Celtic Origin Surnames

This is a list of surnames in which the origin is Celtic. The Celtic languages are a group of related languages now spoken primarily on the British Islands and Brittany.
usage
origin
Ahearn Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna.
Ahearne Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna.
Alan English, Scottish
Derived from the given name Alan.
Allan English, Scottish
Derived from the given name Alan.
Allen English, Scottish
Derived from the given name Alan.
Allison English
Means "son of Alan" or "son of Alexander" (as well as other given names beginning with Al).
Angus Irish, Scottish
From the given name Aonghus.
Argall Cornish
From a place name meaning "shelter, quiet place" in Cornish.
Arthur English, French
From the given name Arthur.
Arthurson English
Means "son of Arthur".
Arthursson Swedish
Means "son of Arthur".
Baines 1 Welsh
From Welsh ab Einws meaning "son of Einws", a diminutive of Einion.
Baird Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac an Baird.
Banes Welsh
Variant of Baines 1.
Beirne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Berne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Bevan Welsh
Derived from Welsh ap Evan meaning "son of Evan".
Blain Scottish
From the given name Bláán.
Blaine Scottish
From the given name Bláán.
Blevins Welsh
Derived from the Welsh given name Bleddyn.
Bowen Welsh
From Welsh ap Owain meaning "son of Owain".
Boyle Irish
From Irish Ó Baoighill meaning "descendant of Baoigheall". The meaning of the given name Baoigheall is uncertain, but it is thought to be connected to Irish geall meaning "pledge".
Braden Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Bradáin meaning "descendant of Bradán".
Brady Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Brádaigh meaning "descendant of Brádach". A famous bearer is the American football quarterback Tom Brady (1977-).
Brannon Irish
Variant of Brennan.
Breen Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Braoin meaning "descendant of Braon", a byname meaning "rain, moisture, drop".
Brennan Irish
From Irish Ó Braonáin meaning "descendant of Braonán", a byname meaning "rain, moisture, drop" (with a diminutive suffix).
Bret French
French form of Brett.
Brett English
Originally a name given to someone who was a Breton or a person from Brittany.
Brice English
From the given name Brice.
Britton English
Originally given to a person who was a Briton (a Celt of England) or a Breton (an inhabitant of Brittany).
Brogan Irish
Occupational name derived from Irish bróg meaning "shoe".
Brontë Irish
Variant of Brunty adopted by the Irish-born Englishman Patrick Brunty (1777-1861) as an adult. He was the father of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, each prominent authors.
Brunty Irish
Variant of Prunty.
Bryan English
From the given name Brian.
Bryant English
From the given name Brian.
Bryce English
From the given name Brice.
Bryson English
Means "son of Brice".
Buckley 2 Irish
From Irish Ó Buachalla meaning "descendant of Buachaill", a nickname meaning "cowherd, servant".
Burns 2 Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Butler English, Irish
Occupational name derived from Norman French butiller "wine steward", ultimately from Late Latin butticula "bottle". A famous bearer of this surname is the fictional character Rhett Butler, created by Margaret Mitchell for her novel Gone with the Wind (1936).
Byrne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Byrnes Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Caden Irish
From Irish Mac Cadáin meaning "descendant of Cadán", a given name of unknown meaning.
Cadwallader Welsh
From the given name Cadwalader.
Callahan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ceallacháin meaning "descendant of Cellachán".
Callan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cathaláin meaning "descendant of Cathalán".
Camacho Spanish, Portuguese
Meaning unknown, possibly related to the Celtic root *kambos meaning "crooked, twisted".
Caomhánach Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kavanagh.
Carey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ciardha meaning "descendant of Ciardha".
Carlisle English
From the name of a city in northern England. The city was originally called by the Romans Luguvalium meaning "stronghold of Lugus". Later the Brythonic element ker "fort" was appended to the name of the city.
Carmody Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cearmada meaning "descendant of Cearmaid", a Gaelic given name.
Carr 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Carra.
Carran Irish
Variant of Curran.
Carroll Irish
From the given name Cearbhall. A famous bearer was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Cary Irish
Variant of Carey.
Casey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cathasaigh meaning "descendant of Cathassach".
Cassidy Irish
From Irish Ó Caiside meaning "descendant of Caiside". Caiside is a given name meaning "curly haired".
