Surnames were not used in Ireland until about the C10th. Originally, they consisted of a patronymic with the father's name preceded by 'Mac', son, or the grandfather's name preceded by 'O' (originally 'Ui', grandson) for a male. These prefixes could also be followed by the title or occupation of the father or grandfather. The 'O' element was dropped by many Connaught families after the Cromwellian settlement but is retained by the gentry as a mark of distinction. Women originally used 'ingen' or 'daughter of' but this later became 'nighean' and was shortened to 'ni'.
With the spread of Christianity, bynames incorporating 'giolla' or 'maol' (follower or devotee) developed. These are generally found in the forms 'Gil-' or 'Mul-' in modern Irish surnames. Others surnames originate amongst the various peoples who settled in Ireland such as the Vikings, Normans (invaded in 1171), Scots (Plantation of Ulster, 1611) and English (Cromwellian Settlement, 1650s).
British rule also led to the anglicising of many names and often the prefixes 'O' and 'Mac' were abandoned. Names were changed to those sounding similar in English or were direct translations of the original Gaelic.
| Modern and Anglicised Forms | Old Irish Forms | Meanings |
| Adair | ||
| Addis | ||
| Agnew | ||
| Ahearn, Ahern, Aherne | O'Echtighearn | |
| Aird | ||
| Aitken | ||
| Anglum | ||
| Antisdel | ||
| Armitage, Armytage, Armidage, Armedy | O'Airmeadhaigh | |
| Athey | ||
| Auchinlek | ||
| Autrey | ||
| Baggett | ||
| Bain | ||
| Baird | ||
| Ball | ||
| Ballagh | ||
| Ballantyne | ||
| Bambrick | ||
| Banan, Bannan, Bannon, O'Bannen | O'Banain | |
| Banff, Hogg, Hogge | Mac an Bhainbh | |
| Barde | ||
| Barken | ||
| Barkey | ||
| Barret, Barrett | ||
| Barrington, Barron? | O'Barrain | |
| Barry, Berry | Norman 'de Barri' | |
| Battle | ||
| Bean, Gilwaine, (White) | MacGilli-Bhain | |
| Beatty | ||
| Begg, Beggs | ||
| Begley, Bagley | ||
| Behan, Beahan | ||
| Beirne | ||
| Bernnan | ||
| Berrigan | ||
| Bestick | ||
| Beyers | ||
| Biggar, Begar, Bera | O'Bearga | |
| Binchy | ||
| Binsley | ||
| Bird | ||
| Blair, Blaire | ||
| Blevins | ||
| Blighe | O'Blighe | |
| Blow | ||
| Boehn | ||
| Bohan | ||
| Boland | O'Beollain | |
| Bolger | ||
| Bonner | ||
| Boone | ||
| Boran, Boren, Borin, Boring, Bouring | ||
| Bouey, Boughy, Boey | ||
| Bourns, Burns | O'Conboirne, MacConboirne | |
| Bowler | ||
| Boyce | ||
| Boyd, Boyde | ||
| Boylan | ||
| Boyle, O'Boyle, Beahilly, Beale, Beatley | O'Baetheghaile | |
| Braden, Bradin | ||
| Bradley | ||
| Brady | O'Bradaigh? | descendant of Bradach |
| Brahan | O'Brachain | |
| Brangan, Brannigan | ||
| Brann | ||
| Bray | O'Breadhdha | |
| Brazael, Brazil | ||
| Breen, McBreen | O'Breen | |
| Brennan, Brenan, Brennen | O Braonain, O'Braoinain | Desc of Braonain 'sorrow'? |
