the etymology and history of surnames
|
the etymology and history of surnames
|
| Ahearn |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Ahearne. |
| Ahearne |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of MacEachthighearna. |
| Beirne |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| Berne |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| Boyle |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Boyle. |
| Brady |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Brádaigh, meaning "spirited". |
| Breckenridge |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish, English
Extra: Statistics |
| A habitational name for someone from Brackenrig in Lanarkshire, named with the northern Middle English braken, meaning "bracken", (from the Old Norse brækni) and rigg, meaning "ridge" (from the Old Norse hryggr), or from a similarly named place located in northern England. |
| Breen |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Gaelic "Ó Braoin." Broin means "sorrow" or "sadness". |
| Brennan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish surname Ó Braonáin which means "descendent of Braonán". Braonán is a first name meaning "sorrow." It is comprised of braon, "tear drop" and a diminutive suffix. |
| Brogan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the Irish word bróg meaning "shoe." Brogan means "shoemaker". As a first name, it was borne by St. Patrick's scribe. |
| Buckley (3) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó Buachalla meaning "descendent of Buachaill", a nickname meaning "cowherd". |
| Burke |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from Middle English burk, meaning "fort or fortified town". It was brought to Ireland in the 12th century by the Norman invader William FitzAdelm de Burgo. |
| Burns (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| Butler |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| The surname comes from the Middle English word botte, which means "a vat or large trough used to contain wine". A butler (from Middle English boteler) was the servant in charge of the botts. A famous bearer of this surname is the fictional character of Rhett Butler, created by Margaret Mitchell for her novel 'Gone With The Wind'. |
| Byrne |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| Byrnes |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| Callaghan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Anglicized variant of O'Callaghan. |
| Carey |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish Gaelic Ó Ciardha. It means "dark" from the Irish word ciar. |
| Carmody |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Anglicized version of the Gaelic Ó Cearmada, which means "descendant of Cearmaid", a Gaelic first name. |
| Casey |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, which means "descendent of Cathasaigh". The name Cathasaigh means "vigilant" in Gaelic. |
| Cassidy |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Caiside meaning "descendent of Caiside". Caiside is a first name meaning "curly haired" from Gaelic cas. |
| Cavanagh |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Kavanagh. |
| Cavanah |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Kavanagh. |
| Cavanaugh |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Kavanagh. |
| Cleary |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From O'Cleirigh, meaning "descendent of the clerk." Cléireach is Irish gaelic for "clerk." This surname originally indicated the descendents of Cleirach, a 9th-century prince of the family of King Guare of Connacht. |
| Clinton |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from a place name meaning "settlement on the summit" in Old English. |
| Coghlan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the Irish MacCochlain, meaning "cape" or "hood". This surname orginated in County Cork, Ireland. |
| Coleman |
|
Usage: Irish, English
Extra: Statistics |
| From the given name Colmán. |
| Collins (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| The surname is an anglicization of Irish Ó Coileáin which means "descendent of Coileán", an Irish name meaning "young whelp" or "young creature". A famous bearer was Michael Collins, a Irish nationalist leader who was assassinated in 1922. |
| Connelly |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of either O'Connell or Connolly. |
| Connolly |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Conghaile, which means "the descendent of the valorous". |
| Cooney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Gaelic Ó Cuana. Cuana may be derived from the word for "handsome," or the personal name Cuán, meaning "little wolf" or "little hound". The Cooney sept originated in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland and spread south and west, and is now principally found in Northern Connaught. The motto for the name Cooney is 'Virtue is the only nobility', and the shield is a silver arrow with the tip pointing to the left above the forward-facing palm and fingers of the right hand on a green field. |
| Corcoran |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Ó Corcrain meaning "descendent of Corcran", a given name derived from from the Gaelic word corcair "purple". |
| Coughlan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Coghlan. |
| Coughlin |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Coghlan. |
| Crawford |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| From a place name derived from Old English crawa "crow" and ford "river crossing". |
| Cummins |
|
Usage: English, Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "descendant of Cuimin", a Breton name meaning "little bent one". |
| Curran |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó Corraidhín meaning "descendent of Corraidhín", a given name meaning "little spear". |