Cavan Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Caoimháin meaning "descendant of Caomhán".
Cavey Irish
Possibly an Anglicized form of Mac Daibhéid.
Cecil Welsh
From the Welsh given name Seisyll, which was derived from the Roman name Sextilius, a derivative of Sextus.
Clancy Irish
From Irish Mac Fhlannchaidh meaning "descendant of Flannchadh". The given name Flannchadh means "red warrior".
Cleary Irish
From Irish cléireach meaning "clerk" (see Clark).
Clery Irish
Variant of Cleary.
Cody Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cuidighthigh or Mac Óda. A famous bearer was the American frontiersman and showman Buffalo Bill Cody (1846-1917).
Coghlan Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Cochláin.
Coleman Irish, English
From the given name Colmán.
Collins 1 Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Coileáin. A famous bearer was Michael Collins, an Irish nationalist leader who was assassinated in 1922.
Connell Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Conaill meaning "descendant of Conall".
Connery Irish
Variant of Conroy.
Connolly Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Conghalaigh, which means "descendant of Conghalach". Conghalach is a nickname meaning "valiant".
Connor Irish
Variant of O'Connor.
Conroy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Conaire, which means "descendant of Conaire". Conaire is a nickname meaning "hound keeper".
Cooney Irish
From Irish Ó Cuana meaning "descendant of Cuana". Cuana probably means "handsome, elegant". The Cooney sept originated in County Tyrone.
Corcoran Irish
From Irish Ó Corcráin meaning "descendant of Corcrán", a given name derived from the Gaelic word corcair "purple".
Couch Cornish
From Cornish cough "red", indicating the original bearer had red hair.
Coughlan Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Cochláin.
Coughlin Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Cochláin.
Cullen 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Coileáin or Ó Cuilinn.
Cummins English, Scottish, Irish
From the Old Breton given name Cunmin, a cognate of Cuimín, introduced to Britain at the time of the Norman Conquest.
Cunningham 2 Irish
From Irish Ó Cuinneagáin meaning "descendant of Cuinneagán", a diminutive of Conn.
Curran Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Corraidhín meaning "descendant of Corraidhín".
Curry Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Comhraidhe or Ó Corra.
Daley Irish
Variant of Daly.
Daly Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Dálaigh meaning "descendant of Dálach".
David u & m English, French, German, Welsh, Czech, Portuguese, Romanian, Jewish
From the given name David.
Davin Irish
Variant of Devin 1.
Delaney 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Dubhshláine meaning "descendant of Dubhshláine".
Dempsey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Díomasaigh meaning "descendant of Díomasach", a given name meaning "proud".
Desmond Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Deasmhumhnaigh meaning "descendant of the man from South Munster", originally indicating a person who came from the region of South Munster (Desmond) in Ireland.
Devin 1 Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish surnames Ó Damháin or Ó Dubháin.
Devlin Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Doibhilin meaning "descendant of Doibhilin", a given name that may be derived from the Gaelic term dobhail meaning "unlucky".
Doherty Irish
From the Irish Ó Dochartaigh meaning "descendant of Dochartach". The byname Dochartach means "obstructive".
Dolan Irish
From the Irish Ó Dubhshláin meaning "descendant of Dubhshláine".
Donalds English
Derived from the given name Donald.
Donaldson English
Means "son of Donald". A notable bearer is the online personality Jimmy Donaldson (1998-), who goes by the alias MrBeast.
Donne Scottish, Irish
From Gaelic donn meaning "brown", a nickname for a person with brown hair.
Donnelly Irish
From Irish Ó Donnghaile meaning "descendant of Donnghal". The given name Donnghal means "brown valour", from donn "brown" and gal "valour". This surname is associated with the descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Donoghue Irish
From Irish Ó Donnchadha meaning "descendant of Donnchadh".
Donovan Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Donndubháin meaning "descendant of Donndubán".
Doran Irish
From Irish Ó Deoradháin meaning "descendant of Deoradhán", where Deoradhán is a given name meaning "exile, wanderer".
Douglas Scottish
From the name of a town in Lanarkshire, itself named after a tributary of the River Clyde called the Douglas Water, derived from Gaelic dubh "dark" and glais "water, river" (an archaic word related to glas "grey, green"). This was a Scottish Lowland clan, the leaders of which were powerful earls in the medieval period.