| Breslin, Brislane | O'Brislain | |
| Bresnahan | ||
| Brickin | MacGilli Briein | |
| Broder, Bradner, Brothers | O'Bruadair | |
| Brodie, Brody, Brodiff | O'Broduibh | |
| Brogan | O'Brogain | |
| Brophy, Broghie | O'Breithe | |
| Brosnahan, Brosnan | ||
| Bruen, Brune, Bruin | O'Birn | |
| Brynes | ||
| Brynnock | ||
| Buggy | ||
| Burk, Burke, Bourke, Burge | Norman French 'de Burgh' | |
| Burnes, Burns, Byrne, Byrnes, Byrns (Lester, Lyster, Warren) | O'Burn, O'Byrne, O Broin | Desc of Broin |
| Cadden | ||
| Cadogan | ||
| Cady | ||
| Callaghan, Callahan, Calahan, O'Callaghan | O'Kelaghan
O'Ceallachain |
|
| Callan, Callanan, Callinan | ||
| Camden, Caden | O'Camdhain | |
| Canavan, Canovan | ||
| Cannan, Cannon, Kanan?, McCannon | ||
| Canty | ||
| Carey, Cary, Carrie | O'Ciardha | descendant of the Dark One |
| Carlin | ||
| Carmichael | ||
| Carney | ||
| Carolan, O'Carolan | O Cearbhall« in | |
| Carton, MacCarton | ||
| Carvel | ||
| Casey, O'Casey | O'Cathasaigh | desc of Cathasach 'watchful' |
| Cash, Kilcash | MacGilla Chaise | |
| Cashion | ||
| Caskey | ||
| Cass | ||
| Casserly | ||
| Cassidy | O'Caiside | |
| Catny, Kane | O'Caithniadh | |
| Cavin | ||
| Cayley | ||
| Childers | ||
| Claffey | ||
| Clancy | Mac Fhlannchaidh | son of Flannchadh |
| Cleary, Clery, Clary, Clear, O'Clery, McClary, McCleary, MacCleery | O'Cleirigh | Desc of the clerk |
| Clingan | ||
| Cloherty | ||
| Clohessy | ||
| Cloony | ||
| Close | ||
| Clune, Clyne | ||
| Coady, Cody | ||
| Coakley | ||
| Cochran, Cochrane | ||
| Coffee, Coffey, Cowhig, Cuffe? | O'Chobhthaigh, O'Cobhthaigh | |
| Coggins | ||
| Coholan | ||
| Colahan | ||
| Colclough, Colcroft | ||
| Coleman, Coalman | O'Clumain, O'Columain | |
| Colgan, MacColgan | ||
| Colley | ||
| Collins, Collings | O'Coilen | |
| Colvin | ||
| Comer | ||
| Comerford, Comsford | ||
| Comey | ||
| Comiskey, Comisky, Cummisky, McComish? | ||
| Conaghan | ||
| Conalty | ||
| Concannon | ||
| Condon, Condron | ||
| Conheady | ||
| Conklin | ||
| Conlan, Conlin, Conlon, Colwan | MacConluain | |
| Conn | ||
| Connaughtan, Conattan | O'Connachtain | |
| Conneely, Coneely, Connelly, Connole, Connolly, Conley, Conly | MacConghaola, O'Conghaile | |
| Connel, Connell, O'Connell, O'Connel, MacConnal, McConnell | O'Conaill | |
| Connich | ||
| Connor, Connors, Conner, O'Conner, O'Conor, Conyers | O'Conchobhair | |
| Conroy, Conry, Connery, Mulconrey | O'Maoilchonaire | |
| Considine | ||
| Conway, Convy | O'Conbhuidhe
O'Conaighain O'Connowe |
|
| Coogan, Cowgan | O'Comhghain | |
| Coolacan, Coolahan | O'Culaghaine | |
| Coonan, Quinan | O'Cuanain | |
| Cooney | ||
| Corbett | O'Cornain | |
| Corcoran | ||
| Corey, Corry, Corr | ||
| Corkin | ||
| Corliss | ||
| Corner | ||
| Cornynn | ||
| Corrigan | ||
