — Ó Leannáin. A number of
western O’Leanáins (one ‘n’) eventually became Leonards. Lennan, Lennon,
Lannan, Lannon, Linnane. Fermanagh, Mayo and Galway.
Lynch — Ó
Loingsigh, one of the most numerous and distinguished Irish surnames and a
fusion of two different races. One was de Lynch, who came with the Normans; two
was Labradh Longseach ("mariner"), a 6th C. B.C. King of Ireland. These Lynches
settled in Clare, Sligo and Limerick, with a branch in Donegal. Leaders of the
14 Tribes of Galway. Lynches have gone to Australia, Argentina, and Chile.
Patrick Lynch is known as the "foremost Chilean naval hero"; Elizabeth Lynch and
Paraguayan dictator Francisco Lopez II held sway there for 12 years; plantation
owner Thomas Lynch signed the American Declaration of Independence; and Jack
Lynch of Cork won six All-Ireland medals for hurling and Gaelic football.
Lyons — O Laighin or Ó Liathain. They are quite
distinct from the Scottish and English families with the same name. Lehane,
Lane, Leyne, O'Lyne, Lyne. Galway.
MacAuley — MacAmhlaoibh. Catherine McAuley (1778-1842) founded
the Sisters of Mercy. McAuley MacAwley, McAwley, Cawley, Magawley. Cork,
Fermanagh, Westmeath.
MacAuliffe — MacAmlaoibh, from Norse
name "Olaf". Cork. McAuliffe.
MacBride — MacGiolla
Brighde, "devotee of St. Brigid" or "son of the servant of St. Brigid".
Donegal, Ulster. McBride.
MacCabe — Mac Cába. Many were
mercenaries (known as gallowglasses) imported from Scotland by Irish chieftains
in the middle ages who came from Inis Gall in the Hebrides. They served the
O'Reillys and the O'Rourkes of Leitrim and Cavan. It is thought their name comes
from the peculiar hats they were; caba means "hat or cap". McCabe
MacCann — MacAnnadh, originally spelled MacCana.
Ambhlaith MacCanna claimed descent from the O'Neills of Ulster. Canny,
McCann, Maccanna, MacCanna. Armagh.
MacCarthy —
MacCarthaigh, "loving one". One of the most ancient and numerous surnames
in Ireland, back to the 3rd C. King of Munster; derives from Carthac, a 12th C.
descendant. MacCartney is the Scottish form of this surname; Paul
MacCartney of the Beatles (b. 1942, Liverpool, England). McCarthy.
MacCormack — MacCormaic, "son of Cormac". Wright McCormick
started the movement in 1920 for an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration in
Boston. MacCormick, McCormick, McCormack. All over Ireland.
MacCulloch — Mac Cú Uladh, Mac Con Uladh. "Hound of Ulster".
McCullagh, McCollough.
MacDermot — MacDiarmada, "free
man". From a 12th C. descendant, Dermot, King of Moylurgh, that they adopted the
surname Dermot. MacDermott, McDermmot, Kermode. Roscommon, Sligo.
McElrath — Mac Giolla Riabhaigh, "son of the brindled lad".
MacIlrea, Kilrea (County Sligo) MacIlwraith, MacIlrath (Ulster and
Scotland) MacElrath.
MacElroy — MacGiolla Rua,
"redhaired youth". Fermanagh, Leitrim. McElroy.
MacEvoy —
MacGuiollabhuidhe, "woodsman"; a variant is Mac A Buidhe, "yellow
lad". MacAvoy, McAvoy, McEvoy. Leix, Louth.
MacFrederick —
Mac Feardorcha (possibly); "son of Frederick". N. Ireland via Scotland.
MacGee — Mag Aodha, "son of Hugh". Magee, MacKee, McGee,
McKee. Antrim, Armagh, Down.
MacGill — Mac An Ghaill, "son
of the foreigner". Magill (East Ulster).