Downer English
Name for someone who lived on or near a down, which is an English word meaning "hill".
Doyle Irish
From the Irish Ó Dubhghaill, which means "descendant of Dubhghall". A famous bearer was Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories.
Driscoll Irish
From Irish Ó hEidirsceóil meaning "descendant of the messenger".
Duane Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Dubháin meaning "descendant of Dubhán".
Duff Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Dhuibh or Ó Duibh.
Duffy 1 Irish
Derived from Irish Ó Dubhthaigh meaning "descendant of Dubthach". Their original homeland was Monaghan where the surname is still the most common; they are also from Donegal and Roscommon.
Duncan Scottish
From the given name Duncan.
Duncanson Scottish
Means "son of Duncan".
Dunn English, Scottish, Irish
Derived from Old English dunn "dark" or Gaelic donn "brown", referring to hair colour or complexion.
Durnin Irish
From Irish Ó Doirnáin meaning "descendant of Doirnín", a given name meaning "little fist".
Ellis English, Welsh
Derived from the given name Elijah, or sometimes Elisedd.
Ennis Irish
Variant of Innes 1.
Evans Welsh, English
Means "son of Evan".
Fallon Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Fallamháin meaning "descendant of Fallamhán", a given name meaning "leader".
Fannon Irish
From the Irish Ó Fionnáin meaning "descendant of Fionn".
Farrell Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Fearghail meaning "descendant of Fearghal".
Ferguson Irish, Scottish
Means "son of Fergus".
Findlay Scottish
Anglicized form of MacFhionnlaigh.
Finlay Scottish
Anglicized form of MacFhionnlaigh.
Finley Scottish
Anglicized (typically American) form of MacFhionnlaigh.
Finn Irish
Derived from the given name Fionn.
Finnegan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Fionnagáin meaning "descendant of Fionnagán". The given name Fionnagán is a diminutive of Fionn.
Finnin Irish
Diminutive form of Finn.
Fitzgerald Irish
Means "son of Gerald" in Anglo-Norman French. It was brought to Ireland with William the Conqueror. A famous bearer was Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), an American jazz singer.
Fitzpatrick Irish
Means "son of Patrick" in Anglo-Norman, usually adopted as an Anglicization of Mac Giolla Phádraig.
Fitzsimmons Irish
Means "son of Simon 1" in Anglo-Norman French.
Fitzwilliam Irish
Means "son of William" in Anglo-Norman French.
Flanagan Irish
From Irish Ó Flannagáin meaning "descendant of Flannagán". Flannagán is a given name meaning "blood red". From County Roscommon in Ireland, it has many other spellings.
Flannery Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Flannghaile meaning "descendant of Flannghal", a given name meaning "red valour".
Floyd Welsh
Variant of Lloyd.
Flynn Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Floinn meaning "descendant of Flann".
Foley Irish
From Irish Ó Foghladha meaning "descendant of Foghlaidh". The byname Foghlaidh meant "pirate, marauder, plunderer".
Friel Irish
From the Irish Ó Frighil meaning "descendant of Fearghal".
Fulton English
From the name of the English town of Foulden, Norfolk, meaning "bird hill" in Old English.
Fylan Irish
Variant of Whelan.
Gaál Hungarian
Variant of Gál.
Gál Hungarian
Derived from the given name Gál.
Gallagher Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Gallchobhair meaning "descendant of Gallchobhar".
Gilchrist Scottish
From Gaelic MacGilleChrìosd meaning "son of Gille Críst".
Glen Scottish
Variant of Glenn.
Glenn Scottish, English
From place names derived from Gaelic gleann "valley". A famous bearer was the American astronaut John Glenn (1921-2016).
Glynn Welsh, Cornish
Topographic name for someone who lived in a valley, from Welsh glyn and Cornish glin, or a habitational name from a place named with this word.
Gorman 2 Irish
From the Irish Ó Gormáin meaning "descendant of Gormán". The given name Gormán means "little blue one".
Gough 1 Welsh
Nickname for a red-haired person, from Welsh coch "red".
Gough 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mag Eochadha meaning "son of Eochaidh".
Grady Irish
From Irish Ó Gráda or Ó Grádaigh meaning "descendant of Gráda". The byname Gráda means "noble, illustrious".