| Cosby, Foote | MacCosby | Cos - foot |
| Cosgrave, Cosgriff, Cosgrove, Costello, MacOscar? | O'Chosgraidh | |
| Costigan | ||
| Cotter | ||
| Cottle | O'Coitil | |
| Cottrell | ||
| Coughlan, Coughlin, Coglan | ||
| Coulter | ||
| Counagh | ||
| Counahan, Counihan | ||
| Cournane | ||
| Cowley | ||
| Coyle | ||
| Coyne, Koin, Kean, Keane, Kane, Kain, Cain, O'Keane, O'Kane, O'kane | O'Cain, O'Koin | |
| Cragin | ||
| Creagh, Cregg | ||
| Creary | ||
| Creaven | ||
| Creedan, Creed | O'Criadhen | |
| Creegan, Cregan, Creagon, Crehan, Crean | ||
| Cremen, Cremin, Cremins, Crimmins | ||
| Cribban | O'Cribbain | |
| Crilley, Crilly, Krily | ||
| Croak, Croake, Croke, Croker | ||
| Croghan | ||
| Cronan, Cronin | ||
| Crosbie, Crosby | MacCrossan | |
| Crosgrove | ||
| Crossin | ||
| Crotty | ||
| Crowley, Crawley | ||
| Cruise | ||
| Crummer | ||
| Cuddihy, Cuddy | ||
| Culhane, Cullen, Cullinane | ||
| Culley, Cullie | ||
| Culliton | ||
| Culloty | ||
| Cummin, Cumming, Cummins, Cummings | O'Cumin | |
| Cunniam, Cunnion, Canning | MacCoinin | |
| Cunniff | ||
| Cunningham, Conyngham, Cunnigan | O'Cindellain, O'Conagan, O'Conaighain, O'Connaghain, O'Congadhain | |
| Curley, Kirley | ||
| Curnane | ||
| Curran, Currin, Curren | MacCarrain | |
| Currie, Curry, Cury, O'Curry | Curoi? | |
| Curtin | ||
| Curtis, Curtiss | ||
| Cusack, Cusick | ||
| Cushing, Cussen | ||
| Cuskley | MacGillicuskly | |
| Dacey | ||
| Dagan | ||
| Daly, Dailey, Daily, Daley. O'Daly | O'Dalaigh | Desc of Dalach ('assemblyman'?) |
| Darby | ||
| Dardis | ||
| Dargan | ||
| Darmody | ||
| Darragh | ||
| Daunt | ||
| Davoran | ||
| De La Mare, Delamore | ||
| De Loughry, Delury | ||
| Deady | ||
| Deahl | ||
| Deasy | ||
| Deeney, Deeny | ||
| Deery | ||
| Defferary | ||
| Deghy | ||
| Delahunty, Dolohanty | ||
| Delaney, Delany | ||
| Delvin | ||
| Dempsey | ||
| Dennehy, Danaher, Danahy, Danihey | ||
| Derrick, Derrig | O'Deirg | |
| Desmond | ||
| DeVaney, Devaney, Devany, Duane, Duany | O'Duanmhaigh | |
| Devereaux, Devereux, Devery | ||
| Devine, Devinn | ||
| Devlin | ||
| Devrin | ||
| Dewey | ||
| Diamond, Dimond | ||
| Diarmid | ||
| Diegnan, Dignen | ||
| Digney | ||
| Dillon | ||
| Dinneen | ||
| Dissett | ||
| Dixon | O'Discin | |
| Doble | ||
| Docherty, Doherty, Daugherty, Dougherty, O'Doherty | ||
| Dockery | ||
| Doheny | ||
| Dolan | ||
| Donaghue, Donoghue, Donahue, Donoho, Donohue, O'Donoghue, Donachie, Donaghy | O'Donchadha, O'Donnchadha | |
| Donegan | ||
| Doney, Denny | O'Duineadhaigh | |
| Donlan, Donlin, Donlon | ||
| Donlevy | ||
| Donnellan, Donelan | ||
| Donnelly | O'Dunghaile | |
| Donovan, Donavan, O'donnovan, O'Donovan | ||
| Doody | ||
| Doogan, Doohan, O'Dugan | ||
| Doolan | ||
| Dooley | ||
| Dooling | ||
| Doon, Dooney | ||
| Doraghy | ||