MacGovern — Mag
Samhrain, "summer"; derived from Samhradh, who lived circa 1000.
Magauran, MacGowran, McGovern, McGowran. Cavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim.
MacGrath — MacRaith or Mag Raith, "son of Raith";
raith "prosperity". Joseph McGrath, a veteran of the Rising and a
government minister, helped found the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes and revive the
old Waterford crystal industry. Magraith, Magraw, MacGraw, Magrath, McGrath,
McGraw. Clare, Donegal, Fermanagh, Limerick.
MacHugh —
MacAoda, "son of Hugh". Eason, Hewson, MacCoy, McKee, Hughes, MacKay,
McHugh. Donegal, Fermanagh, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo.
MacInerney —
Mac An Airchinnigh, "steward of church lands"; originated in Connacht.
Macnairney, Mcnerney, McInerney. Connacht.
MacKenna — Mac
Cionaoith, Irish MacCionaoda "son of Cionaoid". Little is recorded or
known of the MacKennas until recently. An Ulster family, they were lords of
Truagh, the present Trough in County Monaghan. McKenna. Ulster.
MacLoughlin — O Maoilsheachlain, "follower of St. Secundinas".
Also spelled MacLochlainn in Gaelic. O'Loghlen, MacLaughlin,
McLaughlin, McLoughlin, O'Melaghlin. Clare, Derry, Donegal, Meath.
MacMahon — Mac Mathghamhna or MacMathuna, "son of a
bear"; represents two distinct septs. Mac dropped from MacMahon, it indicates a
completely different name, one which can also be Mohan, which at some time was
also transformed to Vaughn. Mahon, McMahon, Mohan, Vaughn.
MacManus — MacMaghnuis, Gaelic adaption of the Norse-Viking
name Magnus. McManus. Connacht, Fermanagh.
MacNally — Mac
an Fhailghigh, "poor man". Macannally, McNally, Nally. Armagh, Mayo,
Monaghan.
MacNamara — "son of the hound of the sea"; there were two
septs, MacNamara Fion "fair" of the West, and MacNamara Reagh "swarthy" of the
East. Caitlin MacNamara, wife of Dylan Thomas, and her father, Francis, were
born at Ennistymon, now Falls Hotel. McNamara. Clare.
MacNulty
— Mac An Ultaigh, "ulidian", "of Ulster". McNulty, Nulty. Ulster,
Mayo.
MacQuaid — Mac Uaid, "son of Walter". McQuaid,
MacQuaide, McQuaide, MacQuoid, McQuoid, MacWade, McWade. Ulster.
MacQuillan — MacCoilin or MacUighlilin, "son of little
Hugh"; from the Welsh-Norman Hugeli de Mandeville in the 12th C.
McQuillan. Ulster.
MacSweeney — MacSuibhne, "pleasant".
The Donegal MacSweeneys were descendants of Suibhne O'Neill, a chieftain of
Scotland. Scottish mercenaries. McSweeney, MacSwiney, Sweeney, Sweeny.
Cork, Donegal.
McKowen — MacEoghain (Connacht); MacEoin (east Ulster).
Eoghan is ancient and possibly means "yew tree". Eoin is a common form of John.
McKown, MacKeon, MacKeown.
McGinn — Mag Fhinn surnames.
MacGinn and its composite form Maginn are approximately equally numerous and are
now found respectively in Counties Tyrone and Down. MacGinn, or MacGinne, is
listed in the 1659 "census" as a principal Irish name in the barony of
Oneilland, Co. Armagh, i.e. the territory which lies between Tyrone and Down.
Maginn, MacGinn, MacGinne.
Madden — O Madáin, "small dog". Galway, Limerick, Longford,
Offaly.