Griffin 1 Welsh
Derived from the given name Gruffudd.
Griffith Welsh, English
Derived from the Welsh given name Gruffudd.
Guinness Irish
Variant of McGuinness. The name is well known because of the Guinness brand of ale, established in 1759 by Arthur Guinness.
Haden English
From a place name derived from Old English hæþ "heath" and dun "hill".
Halloran Irish
From Irish Ó hAllmhuráin meaning "descendant of Allmhurán". The given name Allmhurán means "stranger from across the sea".
Hamilton English, Scottish
From an English place name, derived from Old English hamel "crooked, mutilated" and dun "hill". This was the name of a town in Leicestershire, England (which no longer exists).
Harvey English
From the Breton given name Haerviu (see Harvey).
Hašek m Czech
From a diminutive of the given name Havel.
Hašková f Czech
Feminine form of Hašek.
Havel m Czech
Derived from the given name Havel.
Havelka m Czech
Means "son of Havel" in Czech.
Havelková f Czech
Feminine form of Havelka.
Havlíček m Czech
From a diminutive of the given name Havel.
Havlíčková f Czech
Feminine form of Havlíček.
Havlová f Czech
Feminine form of Havel.
Hayden 1 English
From place names meaning either "hay valley" or "hay hill", derived from Old English heg "hay" and denu "valley" or dun "hill".
Hayden 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hÉideáin or Ó hÉidín.
Hayes 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó hAodha meaning "descendant of Aodh".
Hearn Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna.
Heffernan Irish
From Irish Ó hIfearnáin meaning "descendant of Ifearnán". The byname Ifearnán means "little demon".
Hennessy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó hAonghuis meaning "descendant of Aonghus".
Hickey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó hÍcidhe meaning "descendant of the healer".
Hier Welsh
Means "tall, long" from Welsh hir.
Higgins Irish
From Irish Ó hUiginn meaning "descendant of Uiginn". Uiginn is a byname meaning "Viking".
Hines Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó hEidhin meaning "descendant of Eidhin", a given name or byname of unknown origin.
Hogan Irish
From Irish Ó hÓgáin meaning "descendant of Ógán". The given name Ógán is a diminutive of óg meaning "young".
Howell Welsh
From the Welsh given name Hywel.
Hughes 2 Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Hyland 2 Irish
Variant of Whelan.
Hynes Irish
Variant of Hines.
Innes 1 Scottish
From a place name derived from Gaelic inis meaning "island".
Innes 2 Scottish
From the given name Aonghus.
Ivers English, Irish
Patronymic derived from the given name Ivor.
Jarvis English
Derived from the given name Gervais.
Jekyll English
Derived from the Breton given name Judicaël. This name was used by Robert Louis Stevenson for the character of Dr Henry Jekyll in the book Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886).
Jervis English
Variant of Jarvis.
Jewel English
Variant of Jewell.
Jewell English
Derived from the Breton given name Judicaël.
Jones English, Welsh
Derived from the given name Jon, a medieval variant of John.
Joossens Flemish
Means "son of Joos".
Joosten Dutch
Derived from the given name Joost.
Joyce English, Irish
From the given name Joyce.
Kane Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Catháin.
Kavanagh Irish
Derived from the Irish Gaelic name Caomhánach, which means "a student of saint Caomhán". It was the name used by a 12th-century king of Leinster, Domhnall Caomhánach, the eldest son of the historic Irish king Diarmait Mac Murchada.
Kean Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Catháin.
Keane Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Catháin.
Kearney Irish
From the Irish name Ó Ceithearnaigh meaning "descendant of Ceithearnach", a given name meaning "warrior".
Keefe Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Caoimh meaning "descendant of Caomh".
Keegan Irish
From Irish Mac Aodhagáin meaning "descendant of Aodhagán". The given name Aodhagán is a double diminutive of Aodh.
Keeley Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Caolaidhe meaning "descendant of Caoladhe", a given name derived from caol "slender".
Keely Irish
Variant of Keeley.
Kelley Irish
Variant of Kelly 1.
Kelly 1 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ceallaigh meaning "descendant of Ceallach". Famous bearers include actor and dancer Gene Kelly (1912-1996) and actress and princess Grace Kelly (1929-1982).