| Daley |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Daly. |
| Daly |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from old Irish daliagh, meaning "assembler, one who calls councils". The name has strong roots in the county Cork. |
| Davin |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| A variant of Devine. |
| Delaney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Old Irish Ó Dúbhshláine, derived from the word dubh meaning "dark or black", and the name of the river Slaine (Slaney). Alternatively, the second element may be slan meaning "defiance". The first bearers of this surname were a sept within the areas now known as Laois and Kilkenny, though they probably had migrated westward to this area from the Wicklow / Enniscorthy / Wexford area, due to their original proximity to the Slaney River. The most famous person to bear this name was a Church of Ireland clergyman and close friend of Jonathan Swift: Patrick Delaney (1685-1768). |
| Delany |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| A variant of Delaney. |
| Dempsey |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó Díomasaigh meaning "decendent of Díomasach", a given name meaning "proud". |
| Devine |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Daimhin, meaning "descendent of a poet," from daimhin, "poet, bard." A contemporary bearer of this surname is Ned Devine, the title character of the popular film "Waking Ned Devine". |
| Devlin |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized rendering of the Gaelic O'Duibhlin, meaning literally, "descendant of Duibhlinn", a personal name which may be derived from the Gaelic term dubh meaning "black". |
| Doherty |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Dochartaigh, which means "obstructive". |
| Dolan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Dobhailen, meaning "black defiance, challenge". It is derived from dubh meaning "dark". |
| Donaghue |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Donoghue. |
| Donne |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic donn meaning "brown", a nickname for a person with brown hair. |
| Donnell |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| A variant of O'Donnell. |
| Donnelly |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish "Ó Donnghaile," meaning "the descendent of Donnghaile." Donnghaile means "brown valor", from duinn, "brown" and conghaile,"valorous." Like O'Donnell, this surname is associated with the descendents of Niall of the Nine Hostages. |
| Donoghue |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Donnchadha, meaning "the descendent of Donnchadh". |
| Donohoe |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Donoghue. |
| Donohue |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Donoghue. |
| Dougherty |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Doherty. |
| Doyle |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic surname Ó Dubhghaill, which means "descendent of Dubhghall". The name Dubhghall means "dark stranger" in Gaelic. A famous bearer was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories. |
| Driscoll |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó hEidersceoil meaning "descendent of the interpreter or messenger". |
| Duffy (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from Ó Dubhthaigh, an Irish name meaning "black" or "swarthy". Their original homeland was Monaghan, where their surname is still the most common; they are also from Donegal and Roscommon. |
| Duffy (2) |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe meaning "descendent of Dhuibhshíthe", a name meaning "black peace". |
| Duncan |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the given name Duncan. |
| Duncanson |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Duncan". |
| Durnin |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó Doirnín meaning "descendent of Doirnín", a given name meaning "little fist". |
| Fannon |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Fionnáin which meant "son of Fionn". |
| Ferguson |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Fergus". |
| Finn |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the given name Fionn. |
| Finnin |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Fair birth; handsome. Variant of Finghin - (FIN-jin), Fionn, Fionnbarr. Fineen, Finnin, Fionan, Finian, Finbar. |
| Fitzgerald |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Gerald" in Anglo-Norman French. Brought over to Ireland with William the Conqueror. |
| Fitzpatrick |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Patrick" in Anglo-Norman French. |
| Fitzsimmons |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of Simmons" or "son of Simon" in Anglo-Norman French. |
| Flanagan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Ó Flannagáin meaning "descendent of Flannagán". Flannagán is a given name meaning "red". From County Roscommon in Ireland, it has many other ways to spell it, and it is the 69th most popular name in Ireland. |
| Flanagon |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Flanagan. |
| Flynn |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish O'Floinn, which means "descendent of Floinn". Floinn is a personal name meaning "ruddy" in Irish. |
| Foley |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Irish meaning "pirate" or "marauder". |
| Friel |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Frighil, meaning "the descendent of Fearghal". |
| Fylan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Whalen. |
| Gallagher |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Gallchobhair. The meaning of the given name Galchobhar is unsure, but has been translated as "foreign help". |
| Gorman (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Gormáin meaning "descendent of Gormán". This given name Gormán means "little blue one". |
