Irish
names are used on the island of Ireland as well as elsewhere in the Western World as a result of the Irish diaspora. See also
about Irish names.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Dowd IrishFrom Irish
Ó Dubhda meaning "descendant of Dubhda", where Dubhda is a byname derived from Irish
dubh "black, black-haired".
Dowell English, Scottish, IrishDerived from the Gaelic name
Dubhgall, composed of the elements
dubh meaning "black" and
gall, "stranger". This was used as a byname for Scandinavians, in particular to distinguish the dark-haired Danes from fair-haired Norwegians.
Downey IrishAnglicization of Irish name Dounaigh, which is, in turn, an Gaelicization of a Norman name. Dates from the 11th c.
Dromgoole IrishAn Anglicized from the Irish Gaelic place name Droim Gabhail in County Louth, Ireland meaning "ridge of the forking stream." Dromgoolestown in County Louth is believed to be named after this surname... [
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Drury English, French, IrishOriginally a Norman French nickname, derived from
druerie "love, friendship" (itself a derivative of
dru "lover, favourite, friend" - originally an adjective, apparently from a Gaulish word meaning "strong, vigourous, lively", but influenced by the sense of the Old High German element
trut,
drut "dear, beloved").... [
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Duck English, IrishEnglish from Middle English
doke "duck", hence a nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a duck, or an occupational name for someone who kept or hunted ducks. Alternatively, a variant form of
Duke... [
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Dunne Irish, English, ScottishThis surname means dark and was likely given to those with a dark complexion or with dark hair.
Durning IrishFirst found in County Antrim, Ireland, Durning is possibly an Anglicized form of O'Duirnin. The name is derived from "dorn", which means "fist".
Dwiggins IrishAnglicized form (with English genitive -s) of Gaelic Ó Dubhagáin (see Dugan) or, more likely, of Ó Duibhginn (see Deegan).Possibly a variant (by misdivision) of English
Wiggins.
Earley German, IrishThe surname Earley originally derived from the Old English word Eorlic which referred to one who displayed manly characteristics.... [
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Enright Irish (Anglicized)From Irish Gaelic
Indreachtach, literally "attacker". The surname was borne by British poet D.J. Enright (1920-2002).
Fagan Irish'The name Fagan in Ireland is usually of Norman origin, especially in Counties Dublin and Meath. In the County Louth area the name is derived from the native Gaelic O'Faodhagain Sept of which there are a number of variants including Feighan, Fegan and Feehan.' (from irishsurnames.com)
Fahey IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Fathaidh or
Ó Fathaigh meaning "descendant of Fathadh", a given name derived from the Gaelic word
fothadh "base, foundation".... [
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Fair English, IrishEnglish: nickname meaning ‘handsome’, ‘beautiful’, ‘fair’, from Middle English
fair,
fayr, Old English
fæger. The word was also occasionally used as a personal name in Middle English, applied to both men and women.... [
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Fallon IrishAnglicized form of the surname
Ó Fallamhain meaning "descendant of
Fallamhan", the name being a byname meaning "leader" (derived from
follamhnas meaning "supremacy").
Fanning IrishThe roots of the name are unclear. It seems the name is Native Irish Gaelic. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic name Ó Fionnáin which means "fair".
Faraday IrishFrom Irish Gaelic
Ó Fearadaigh "descendant of
Fearadach", a personal name probably based on
fear "man", perhaps meaning literally "man of the wood". A famous bearer was British chemist and physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867).
Farley Irishanglicized form of the Gaelic surname O'Faircheallaigh.
Farmer IrishAnglicized (part translated) form of Gaelic
Mac an Scolóige "son of the husbandman", a rare surname of northern and western Ireland.
Fenlon IrishGaelic: Derived from old Gaelic name O'Fionnalain,"Son of the Fair one". Found most commonly in Carlow and Wexford counties.
Fennessey IrishAn ancient Irish name. Presumed to come from the name Fionnghusa, or sometimes O'Fionnghusa.... [
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Finnerty IrishReduced anglicisation of Irish
Ó Fionnachta meaning "descendant of Fionnachta", a given name derived from
fionn meaning "fair, white" and
sneachta meaning "snow".