Maguire — MagUidhir, comes from the Irish
MagUidhir "pale colored". First recorded in 956, but not prominent until
the 14th C. as a sept of the Fermanagh. Also kinsmen of the kingly O'Neills and
O'Connells of Ulster. Many Maguires went to the US and became distinguished in
their careers. The chief surgeon to Stonewall Jackson and professor at Virginia
Medical College among them. MacGuire, McGuire.
Maher — O
Meachair, "hospitable". Meagher. Kilkenny, Tipperary.
Mahoney — see O'Mahony.
Mallaghan — may be
translated in two ways : "the gentle chief" or "the small bald man". Mallaghans
were supposed to have been the wise men and advisers to the clan.
Malone — Ó Maoileoin, from Maoileoin "one who served
St. John". Kinsmen of the O'Conors. Malones who supported James II had to flee
to Europe, and can be traced to the armies and records of France and Spain.
Offaly.
Martin — Ó Martain, MacGiolla Martain, MacMartain,
kinsmen of the O'Neills of Tyrone, and one of the 14 Tribes of Galway. MacGiolla
Martin was anglicized to Gilmartin. The Martins of Connacht, the most prominent
family of the Martin name, claim descent from Olyver Martin, a Norman Crusader.
Martyn, Kilmartin, Gilmartin.
Molloy — O Maolmhudaidh,
"noble chief". Maloy, Miley, Millea, Mulloy. Offaly, widespread.
Moloney — O Maoldhomhnaigh, "descendant of a church servant".
Musician Paddy Moloney is part of The Chieftains. Maloney, Malony,
Molony. Clare, Tipperary.
Monaghan — O Manacháin, "monk".
Listed as lords of Roscommon in1287. Minogue, Monahan, Monk. Roscommon.
Mooney — O Maonaigh, either "wealthy" or "dumb". Mainey,
Meany, Meeney, Moony. Offaly, Sligo, Ulster.
Moore — Ó
Mórdha, "noble"; descend from Conal Cearnach, a chieftain of the legendary
Knights of the Red Branch. Thomas Moore was a poet and musician. Leix.
Moran — O Móráin, "big, great". Murrin. Connacht.
Moriarty — O Muircheartaigh, "expert navigator"; originated in
the Dingle peninsula. Murdoch, Murtagh. Kerry.
Morrissey —
O Muirgheasa, "sea choice". Cork, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford.
Mulcahy — O Maol Chathaigh, "battle chief". Dr. Risteard
Mulcahy is a leading Dublin heart surgeon; Russell Mulcahy directed the film
"Highlander", starring Christopher Lambert. Munster.
Mulrooney —
Maelranaidh, an ancestor of the MacDermot clan.
Mulligan —
Ó Maolagáin. Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan.
Murphy — Ó
Morchoe, "sea warrior". Dermot MacMurrough, the most famous Murphy, invited
the Normans into Ireland. Murphey, MacCamore, MacMurrough, O'Morchoe,
O'Murchadha. Leinster, Sligo, Tyrone, Wexford.
Murray — Ó
Muireadhaigh; anglisiced to Murray in the 17th century.
Nolan — O Nuaillain, "noble, famous". Mowlan. Carlow,
West Cork.
Nugent — Nuinseann, originated in the 10th C. in
the French town of Nogent, and moved to Ireland in the 12th C. Gilsenan.
Westmeath.
O'Brien — take their name from the 10th C. Brian Boru, High King of
Ireland. Clare, Limerick, Munster.
O'Byrne — Ó Broin, Byrne,
with or without the "O" prefix is a common Irish name. Ó Broin comes from
Branach "raven", a son of Maolmordha, 11th C. King of Leinster. Byrne.
Wicklow.
O'Callaghan — Ó Ceallacháin, "strife". Probably from
Ceallachan, 10th C. King of Munster and chieftain of the Eoghanact, a consortium
of the leading families of Munster, and who plundered surrounding counties. He
is also famed for killing Cinneide, father of the future king Brian Boru.
Callaghan, Callahan. Kilkenny, Munster.