Kendall English
Derived from the town of Kendal in England, so-called from the river Kent, on which it is situated, and Old English dæl meaning "valley, dale".
Kendrick 2 Welsh
Derived from the given name Cynwrig.
Kennedy Irish
From the Irish name Ó Cinnéidigh meaning "descendant of Cennétig". This surname was borne by assassinated American president John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).
Kermit Manx
Anglicized form of Mac Diarmada (see McDermott).
Kermode Manx
Anglicized form of Mac Diarmada (see McDermott).
Key 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Keyes 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Keys 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Kilduff Irish
From the Irish Mac Giolla Dhuibh meaning "son of the black-haired man".
Killough Irish
Indicated a person who was from Killough (County Down, Northern Ireland) or Killough (Wicklow, Ireland). The place name Killough means "church on the lake", derived from the Irish cill "church" and loch "lake".
Kilpatrick Irish
From the Irish Mac Giolla Phádraig meaning "son of the servant of Saint Patrick".
Kimball English
Derived from the Welsh given name Cynbel or the Old English given name Cynebald.
Kinley Scottish
Anglicized form of MacFhionnlaigh.
Kyle Scottish
Derived from Scottish Gaelic caol meaning "narrows, channel, strait", originally given to a person who lived by a strait.
Kyles Scottish
Variant of Kyle.
Lane 3 Irish
From Irish Ó Luain meaning "descendant of Luan", a given name meaning "warrior".
Langdon English
Derived from the name of various places, of Old English origin meaning "long hill" (effectively "ridge").
Lannon Irish
Variant of Lennon.
Leary Irish
Variant of O'Leary.
Lennon Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Leannáin, which means "descendant of Leannán". The byname Leannán means "lover". The name was borne by the musician John Lennon (1940-1980).
Lewis 2 Welsh
Anglicized form of Llywelyn.
Lindon English
Variant of Lyndon.
Lister Scottish
Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac an Fleisdeir meaning "son of the arrow maker".
Llewellyn Welsh
Derived from the Welsh given name Llywelyn.
Lloyd Welsh, English
Originally a nickname from the Welsh word llwyd meaning "grey".
Llywelyn Welsh
Derived from the Welsh given name Llywelyn.
Lynch Irish
From Irish Ó Loingsigh meaning "descendant of Loingseach", a given name meaning "mariner".
Lyndon English
Originally from a place name meaning "linden tree hill" in Old English.
Lyon 1 English, French
Originally denoted a person from the city of Lyon in central France, originally Latin Lugdunum, of Gaulish origin meaning "hill fort of Lugus". It could also denote a person from the small town of Lyons-la-Forêt in Normandy.
Lyons English
Variant of Lyon 1.
Mac Alastair Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McAlister.
MacAlastair Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McAlister.
Mac Amhalghaidh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCauley.
MacAmhalghaidh Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCauley.
Mac an Baird Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Mac an Bhaird (see Ward 2).
Mac an Bhaird Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Ward 2.
Mac an Fhilidh Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McNeilly.
Mac an Fleisdeir Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Lister.
Mac Aodha Irish
Means "son of Aodh" in Irish.
Mac Aodhagáin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Keegan.
MacAoidh Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Mac Aodha.
MacAonghais Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacInnes.
MacBeth Scottish
Derived from the Gaelic given name Mac Beatha meaning "son of life", which denoted a man of religious devotion. This was the name of an 11th-century Scottish king, and the name of a play based on his life by William Shakespeare.
Mac Branáin Irish
Means "son of Branán" in Irish. The given name Branán is a diminutive of Bran 1.
Mac Cába Irish
Irish form of McCabe.
MacCàba Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCabe.
Mac Cadáin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Caden.
MacCailein Scottish Gaelic
Means "son of Cailean" in Gaelic.
MacCallion Scottish
Anglicized form of MacCailein.
MacCallum Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacColuim meaning "son of Columba".
MacCarrick Irish
Means "son of Cúcharraige" in Irish. The given name Cúcharraige is composed of "hound" and carraig "rock".
Mac Cárthaigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCarthy.
MacChruim Scottish Gaelic
Means "son of Crum", where Crum is a Gaelic byname meaning "bent".
Mac Cionaodha Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McKenna.