Finnigan IrishThis interesting surname is of Irish origin, and is an Anglicization of the Gaelic
O' Fionnagain, meaning the descendant(s) of Fionnagan, an Old Irish personal name derived from the word "fionn", white, fairheaded.
Fitzherbert IrishDerives from Anglo-Norman French
fi(t)z "son" and the personal name
Herbert to mean "son of Herbert".
Fitzsimons IrishFitzsimons (also spelled FitzSimons, Fitzsimmons or FitzSimmons) is a surname of Norman origin common in both Ireland and England. The name is a variant of "Sigmundsson", meaning son of Sigmund. The Gaelicisation of this surname is Mac Shíomóin.
Flannery IrishAppears originally in Irish Gaelic as
O Flannabhra derived from
flann, meaning "red", and
abhra, meaning "eyebrow". First appeared in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Flood IrishThere are some English Flood's, but the name mainly derives from the Irish O'Taicligh or Mac an Tuile and was Anglicized to Flood, Floyd, and Tully when the Gaelic language was outlawed in Ireland by the English.
Fogarty Irish (Anglicized)Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fógartaigh ‘son of Fógartach’, a personal name from fógartha meaning "proclaimed", "banished", "outlawed". It is sometimes Anglicized as
Howard.
Foley IrishAs a northern Irish surname it is derived from the Gaelic personal name
Searrach, which was based on
searrach "foal, colt" and anglicized as
Foley because of its phonetic similarity to English
foal.
Foody IrishAnglicized version of ó Fuada, or 'descendent of Fuada'. It comes from the personal name 'fuad' or 'swift' but also 'rush' and 'speed'.
Forbes Irish, ScottishComes from a Scottish place meaning "field" in Gaelic. It can also be used as a first name.... [
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Foy Irish (Anglicized)A different form of
Fahy (from Irish Gaelic
Ó Fathaigh "descendant of
Fathach", a personal name probably based on Gaelic
fothadh "foundation").
Furey IrishAnglicized form of Ó Fiúra and Ó Fiodhabhra. Means "bushy eyebrows" derived from Irish
fiodh "wood" and
(f)abhra "eyebrow."
Furlong English, IrishApparently a topographic name from Middle English furlong ‘length of a field’ (from Old English furh meaning "furro" + lang meaning "long".
Furlow English (British), Irishthe warrens came over to America on the Mayflower. they made settlements and went through the revolutionary war. the name changed to Baughman then Furlow. the furlows fought in the cival war and were slave owners... [
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Gall Scottish, Irish, EnglishNickname, of Celtic origin, meaning "foreigner" or "stranger". In the Scottish Highlands the Gaelic term
gall was applied to people from the English-speaking lowlands and to Scandinavians; in Ireland the same term was applied to settlers who arrived from Wales and England in the wake of the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century... [
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Galligan IrishShortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Gealagáin 'descendant of Gealagán' a personal name from a double diminutive of geal 'bright white'.
Gambon English, IrishDerived from Anglo-Norman French
gambon meaning "ham", itself derived from a Norman-Picard form of Old French
jambe meaning "leg". A famous bearer is the Irish-English actor Sir Michael Gambon (1940-).
Gamon IrishThis name is a last name for the Irish it means Liam Gamon.
Garrighan Irishto denote 'son of Geargain' a name which originally in derived from 'gearg' which meant grouse but which was often used figuratively for warrior
Geddes Scottish, IrishThere is a place of this name in Nairn, but the name is more likely to be a patronymic from Geddie.
Geeson IrishThis unusual name is the patronymic form of the surname
Gee, and means "son of Gee", from the male given name which was a short form of male personal names such as "
Geoffrey", "
George" and "
Gerard"... [
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Gerahty IrishAnglicised form of the Gaelic Mag Oireachtaigh, meaning "son of Oireachtach", which in turn means "member of the assembly".
Gerrity Irishthe son of Oireachtach (member of an assembly).