O'Casey — O
Cathasaigh, "vigilant, watchful". Thomas Lincoln Casey built the Washington
Monument in the US. Casey. Munster.
O'Connell — Ó
Conaill, claim to a pedigree dating back to a circa 280 BC High King. The
name probably evolved from the ancient British or Celtic first name Cunovalos.
Sir Maurice O'Connell married the daughter of Captain Bligh of The
Bounty. Derry, Galway, Munster.
O'Connor — Ó Conchobhair,
"hero, champion"; pedigree going back to the 2nd C.; and took their name from
the 10th C. King Conchobhair of Connacht. O'Conor, Conner, Connor. Clare,
Munster, Offaly, Roscommon, Ulster.
O'Dea — O Deaghaidh. Cork,
Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary.
O'Donnell — Ó Domhnaill, "world
mighty"; a forefather was Niall of the Nine Hostages. Their base was Tirconnell
(now Donegal) "Connell's territory", and their chieftains were inaugurated on
the Rock of Doon near Letterkenny. Donegal.
O'Donovan — Ó
Donnabhain, donn "brown" and dubhann "black"; pedigree goes back to
Callaghan, a 10th C. King of Munster, whose son was Donnabhainn. Cork, Kilkenny.
O'Dowd — O Dubhda, "black". Dodd, Doody, Duddy. Galway,
Mayo, Sligo.
O'Driscoll — O hEidersceoil, "intermediary,
interpreter". Driscoll. Predominantly Cork.
O'Dwyer — O
Dubhuidir, "black shirt". Mayo, Sligo.
O'Farrell — Ó
Fearghaill, "man of great valour". Multiplied and divided into two septs:
O'Farrel Boy, buidh means "yellow"; and O'Farrell Bán, bán means
"white". They married into the Moore family, creating the sept More O'Ferrall.
More, O'Ferrall.
O'Flaherty — Ó Flaithbheartaigh. A
sear-faring people of Connacht and enemies of the 14 Tribes of Galway. They
boast genealogy back 3,000 years. Flaherty, O'Flaverty. O'Laverty (in
Ulster, where Irish is slightly different).
O'Flanagan — O
Flannagain, "red". Flanagan. Connacht.
O'Gara — O
Gadhra, "a mastiff " (dog). Mayo, Sligo.
O'Gorman — O
Gormain, from the word for "blue". MacGorman, Gorman, Grimes. Clare,
Leix, Monaghan.
O'Grady — Ó Grádaigh, "illustrious"; pedigree
shows them to be of Dalcassian sept, kinsmen of the O'Briens. An O'Grady married
to a black American woman, was the great-grandfather of Cassius O'Grady Clay
(Muhammed Ali). Clare, Limerick.
O'Hagan — O hAodhagain or
Ó hAgain, "young". Hagan, Aiken, Hogg. Tyrone, Ulster.
O'Halloran — O hAllmhurain, "stranger beyond the sea". Clare,
Galway.
O'Hara — O hEaghra. Scarlett O'Hara is a well-known
fictional character from the novel Gone With The Wind. Antrim, Sligo.
O'Hegarty — O hEigceartaigh, "unjust". Haggerty,
Hagerty. Cork, Derry, Donegal.
O'Higgins — O hUigin,
"knowledge, ingenuity". Leinster, Munster, Sligo.
O'Keeffe — Ó
Caoinmh. Fionghuine's, a King of Munster, son Art O Caom gave his name to
the O'Keeffes whose territory was around Glanmore and Fermoy in Cork. When
uprooted by the Normans, they moved south to the Duhallow country where their
surroundings came to be called Pobble O Keeffe "O'Keeffe country". Caom means
"noble" or "gentle". Georgia O'Keeffe was a famous painter. O'Keefe.
