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
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.
MacCionaodha Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McKenna.
Mac Cléirich Irish
Means "son of the clerk" in Irish.
MacClery Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Cléirich.
Mac Cnáimhín Irish
Means "son of Cnámh". The Irish given name Cnámh means "bone".
MacCoinnich Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacKenzie.
MacColuim Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacCallum.
Mac Conmara Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McNamara.
Mac Cormaic Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCormick.
MacCormaic Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCormick.
MacCoughlan Irish
Means "son of Cochlán". The given name Cochlán is derived from Irish cochal meaning "cape" or "hood".
MacCrum Scottish
Anglicized form of MacChruim.
MacCrumb Scottish
Anglicized form of MacChruim.
Mac Daibhéid Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McDevitt.
MacDhòmhnaill Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacDonald.
MacDhubhghaill Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacDougall.
Mac Dhuibh Scottish Gaelic
Means "son of Dubh", where the byname Dubh means "dark".
Mac Dhuibhinse Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Vincent 2.
Mac Dhuibhshíthe Irish
Means "son of Duibhshíth" in Irish. The given name Duibhshíth means "black peace".
Mac Diarmada Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McDermott.
MacDonald Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacDhòmhnaill meaning "son of Donald". It originates from the Highland clan Donald.
MacDougall Scottish
Means "son of Dougal" in Gaelic.
MacDuff Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Dhuibh.
Mac Eachairn Scottish Gaelic
Means "son of Eacharn", where the given name Eacharn is from the Old Irish name Echthigern.
MacEachern Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Eachairn.
MacEalair Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McKellar.
MacEanruig Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McKendrick.
Mac Eoghain Irish
Means "son of Eoghan" in Irish.
MacEòghainn Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Mac Eoghain.
MacFhionnlaigh Scottish Gaelic
Means "son of Fionnlagh" in Scottish Gaelic.
Mac Fhlannchaidh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Clancy.
Mac Ghabhann Irish
Means "son of the smith" in Irish.
MacGillEain Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McLean.
MacGilleMhoire Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Gilmore.
Mac Giolla Bhrighde Irish
Means "son of the servant of Brighid" in Irish.
Mac Giolla Dhuibh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kilduff.
Mac Giolla Eoin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McLean.
Mac Giolla Mhuire Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Gilmore.
Mac Giolla Rí Irish
Means "son of the king's servant" in Irish.
Mac Giolla Ruaidh Irish
Means "son of the red-haired servant" in Irish.
MacGowan Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Ghabhann.
MacGregor Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacGriogair meaning "son of Gregor". It originates from the Highland clan Gregor. A famous bearer was the Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734).
MacGriogair Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacGregor.
MacInnes Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Aonghais meaning "son of Aonghas".
Mac Íomhair Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McIver.
MacIomhair Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McIver.
Mack 1 Scottish, Irish
Shortened form of various Irish and Scottish surnames beginning with Mac or Mc (from Irish mac meaning "son").
MacKay Scottish
Anglicized form of MacAoidh.
MacKenzie Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacCoinnich meaning "son of Coinneach". It originates from the Kintail area of Scotland on the northwest coast.
MacLachlainn Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McLaughlin.
MacLeòid Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McLeod.
Mac Maghnuis Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McManus.
Mac Mathghamhna Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McMahon.
MacMhaoilein Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McMillan.
Mac Naoimhín Irish
Means "son of Naomhán" in Irish.
Mac Neachtain Irish
Means "son of Nechtan" in Irish.
Mac Néill Irish
Irish form of McNeil.
MacNèill Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McNeil.
MacNevin Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín.
Mac Niadh Irish
Means "son of Niadh" in Irish. The given name Niadh means "champion".
MacNiven Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín.
Mac Óda Irish
Means "son of Odo" in Irish.
Mac Pharlain Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McFarlane.
MacPhàrlain Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McFarlane.
MacQueen Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Shuibhne.
MacRae Scottish
Variant of McRae.
MacRuaraidh Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCrory.
Mac Síthigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McSheehy.
Mac Suibhne Irish
Means "son of Suibhne" in Irish.
MacTàmhais Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McTavish.
Mac Thaidhg Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCaig.
MacThaoig Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCaig.
Mac Uileagóid Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McElligott.
Madden Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Madaidhín.
Maddox Welsh
Derived from the given name Madoc.
Madigan Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Madaidhín.
Mag Aonghuis Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McGuinness.
Magee Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Mag Eochadha Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McGough.
Magorian Irish
Possibly a variant of McGowan or McGovern.
Mag Shamhradháin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McGovern.
Mag Uidhir Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McGuire.
Maguire Irish
Variant of McGuire.
Mahoney Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Mathghamhna meaning "descendant of Mathgamain".
Malley Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Máille.
Mallon Irish
Variant of Malone.
Malloye Irish
Variant of Molloy.