Gillan IrishThe Gillan surname is a reduced Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic Mac Gille Fhaoláin, which means "son of the servant of St Faolán." While the name may have originated in Ireland, this line was extant by the beginning of the 17th century, only to find many of the family to return to Ireland about 100 years later with the Plantation of Ulster.... [
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Gillespie Scottish, IrishGillespie can be of Scottish and Irish origin. The literal meaning is "servant of bishop", but it is a forename rather than a status name. The Irish Gillespies, originally MacGiollaEaspuig, are said to to be called after one Easpog Eoghan, or Bishop Owen, of Ardstraw, County Tyrone... [
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Gilligan IrishEnglish translation of Gaelic name Mac Giollagain, derived from the word, giolla, meaning: lad.
Glass Irish, ScottishAnglicized form of the epithet
glas "gray, green, blue" or any of various Gaelic surnames derived from it.
Glissen English, IrishPossible British version of the Irish surname Glasson from the the Gaelic word O’Glasain. Meaning green from the counties of Tipperary.
Gormley Irish (Anglicized)Anglicised form of
Ó Gormghaile meaning "descendant of Gormghal," Gormghal, a personal name, being derived from
gorm meaning "noble, (dark) blue" and
gal meaning "valour, ardour."
Gowan IrishReduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Gobhann ‘descendant of the smith’.
Gribben IrishThis surname is of Old Gaelic origin, and is a variant of "Cribben", which itself is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "
MacRoibin", meaning "son of (mac) Robin", a patronymic from the Anglo-Norman French given name "Robin"... [
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Griffin Irish (Anglicized)Anglicized (part translated) form of Gaelic Ó Gríobhtha "descendant of
Gríobhtha", a personal name from
gríobh "gryphon".
Grogan IrishDerived from the native Gaelic O'Gruagain Sept that was initially located in County Roscommon but which became widely dispersed. The name is derived from a Gaelic word meaning 'fierceness'.
Guinan IrishThe surname Guinan comes from the Irish surname O Cuanain (O'Conein and MacConein) and is derived from the Irish Cuinin for "rabbit", son of Dugal. They claim descendancy through the Donnelly line of the native Irish.
Guthrie Scottish, IrishAs a Scottish surname, this is either a habitational name for a person from the village of Guthrie near Forfar, itself from Gaelic
gaothair meaning "windy place" (a derivative of
gaoth "wind") and the locative suffix -
ach, or alternatively it might possibly be an Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic
Mag Uchtre meaning "son of Uchtre", a personal name of uncertain origin, perhaps related to
uchtlach "child".... [
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Hagan IrishReduced Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó hÁgáin "descendant of
Ógán", a personal name from a diminutive of
óg "young".
Hagan IrishReduced Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó hAodhagáin "descendant of
Aodhagán", a personal name formed from a double diminutive of
Aodh meaning "fire".
Hallinan IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Ó hÁilgheanáin "descendant of Áilgheanán", a pet form of a personal name composed of old Celtic elements meaning "mild, noble person".
Hamill IrishAccording to MacLysaght, a shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó hÁdhmaill "descendant of
Ádhmall", which he derives from
ádhmall "active".
Hanafin IrishShortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hAinbhthín (modernized as Ó hAinifín) ‘descendant of Ainbhthín’, a personal name derived from ainbhíoth ‘non-peace’, ‘storm’.
Haney English, IrishOne who came from Hanney (island frequented by wild cocks), in Berkshire; grandson of Eanna (bird).
Hanley IrishMeans “descendant of Áinle.” Derived from “O’Hanley,” an anglicized form of “Ó hÁinle,” ultimately from Gaelic “ainle” meaning “beauty, grace.”
Hanlon IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Ó hAnluain "descendant of Anluan", a personal name from the intensive prefix
an- and
luan "light", "radiance" or "warrior". Occasionally it has been used to represent
Hallinan.
Hanratty IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Ó hInreachtaigh meaning "descendant of Ionnrachtach", a given name meaning "attacker".
Hare Irish (Anglicized), English (American)Irish (Ulster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hÍr, meaning ‘long-lasting’. In Ireland this name is found in County Armagh; it has also long been established in Scotland.... [
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Hay English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, FrisianScottish and English: topographic name for someone who lived by an enclosure, Middle English
hay(e),
heye(Old English
(ge)hæg, which after the Norman Conquest became confused with the related Old French term
haye ‘hedge’, of Germanic origin)... [
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Healy IrishSouthern Irish: reduced form of
O’Healy, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hÉilidhe ‘descendant of the claimant’, from éilidhe ‘claimant’, or of Gaelic Ó hÉalaighthe ‘descendant of Éaladhach’, a personal name probably from ealadhach ‘ingenious’.