O'Kelly — Ó Ceallaigh, derive their name from Ceallach, a 9th
C. chieftain, meaning "war" or "contention". Kelly. Galway, Roscommon.
O'Kennedy — Ó Cinneide, kinsmen of King Brian Boru, whose
brother, Dunchad, the O'Kennedys descend. Cean Éidig, "ugly head", was the
father of Brian Boru and Dunchad and where the name originated. There is also a
Kennedy clan in Scotland who long ago may have been related to the Irish
Kennedys. Kennedys of the 19th and 20th Centuries have been distinguished in the
church, medicine, law, and the navy. Most notably the Kennedys of Boston,
including President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, JFK, Jr.,
etc. Kennedy. Clare, Kilkenny, Tipperary.
O'Leary — O
Laoghaire, "calf keeper". Cork.
O'Mahony — Ó Mahúna, from
Mathghamhan, son of Cian Mac Mael Muda, a 10th C. prince and his wife Sadbh,
daughter of Brian Boru. Mahony, Mahoney, O'Mahoney. Cork, Munster.
O'Malley — Ó Máille, a very old Mayo family whose name is said
to derive from the Celtic word for chief, maglios. Melia.
O'Meara — O Meadhra, "mirth". Tipperary.
O'Neill —
one of the most prestigious Irish families of the last 1,000 years. Niall means
"champion". Creagh, Neill, Nihill. Antrim, Down, Tyrone, Ulster.
O'Reilly — Ó Raghailligh, took their name from Ragheallach
"gregarious race", great-grandson of Maolmordha (Myles). Thought to be kinsmen
of the O'Conor kings of Connacht through Maolmordha. Reilly, O'Rahilly,
Riley. Cavan.
O'Riordan — O Riordáin, "royal bard".
Riordan, Reardon. Cork, Tipperary.
O'Rourke — Ó Ruairc,
thought to come from the Norse-Viking name Hrothrekr, who came and integrated,
producing three kings of Connacht. Roark, Rooke, Rourke, Rorke. Cavan,
Leitrim.
O'Shaughnessy — O Seachnsaigh. Shaughnessy,
Sandys. Clare, Galway, Limerick.
O'Shea — O Seaghada, Ó
Séaghdha (SHAY), Ó Sé (modern). "Hawk-like" or "stately"; possibly
"majestic, courteous" or "dauntless". This family was a member of the Ten Tribes
of Kilkenny. Shea, Shee. Kerry, Kilkenny.
O'Sullivan — Ó
Súileabháin, "one" or maybe "hawk-eyed". Ancestry from Olioll Olum, 3rd C.
King of Munster. Sir Arthur O Sullivan was the musical half of Gilbert &
Sullivan operas. Cork, Kerry, Tipperary.
O'Toole — Ó Tuathail,
from Tuathal, a 10th C. King of Leinster. Scholars say tuathal means
"mighty people" or "prosperous". Originated from Kildare, and associated with
Wicklow. Toal, Tool, Toole, Toohill, Twohill. Connacht, Kildare, Ulster,
Wicklow.
Phelan — O Faoláin or O hAoileain, "joyful". Whelan,
Heelan, Hyland. Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford.
Plunkett —
from a French word for "white" or "blonde". An aristocratic family who came to
Ireland from Denmark before the Normans. Plunketts fought for the Catholic
Stuarts, fleeing to France with them to join the Irish regiments, but returned
to Ireland and their original faith to save their lands in the 18th C.
Plunket. Louth, Meath.
Power — came with the Normans, known as
le Poer "poor". de Paor. Waterford, Wicklow.
Quigley — O Coigligh, "untidy hair". Cogley, Coigley.
Derry, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo.
Quinlan — O
Caoindealbháin, "gracefully shaped". Kindellan, Quinlevan. Munster.
Quinn — O Cuinn, "intelligent". Quin. Antrim, Clare,
Longford.
Rafferty — O Reachtaire, or O Raithbheartaigh,
"prosperity wielder"; or O Robhartaigh, "flood tide". O'Rafferty,
O'Raverty (in records of 1663). Connacht.