| Doran, Dorrian | ||
| Dore | ||
| Dorgan | ||
| Dornan | ||
| Dorsey, Dorcey, Dorcy, Darcy, D'Arcy, Darkey, Dasse? | O'Dorchaidhe | |
| Dowey | ||
| Dowglas | ||
| Dowling, Du Laing, Laing, Dulin? | O'Dowling | |
| Downer, Downes, Downey | ||
| Doyle, Dougill | O'Dubhghaill, O Dughghaill | Desc Of Dubhghall |
| Drew | ||
| Driscoll, O'Driscoll | ||
| Drohan | ||
| Drum | ||
| Drummond | ||
| Duff, Duffey, Duffy | 'black/dark' | |
| Dufficy | ||
| Duvegan, Dugan, Duggan, Duignan, Dougan, Doughan | O'Duibhagain | |
| Drum, Drummond | O'Drum | |
| Duhig, Duignen | ||
| Dulleran | O'Duibhleargain | |
| Dunkin | O'Duinchinn | |
| Dunn, Dunne, Dun | O Duinne | desc of Duinn (brown) |
| Dunphy | ||
| Dunwoody, Dinwiddie | ||
| Durack, Durick, Durrick, Durrig | O'Duibhraic | |
| Durkin | Mac Dhuarcáin? | |
| Durning | ||
| Dwyer, O'Dwyer | ||
| Dyal | ||
| Dynes | ||
| Earles, Earley | ||
| Egan, Eagen | ||
| Ellig | ||
| Eurell, Yourell | ||
| Fagan | ||
| Faherty, O'Faherty | O'Faghartaigh | |
| Fahey, Fahy | ||
| Fallon | ||
| Fane | ||
| Fanning | ||
| Faricy | ||
| Farley | ||
| Farnan | ||
| Farner | ||
| Farran, Farren, Heverine | O'Fhuathmharain | |
| Farrell, Farrall, Farrelly, Ferrell, O'Farrell | O'Fearceallaighe | |
| Faucett, Fausset | ||
| Fay | ||
| Fayre, Milford | O'Maoilfaghmhair | |
| Fealy, Feeley, Feely, Fehily, O'Feely, Pickley | O'Feehily | |
| Fearon | ||
| Feehan | ||
| Feeney, Feeny | O'Feinneadha | |
| Feennell | ||
| Feherty | ||
| Fennelly | ||
| Fennessy, Finnessey | ||
| Fenney | ||
| Ferney | ||
| Ferrick, Ferris, Ferry | ||
| Fessey | ||
| Finan, Finnin, Fynan, O'Finan | O'Fionain | |
| Finn | ||
| Finnegan, Finnigan | O'Fionnaghain | |
| Finneran | O'Finntigheam | |
| Finnerty | ||
| Finsley | ||
| Finucane | ||
| Fitzgerald | ||
| Fitzgibbon | ||
| Fitzmaurice | ||
| Fitzmorris | ||
| Fitzpatrick | ||
| Fitzsimmons, Fitzsimons | ||
| Flaherty, O'Flaherty | ||
| Flanagan, Flannagan, Flannigan | Mag Flannagain | |
| Flannelly | O'Flannghaile | |
| Flannery | O'Flannabhra | |
| Flatly, Flatilly | O'Flaitile | |
| Flattery | O'Flaithri | |
| Flavin | ||
| Flood, Floody | ||
| Flynn, O'Flynn | O'Floinn | Desc of Floinn (flann - ruddy) |
| Fogarty | ||
| Folan | ||
| Foley | O'Fodhladha
O'Fuala |
|
| Folgan | ||
| Follis | ||
| Foody, (Swift) | O'h-Fhnadha | |
| Foorde, Ford | ||
| Foote | O'Trehy
MacCoshy |
|
| Forbes, Firbis | MacFirbis | |
| Forhan, Foran, Fornan | ||
| Forristal | ||
| Foskey | ||
| Foy | ||
| Frawley | ||
| Freeney | ||
| Freethy | ||
| Frenshe, French, Ffrench | O'Fraechain | |
| Friel | ||
| Friery | ||
| (Fuller, Fowler) | O'Fualairg | |
| Furey | ||
| Furlong | ||
| Furphy, Furfy | ||
| Fursey |
This collection of names was compiled by Kate Monk and is ©1997, Kate Monk.
Copies may be made for personal use only.