Heaphy IrishFrom Irish Gaelic
Ó hÉamhthaigh meaning "descendant of Éamhthach", the given name
Éamhthach meaning "swift" in Gaelic.
Henley English, Irish, German (Anglicized)English: habitational name from any of the various places so called. Most, for example those in Oxfordshire, Suffolk, and Warwickshire, are named with Old English
héan (the weak dative case of
heah ‘high’, originally used after a preposition and article) + Old English
leah ‘wood’, ‘clearing’... [
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Hennelly IrishFrom the Irish
Ó'hIonnghaile, itself "descendant of (a variation of)
Fionnghal" (
fionn, "white, fair";
gall, "stranger")... [
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Hennessee IrishA variant of the traditionally Irish surname
Hennessey or
Hennessy, an Anglicization of
Ó hAonghusa meaning "‘descendant of
Aonghus".
Herlihy IrishFrom Irish Gaelic
Ó hIarfhlatha "descendant of
Iarfhlaith", a personal name meaning literally "lord of the west".
Heston English, IrishDerived from
Heston, a suburban area in West London (historically in Middlesex), or
Histon, a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England. It is either named with Old English
hǣs meaning "brushwood" and
tūn meaning "farmstead, settlement, estate", or from
hyse "shoot, tendril, son, youth" and
tūn... [
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Hewton IrishI can only date it back to Armagh County, Ireland in the early 1800s.
Hillery English, IrishVariant of
Hillary. This surname has long been established in the county of Clare in Ireland. It was borne by the Irish president Patrick Hillery (1923-2008).
Holden English, Irishhabitational name from one or more of various places so named especially
Holden in
Haslingden (
Lancashire) but also Holden in
Bolton and Holden in Silsden (both Yorkshire) Holedean Farm in Henfield and Holden in Rotherfield (both Sussex) Holding Farm in Cheriton and Woolding Farm in Whitchurch (Hampshire) and Holden in Southborough (Kent)... [
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Hood English, Scottish, IrishEnglish and Scottish: metonymic occupational name for a maker of hoods or a nickname for someone who wore a distinctive hood, from Middle English
hod(de),
hood,
hud ‘hood’. Some early examples with prepositions seem to be topographic names, referring to a place where there was a hood-shaped hill or a natural shelter or overhang, providing protection from the elements... [
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Horan IrishThe last name Horan means warlike.It is the last name of one direction member Niall Horan
Hurley English, IrishMeaning is "from a corner clearing" in Old English. Also an anglicized form of an Irish name meaning "sea tide" or "sea valor".
Hussey English, IrishAs an English surname, it comes from two distinct sources. It is either of Norman origin, derived from
Houssaye, the name of an area in Seine-Maritime which ultimately derives from Old French
hous "holly"; or it is from a Middle English nickname given to a woman who was the mistress of a household, from an alteration of
husewif "housewife"... [
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Kane Irish, NorwegianFrom the anglicized Irish surname Cathan, meaning "warlike." In Norway, it's used as a noble name.
Keane Irish (Modern)A nickname for a "brave" or "proud" person deriving from Middle English given name Kene
Keirnan IrishGaelic form of Keirnan is Mac Thighearnain, which is derived from the word
tighearna, meaning "lord." First found in County Cavan, Ireland.
Keirsey IrishTopographic name of Norman origin name dating back to the 13th century.
Kelleher IrishFrom Gaelic
Ó Céileachair meaning "son of Céileachar". The Irish given name
Céileachar means "companion-dear", i.e., "lover of company".
Kilcommon IrishIndicated a person who was from Kilcommon, Erris, County Mayo in Ireland. The place name Kilcommon derives from the Gaeltacht phrase
Cill Chomáin, meaning "church of St. Comán."
Kiley Irish, EnglishAnglicized form of the Old Gaelic "
O' Cadhla" meaning "son of Cadhla".
Cadhla means meaning graceful or beautiful; hence, "descendant(s) of 'the graceful one'".
Kilgallen IrishKilgallen comes from the Irish name Mac Giolla Chaillin, meaning the son of a servant or devotee of St. Caillin.