| Guinness |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Anclization of Mag Aonghuis. This name goes back to a 5th-century chief of Dal Araidhe (Dalriada) in Scotland. The name gained fame from the Guinness brand of ale, established in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. |
| Halloran |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó hAllmhuráin meaning "descendent of hAllmhurán". The given name hAllmhurán means "stranger from across the sea". |
| Hanegan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| Hanigan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| Hannigan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| Hannigen |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| Hayden |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From a place name meaning "hay hill" in Old English. |
| Heffernan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó Hifearnáin, which comes from the personal name Ifearnán, which means "demon". |
| Hickey |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó hIcidhe, meaning "descendent of a healer". |
| Higgins |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó hUiginn which means "descendent of Uiginn". Uiginn is derived from uigín, meaning "knowledge." Uiginn is also a personal name meaning "Viking". It probably gained its Norse connotation from Huginn, the mythical raven of the god Odin. Huginn is Old Norse for "thought". |
| Hines |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó hEidhin "descendent of Eidhin", a personal name or byname of unknown origin. |
| Hogan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From O'hÓgáin meaning "descendent of Ógán". The given name Ógán is a diminutive of óg meaning "young". |
| Ivers |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the first name Iver, a variant of Ivor. It means "archer". The Gaelic spelling of this name is Iomhair. |
| Kavanagh |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| The surname and all its variations is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Caomhánach, which means "a student of St. Caomhan". It was the name used by a 12th century King of Leinster, Domhnall Caomhánach (Donal Kavanagh), the eldest son of the historic Irish King, Diarmait Mac Murchad (Dermot MacMurrough), but earlier ancestors of the Clan were Kings of Leinster many generations before the first Kavanagh. |
| Kavanah |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Kavanagh. |
| Kavanaugh |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Kavanagh. |
| Kearney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic surname Ó Ceithearnaigh meaning "descendent of Ceithearnach", a given name meaning "warrior". |
| Kelly (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, which means "descendent of Ceallach". |
| Kennedy |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Gaelic Ó Cinnéidigh meaning "kinsmen of Brian Boru." Cean éidig literally means "mishapen head," a nickname for Brian Boru's father. This surname was borne by assassinated American president John F. Kennedy. |
| Kerry |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Carey. It may also refer to a person from County Kerry in Ireland. |
| Kilduff |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Fom the Gaelic Mac Giolla Dhuibh meaning "son of the black(haired) man". |
| Killough |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "from Killough (County Down, Northern Ireland) or Killough (Wicklow, Ireland)". The place name Killough means "church on the lake" derived from the Irish cill meaning "church" and locha meaning "lake". |
| Lane (3) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Luain "descendent of Luan", a given name meaning "warrior". |
| Lannon |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Lennon. |
| Lennon |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Leannáin, which means "descendent of Leannán". The name Leannán means "lover" in Gaelic. The name has also been borne by the famous Beatles member John Lennon. |
| MacBride |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Bhrighde. |
| MacCailín |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
|
| Means "son of Cailín". |
| MacCarrick |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of Cúcharraige" in Irish. The given name Cúcharraige is composed of cú "hound" + carraig "rock". |
| MacCarthy |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Carthach" in Irish. The given name Carthach meant "loving". |
| MacClellan |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant form of MacClelland. |
| MacClelland |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| From Gaelic Mac Gille Fhaolain meaning "son of the servant of Faolán". |
| MacClery |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Cleirigh. |
| Mac Cnáimhín |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of Cnámh", Cnamh means "bone". |
| MacConnell |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| The name McConnell in Ireland is often of Scottish origin and can be derived from the native Gaelic MacDomhnaill, which translates as "son of Donnell." The old Irish version of the name is Domhnaill; its personal-name form is Donald. The name is mostly found in the Province of Ulster and especially in countries Antrim, Down and Tyrone. |
| MacCoughlan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of Coghlan". |
| MacDermott |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish, meaning "son of Difharmait". The given name Difharmait meant "free from envy". Historically the McDermotts were nobility in the Kingdom of Connaught, a province in Ireland. |
| MacEachthighearna |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
|
| Means "son of the horse lord". |
