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Ó, formerly Ua, literally means "grandson", more loosely "descendant". Mac means "son", not "son of" as most people believe. There is no name O-Cavanaugh, though there is a surname O'Caveney, which might have beaen altered. Otherwise Cavanaugh, or Kavanagh, should stand on its own. It was originally an epithet added to the surname MacMurrough, to distinguish a particular branch of that clan. So the earliest form of the name was MacMurrough Kavanagh (MacMurchadha Caomhanach), which was still used as a title by the chief of the name up to modern times. Another branch of the clan was called MacMurrough Kinsella (MacMurchadha Cinnseallach), now simply Kinsella.

• Irish prefix - joseph negrelli jr  Sep 19 2008, 6:01:41 PM
  • Re: Irish prefix - Jim Young  Sep 20 2008, 6:15:47 AM