Malone Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Maoil Eoin meaning "descendant of a disciple of Saint John".
Manning 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Mainnín meaning "descendant of Mainchín".
Markey Irish
From the Irish Ó Marcaigh meaning "descendant of Marcach", a given name meaning "horse rider".
Marvin English
Derived from the Welsh given name Merfyn or the Old English name Mærwine.
McAdams Scottish, Irish
Means "son of Adam" in Gaelic.
McAfee Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of MacDhubhshìth.
McAlister Scottish, Irish
From Scottish Gaelic MacAlastair or Irish Gaelic Mac Alastair meaning "son of Alistair".
McArthur Scottish
Means "son of Arthur" in Gaelic.
McBride Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Bhrighde.
McCabe Irish, Scottish
Means "son of Cába", where Cába is a byname meaning "cape, cloak" (from Latin cappa).
McCaig Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacThaoig meaning "son of Tadhg".
McCallum Scottish
Variant form of MacCallum.
McCarthy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Cárthaigh meaning "son of Carthach".
McCauley Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Amhalghaidh or Mac Amhalghadha meaning "son of Amhalghaidh". The given name Amhalghaidh, from Old Irish Amalgaid, is of uncertain meaning.
McCleary Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Cléirich.
McClelland Irish, Scottish
From Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhaoláin meaning "son of the servant of Faolán".
McConnell Scottish, Irish
Derived from Gaelic MacDhòmhnaill (see MacDonald).
McCormick Irish, Scottish
From Gaelic Mac Cormaic meaning "son of Cormac".
McCoy Scottish
Anglicized form of MacAoidh.
McCracken Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Reachtain, Ulster Irish variant of Mac Neachtain.
McCrae Scottish
Variant of McRae.
McCrory Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Ruaidhrí meaning "son of Ruaidhrí".
McCrum Scottish
Anglicized form of MacChruim.
McCulloch Scottish
Scottish form of McCullough.
McCullough Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Cú Uladh meaning "son of Cú Uladh". The byname Cú Uladh means "hound of Ulster". This surname has also been associated with Old Irish cullach "boar".
McCune Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Eoghain.
McDermott Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Diarmada meaning "son of Diarmaid". The McDermotts were nobility in the Kingdom of Connaught, a province in Ireland.
McDevitt Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Daibhéid meaning "son of Dáibhí".
McEachern Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Eachairn.
McElligott Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Mac Uileagóid meaning "son of Uileagóid", a diminutive of Uilleag.
McEwan Scottish
Anglicized form of MacEòghainn.
McFarlane Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacPhàrlain or Irish Gaelic Mac Pharlain meaning "son of Parthalán".
McFee Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of MacDhubhshìth.
McGee Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
McGill Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Ghoill meaning "son of the foreigner", derived from gall "foreigner".
McGough Irish
Variant of Gough 2.
McGovern Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mag Shamhradháin meaning "son of Samhradháin", a given name meaning "summer".
McGowan Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Ghabhann.
McGuinness Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mag Aonghuis meaning "son of Aonghus".
McGuire Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mag Uidhir meaning "son of Odhar", a given name meaning "pale-coloured".
McIntosh Scottish
From Scottish Gaelic Mac an Tòisich meaning "son of the chief".
McIntyre Scottish
From Scottish Gaelic Mac an tSaoir meaning "son of the carpenter".
McIver Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacIomhair meaning "son of Íomhar".
McKay Scottish
Anglicized form of MacAoidh.
McKee Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
McKeever Irish
Variant of McIver.
McKellar Scottish
From Gaelic MacEalair meaning "son of Ealar".
McKendrick Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacEanruig meaning "son of Eanraig".
McKenna Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Cionaodha meaning "son of Cionaodh".
McKinley Scottish
Anglicized form of MacFhionnlaigh. This name was borne by the American president William McKinley (1843-1901), who was assassinated.
McKowen Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Eoghain.
McLaughlin Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacLachlainn meaning "son of Lachlann".
McLean Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacGillEathain or MacGillEain meaning "son of the servant of Eòin".
McLeod Scottish
From Gaelic MacLeòid meaning "son of Leod", a given name derived from Old Norse ljótr "ugly".
McMahon Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Mathghamhna meaning "son of Mathgamain".
McManus Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Maghnuis meaning "son of Mághnus".
McMillan Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacMhaoilein meaning "son of Maolan", itself meaning "devotee, servant, tonsured one".
McNab Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Aba meaning "son of the abbot".
McNamara Irish
From Irish Mac Conmara meaning "son of Conmara". The given name Conmara is composed of "hound" and muir "sea".
McNee Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Niadh.
McNeil Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacNèill meaning "son of Niall".
McNeilly Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac an Fhilidh meaning "son of the poet".
McNiven Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Cnáimhín.
McPhee Scottish
Anglicized form of MacDhubhshìth.