| MacFarland |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Pharlain. |
| MacFarlane |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of MacFarland. |
| MacGhabhann |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of the smith". |
| Mac Gill Fhaolain |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
|
| Means "son of the devotee of Saint Fillan". |
| Mac Giolla Bhrighde |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
|
| Means "son of the devotee of Saint Brigid". |
| Mac Giolla Eoin |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of the servant of Eoin". |
| MacGowan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of MacGhabhann. |
| MacGrory |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
|
| Means "son of Rory". |
| MacGuinness |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Anglicized form of Mag Aonghuis. |
| MacGuire |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Maguire. |
| MacIomhair |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
|
| Means "son of Ivor". |
| MacIver |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of MacIomhair. |
| MacKay |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McKay. |
| MacMathan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of the bear" in Irish. |
| Mac Naoimhín |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
|
| From the Irish Gaelic Mac Naomhán, meaning "son of Naomhan". |
| MacNeil |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McNeil. |
| MacNevin |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín. |
| Mac Niadh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of Niadh" in Irish. Niadh is a male first name that means "champion". |
| Mac Niall |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of McNeil. |
| Mac Pharlain |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
|
| Means "son of Parlan", Parlan most likely comes from the personal name Partholon meaning "spirit of the waves". |
| MacQueen |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from MacShuibhne. |
| MacShuibhne |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of the pleasant one" from the Gaelic word suibhne. |
| Madden |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Madaidhín. |
| Madigan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Madden. |
| Mag Aonghuis |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "son of Aonghus". |
| Magee |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McKay. |
| Maguire |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McGuire. |
| Mahoney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized version of the Irish Ó Mocháin meaning "descendent of Mochán", a given name meaning "early". |
| Mallon |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Malone. |
| Malloye |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Molloy (1) or Molloy (2). |
| Malone |
|
Usage: Irish, English
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Maoileoin, which denotes a devotee of St. John, maol being Gaelic for "follower." Because the bearers of the name were for the most part illiterate, there are many different spelling of this surname. |
| Maoilseachlainn |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "devotee of St. Sechnall" in Irish Gaelic, from maol, meaning "follower" and the saint's name. This was the surname of a high king, one of St. Patrick's companions. |
| Markey |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Marcaigh meaning "descendent of Marchach", a name meaning "horse rider". |
| McAdams |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Adam." The name originated in Scotland but is known as a Scotch-Irish name. The McAdams were originally thought to be a part of the infamous MacGregor clan of Scotland. However, new information suggests that they may actually be a part of the Gordon clan. |
| McCabe |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Cába", where Cába is a given name that meant "cape". |
| McCaig |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Thaidhg, meaning "son of Tadhg". |
| McCormick |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Cormac". |
| McCracken |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Reachtain, Ulster variant of Mac Neachtain meaning "decendent of Neachdan". |
| McCune |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Eoghain, meaning "son of Eoghan" in Gaelic. |
| McElligott |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Uileagóid, which was derved from a pet form of William. |
| McGee |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh". |
| McGill |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "descendent of the foreigner" in Gaelic. |
| McGinnis |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mag Aonghuis. |
| McGuire |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Mag Uidhir, meaning "pale-colored". |
| McKowen |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from either Mac Eoghain, meaning "son of Eoghan", or from Mac Eoin, meaning "son of John". |
| McLain |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Mac Gille Eáin meaning "son of the servant of John". |
| McLean |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McLain. |
| McMahon |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Mathghamahna meaning "son of Mathghamhain". The name Mathghamhain is an old Gaelic name meaning "bear". |
| McManus |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Maghnuis which means "son of Manus". Manus is the Irish form of Magnus. |
| McNab |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac an Aba, literally "the son of the abbot". Perhaps slightly scandalous as the child of a (presumably celibate) monk. |
| McNabb |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McNab. |
| McNamara |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Conmara" in Irish. The given name Conmara was composed of cú "hound" + muir "sea". |