Redmond —
Réamonn, a Norman surname adopted into the Irish Gaelic and originated
with Raymond le Gros, a Norman leader of the invasion in 1169. Wexford, Wicklow.
Regan — (said Reegan) Ó Reagáin or Ó Riagain, a
widespread name which came from several ancestors. The Ó Riagáin were important
because they were of the Four Tribes of Tara. Dublin, Leix, Meath.
Rice — from Welsh Rhys. Dublin, Kerry, Louth, Ulster.
Riggs — possibly "wealthy, rich"; or the name may be local, and
denoting a steep elevation, a range of hills, or the upper part of such a range.
Roche — de Róiste, thought that the Roches originated in
Flanders, certainly arriving in Ireland with the Normans from Roch Castle, the
Pembrokeshire fortress, from which their name comes. There are five different
branches that this family multiplied into. The first viscount Fermoy in 1570 was
David Roche, an ancestor of Princess Diana.
Rooney — O
Ruanaidh, "hero". Down, widespread.
Ryan — Ó Riain or Ó
Maoilriain, "follower of Riain"; Ryan formed from an old personal name
meaning either "administrator" or "water". They separated into two main
branches: the Ó Riains of Idrone in Carlow; and the Ó Maoilriains, chiefs in
Owney around Limerick and Tipperary. Mulryan. Carlow, Leinster, Limerick,
Tipperary.
Scanlan — O Scannláin or MacScannlain. Scanlon.
Connacht, Cork, Kerry, Limerick.
Scully — O Scolaidhe,
"crier". Leinster, Tipperary.
Shannon — O Seanacháin, "old,
wise". Clare, Ulster.
Sheehan — O Siodhacáin, "peaceful".
Sheahan.Munster.
Sheehy — Mas Sithigh. Munster.
Sheridan — Ó Sirideáin, origin ambiguous, at first a personal
name. General Philip Sheridan, distinguished at the battle for the Shenandoah
Valley in the American Civil War, had roots were in Cavan. Sheriden.
Cavan.
Taaffe — family came from Wales in 1196 to settle in Louth, and David
is the Welsh equivalent.
Táilliúir — (TAWLL-yur) Gaelic version of
Taylor, brought by the English to mostly Dublin and Ulster.
Tierney — O Tighearnaigh, "lordly". Tiernan. Donegal,
Mayo, Tipperary.
Tobin — Tóibín, originally de St. Aubyn.
Toibin. Brittany, Munster.
Treacy — O Treasigh,
"fighter". Cork, Galway, Leix.
Tuite — Mac Confhiaclaigh (IG)
and de Tiúit (Norman-Irish). The former were prominent in the above areas
prior to the Norman invasion. The latter, lead by Richard de Tuit, came in with
Strongbow in the Norman invasion of 1172. De Tuit means "of the clearing" (in a
wooded area) and there are at least five such places in Normandy today called La
Thuit. All of them are located in the Eure department of Normandy. Meath,
Westmeath, Louth Longford.
Tully — O Taicligh or Mac an
Tuile, "flood". The family changed their name to Flood when the English
outlawed the Gaelic language. Flood, MacAtilla. Cavan, Connacht,
Longford, Westmeath.
Twomey — O Tuama. Toomey. Clare,
Cork, Kerry, Limerick.
Wall, de Valle — du Val, original Norman name was de Bhal.
Carlow, Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford.
Walsh —
Breathnach, "Welshman"; name used to designate the hundreds of Welshmen
who came with the Normans to Ireland, so there is no common Walsh ancestor for
this family. Walshe, Welsh. Dublin, Kilkenny, Leix, Waterford, Wicklow.
Ward — Mac an Bháird, "bard". Connacht, Ulster.
Woulfe — de Bhulbh, "son of Ulf". Name brought by French
Norman invaders. Wolfe, Wooley, Woolfe. Cork, Kildare, Limerick.