| McNeil |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "son of Neil" in Gaelic. |
| McNeill |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McNeil. |
| McNiadh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Mac Niadh. |
| McNiall |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of McNeil. |
| McNiel |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of McNeil. |
| McReynolds |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Meaning "son of Reynold". |
| Meaney |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Mooney. |
| Milligan |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic given name Maolagán, a derivative of maol meaning "bald" or "tonsured". |
| Mitchell |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the given name Michael. |
| Moffett |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From a place name in Scotland meaning "long field". |
| Mollown |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Malone. |
| Molloy (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of O'Maolmhuaidh. |
| Molloy (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Maol Aodha. |
| Moloney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish Ó Maol Dhomhnaigh "descendant of a church servant". |
| Monaghan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Monahan. |
| Monahan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Manacháin meaning "descendent of Manacháin". The given name Manacháin meant "little monk," from manach "monk" and a diminutive suffix. |
| Monday (3) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Eoin. The last part of the surname was mistakenly taken as the Gaelic word for "Monday", Luain. |
| Mooney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| A variant of O'Mooney. |
| Moriarty |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish Ó Muircheartaigh, meaning "expert navigator." Muir means "sea". This is the surname given by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the most well-known antagonist in the Sherlock Holmes series. |
| Morris |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the given name Maurice. |
| Mullane |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Mullen. |
| Mullen |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Maoláin meaning "descendent of Maolán". The given name Maolán meant "devotee". |
| Mulligan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Milligan. |
| Mullins (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Fom the Irish Ó Maolain meaning "descendent of Maolan", a given name meaning "bald". |
| Mulloy |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Molloy (1) or Molloy (2). |
| Mulrennan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| It comes from the Irish Maol Bhréanáin, meaning "bald followers of Saint Brendan," a reference to monks' tonsures. The name originated in the North West of Ireland, in Roscommon. |
| Mulryan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of the Irish surname O'Maoilríaghain. |
| Munroe |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Monroe. |
| Murdock |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the given name Murchadh. |
| Murphy |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Murchadha, which means "descendent of Murchadh". The name Murchadh means "sea warrior" in Gaelic. |
| Neville |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From a Norman French place name meaning "new town". |
| Nevin (1) |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín. |
| Nevin (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Mac Cnáimhín or Ó Cnáimhín. |
| Newell |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Neville. |
| Niven |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Nevin (1). |
| Nolan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Nualláin. |
| O'Beirne |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| O'Berne |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Byrne. |
| O'Boyle |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish Ó Baoghill, the derivation of which is uncertain, but thought to be connected to the Irish geall, meaning "pledge". |
| O'Brien |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Brian, meaning "descendant of Brian". |
| O'Byrne |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish Ó Broin, which comes from the given name Branach, which means "raven". |
| O'Callaghan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| "Descendant of Ceallachan", a diminutive of Ceallach, which probably meant "strife". |
| Ó Catháin |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendent of Cathan". |
| O'Cleirigh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| From Ó Cleirigh; cléireach is the Irish word for "clerk". This surname is the Irish variant of the English Clark. |
| O'Clery |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Cleirigh. |
| Ó Cnáimhín |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Cnámh", cnamh meaning "bone". |
| O'Connell |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Conaill, meaning "the descendent of Conall". |
| O'Connor |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Irish Gaelic Ó Conchobhair meaning "descendent of Conchobhar". |
| O'Donnell |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Domhnaill, meaning "descendent of the ruler of the world." Domhnaill is composed of the Old Celtic elements dumno "world" and val "rule". This surname is associated with Niall of the Nine Hostages and his ancient homeland in County Donegal, Ireland. |
| O'Doyle |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Doyle. |
| O'Gorman |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Gorman (2). |
| O'Hanegan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| O'Hanigan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannigain. |
| O'Hannagain |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| From Irish Ó Hannagáin, which means "descendant of Annagán". Annagán is a diminutive of Annadh, meaning "delay". |
| O'Hannagan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| O'Hannegan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| O'Hannigain |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| O'Hannigan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Hannagain. |
| O'Hara |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Heaghra, which means "the descendent of Eaghra," Ehra being a first name of uncertain origin. Eaghra was the lord of Luighne in County Sligo and died in 926. A famous bearer of this surname is Scarlett O'Hara, a fictional character in Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone With The Wind'. |
| O'Hearn |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Ahearn, meaning "descedent of Ahearn". |
| O'Kane |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the surname Ó Catháin. |
| O'Keefe |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the rish Gaelic Ó Caoimh meaning "descendent of Caomh". Caomh means "gentle" or "kind". |
| O'Leary |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Laoghaire, meaning "the descendent of the keeper of cattle". |
| Ó Madaidhín |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Madaihín", a personal name derived from the Gaelic madadh meaning "dog, mastiff". |
| Ó Máille |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of a nobleman" from the Irish Gaelic mál. |
| O'Malley |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from Ó Máille. |
| O'Maoilríaghain |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of a follower of Ríagain." It is derived from the Irish maol, meaning "follower," and Ríagain, a personal name of unknown meaning. Ríagain may be a variant of Reagan or could be derived from ríodhgach, meaning "implusive, furious". |
| Ó Maol Aodha |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of a devotee of Saint Aodh." It is derived from the Irish maol, meaning "follower, servant". |
| O'Maolmhuaidh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Maolmhuadh", Maolmhuadh is a personal name meaning "proud chief" derived from the Gaelic word meaning "chief" and muadh meaning "proud" or "noble". |
| Ó Meadhra |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Meadhra". The personal name Meadhra is derived from the Gaelic meadhar meaning "merry, happy". |
| Ó Meara |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from Ó Meadhra. |
| O'Mooney |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| From the Irish Ó Maonaigh. It means "the descendant of Maonaigh." Maonaigh meaning either "wealthy" or "dumb". |
| O'Neal |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "descendent of Niall," the original Gaelic spelling of Neil. |
| O'Neill |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of O'Neal. |
| O'Niall |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of O'Neal. |
| Ó Nualláin |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Nuallán", Nuallán means "little noble, famous one" from the Gaelic nuall. |
| Ó Peatain |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendent of Patrick". |
| Ó Raghailligh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendent of Raghailligh", a Gaelic first name of unknown meaning. |
| O'Reilly |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Raghailligh. |
| Ó Ríagáin |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Riagáin". The meaning of Riagáin is uncertain but may be derived from the Irish ríodhgach meaning "impulsive, furious". |
| Ó Riain |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Riaghain". |
| Ó Rinn |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Rinn". Rinn means "star" from the Irish rinn. |
| Ó Rodagh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Rodach". Rodach means "spirited, furious" from the Irish rod. |
| Ó Ruadháin |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Ruadhán", a personal name meaning "red" from the Gaelic ruadh. |
| Ó Ruaidh |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Ruadh", from the Gaelic ruadh meaning "red". |
| Ó Scolaidhe |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of the scholar" from the Irish scholaidhe. |
| Ó Séaghdha |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Séaghdha". Séaghdha means "hawklike, stately". |
| Ó Seighin |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Seighin". Seighin means "small hawk" from the Old Irish séigene. |
| O'Shea |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Séaghdha. |
| Ó Síoda |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Síoda". Síoda means "silk". |
| Ó Suaird |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Suart", Suart is derived from the Old Norse cognate of the Old English Sigeweard meaning "protector of victory". |
| O'Sullivan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Sullivan. |
| Ó Taidhg |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Means "descendant of Tadhg". |
| Owens |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From Gaelic Ó hEoghain meaning "descendent of Eoghan". |
| Patton (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| An Anglicized version of Ó Peatain, possibly derived from shortened forms of Patrick. |
| Payne |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish, English
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "villager, rustic" and later "heathen" from the Middle English Payn, Old French Paien which was often given to children whose baptism had been postponed or adults whose religious zeal was lacking. |
| Power (1) |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "from Pois (Picardy), France". |
| Powers |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Power (1). |
| Queen |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "woman" from the Old English cwen which was sometimes used as a personal name. In some occurances the meaning could simply have been "queen" derived from the Old English cwene. Occasionally it could be a shortened form of MacQueen. |
| Quick |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Quigley. |
| Quickley |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
|
| Variant of Quigley. |
| Quigg |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Quigley. |
| Quigley |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from Middle English quik or Old English cwic, which both mean "lively". It's an English nickname for an agile person. This is also sometimes a place name derived from the place where cinch grass grew: it was a quick-growing grass. |
| Quinlan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish surname Ó Caoindealbháin, which means "descendent of Caoinlean". The name Caoinlean means "slender woman," from the Gaelic caol, "slim" and bhean, "woman". |
| Quinn |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, which means "descendent of Cuinn". The name Cuinn is a variant of Conn. |
| Quirk |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Quirke. |
| Quirke |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From chroi, a Gaelic word meaning "heart". |
| Ready (3) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Rodagh. |
| Reagan (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Ríagáin. |
| Regan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Ríagáin. |
| Reilly |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of the Gaelic given name Raghilleach which is of unknown origin, possibly "right arm". |
| Rice |
|
Usage: English, Welsh, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized version of the first name Rhys. Variant of Rees. |
| Rinne (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Rinn. |
| Roche |
|
Usage: French, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Roach. |
| Rowan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Ruadháin. |
| Rowe |
|
Usage: English, Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "dweller by a row of hedges or houses" from the Middle English row. Some examples of the name are derived from the medieval name Row which is either a variant of Rollo or Roland. |
| Ruane |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Ruadháin. |
| Ryan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Riain. Although sometimes a simplified form of Mulryan. |
| Sams |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the given name Samuel. |
| Scully |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Scolaidhe. |
| Seward (3) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Suaird. |
| Shannon |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| A diminutive of the Gaelic Ó Seanaigh which means "descendent of Seanach". The first name Seanach means "wise". |
| Sheach |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
|
| Variant of Sheehy. |
| Sheedy |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Síoda. |
| Sheehy |
|
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of the Gaelic given name Sítheach meaning "mysterious, eerie". |
| Sheenan |
|
Usage: Irish
|
| Variant of Shannon. |
| Sheridan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic name Ó Siride´in meaning "descendent of Siridean". The first name Siridean means "searcher". |
| Shine (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Seighin. |
| Slane |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "from Slane (County Meath), Ireland". |
| Sloan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Patronymic name derived from the early Irish given name Sluaghadh meaning "raid, expedition". |
| Sloane |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Sloan. |
| Sullivan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish surname Ó Súileabháin which means "descendent of Súileabhán". The name Súileabhán means "little dark eye". |
| Taggart |
|
Usage: Irish, Scottish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicization of the Irish language surname Mac an tSagairt, meaning "son of the priest". The name is quite old, and comes from a time and place in (primarily the north of) Ireland where the rules of priestly celibacy were not strictly enforced. |
| Teague (1) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Taidhg. |
| Tierney |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Gaelic Ó Tíghearnaigh, meaning "descendant of Tighearnach". |
| Tighe |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Anglicized form of Ó Taidhg. |
| Tracey (2) |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Derived from the native Irish Ó Treasaigh meaning "descendent of Treasach". The given name Treasach means "war-like" or "fighter". |
| Tracy |
|
Usage: Irish, English
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Tracey (1) or Tracey (2). |
| Treacy |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Variant of Tracey (2). |
| Wallace |
|
Usage: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "foreigner or stranger" from the Norman French le waleis. It was often used to denote native Welsh and Bretons. Borne by Sir William Wallace of Scotland. |
| Walsh |
|
Usage: English, Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| Means "Celtic", from Middle English walsche "foreigner" (related to Welsh). |
| Whalen |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Irish Ó Faoláin meaning "descendent of Faolán". |
| Whelan |
|
Usage: Irish
Extra: Statistics |
| From the Gaelic Ó Faoláin meaning "descendent of Faolán", a given name meaning "wolf". |
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