McQueen Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Shuibhne.
McRae Scottish
From Gaelic Mag Raith meaning "son of Rath", a given name meaning "prosperity" or "grace".
McReynolds Scottish, Irish
Means "son of Reynold" in Gaelic.
McSheehy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac Síthigh, meaning "son of Sítheach".
McTavish Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic MacTàmhais meaning "son of Tàmhas".
Meaney Irish
Variant of O'Mooney.
Merrick Welsh
Derived from the given name Meurig.
Merrill 1 English
Derived from the given name Muriel.
Meyrick Welsh
Variant of Merrick.
Milligan Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Maolagáin meaning "descendant of Maolagán", a given name derived from maol meaning "bald" or "tonsured".
Mohan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Mocháin meaning "descendant of Mochán".
Mollown Irish
Variant of Malone.
Moloney Irish
From Irish Ó Maol Dhomhnaigh meaning "descendant of a church servant".
Monahan Irish
From Irish Ó Manacháin meaning "descendant of Manacháin". The given name Manacháin meant "little monk", from manach "monk" and a diminutive suffix.
Monday 3 Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Eoin. The last part of the surname was mistakenly taken as the Gaelic word for "Monday", Luain.
Monroe Scottish
Anglicized (typically American) form of Munro. It was borne by the American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962).
Moon 3 Irish
Variant of Mohan.
Mooney Irish
Variant of O'Mooney.
Moran Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Móráin meaning "descendant of Mórán", a given name meaning "great, large".
Morgan Welsh
Derived from the given name Morgan 1.
Moriarty Irish
From Irish Ó Muircheartach meaning "descendant of Muirchertach". This was the surname given by Arthur Conan Doyle to a master criminal in the Sherlock Holmes series.
Morris English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Derived from the given name Maurice.
Mullane Irish
Variant of Mullen.
Mullen Irish
From the Irish Ó Maoláin meaning "descendant of Maolán". The given name Maolán meant "devotee, servant, tonsured one".
Mulloy Irish
Variant of Molloy.
Mulryan Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Maoil Riain.
Munro Scottish
Designated a person who had originally lived near the mouth of the Roe River in Derry, Ireland. It is derived from Gaelic bun meaning "root, base" combined with the river's name.
Munroe Scottish
Anglicized (typically Canadian and American) form of Munro.
Murdoch Scottish
Scottish form of Murdock.
Murdock Irish
Derived from the given name Murchadh.
Murphy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Murchadha meaning "descendant of Murchadh". This is the most common Irish surname.
Murray 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Muireadhaigh meaning "descendant of Muireadhach".
Neal English
Derived from the given name Neil.
Neil Scottish, English, Irish
Derived from the given name Neil.
Nelson 1 English
Means "son of Neil". This name was borne by the British admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805).
Neville English, Irish
From the names of towns in Normandy, variously Neuville or Néville, meaning "new town" in French.
Nevin 1 Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín.
Nigel English
Derived from the given name Neil.
Niles English
Means "son of Neil".
Niven Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín.
Nolan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Nualláin meaning "descendant of Nuallán".
Ó Baoghill Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Boyle.
O'Berne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
O'Boyle Irish
Variant of Boyle.
Ó Brádaigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Brady.
Ó Bradáin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Braden.
Ó Braoin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Breen.
Ó Braonáin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Brennan.
Ó Briain Irish
Irish Gaelic form of O'Brien.
O'Brian Irish
Variant of O'Brien.
O'Brien Irish
From the Irish Ó Briain meaning "descendant of Brian".
Ó Broin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of O'Byrne.
Ó Buachalla Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Buckley 2.
O'Byrne Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Broin meaning "descendant of Bran 1".
Ó Caiside Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Cassidy.
Ó Caoimh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Keefe.
Ó Caoimháin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Cavan.
Ó Caoindealbháin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Quinlan.
Ó Caolaidhe Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Keeley.
Ó Carra Irish
Means "descendant of Carra", Carra being a nickname meaning "spear".
Ó Catháin Irish
Means "descendant of Cathán".
Ó Cathaláin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Callan.
Ó Cathasaigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Casey.
Ó Ceallacháin Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Callahan.
Ó Ceallaigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kelly 1.
Ó Cearmada Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Carmody.
Ó Ceithearnaigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kearney.
Ó Ciardha Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Carey.
Ó Cinnéidigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kennedy.
Ó Cléirigh Irish
Means "descendant of the clerk" in Irish.
O'Clery Irish
Anglicized form of Ó Cléirigh.
Ó Cnáimhín Irish
Means "descendant of Cnámh", Cnámh being a nickname meaning "bone".
Ó Cochláin Irish
Means "descendant of Cochlán", where the given name Cochlán is derived from Irish cochal "cape" or "hood". This surname originated in County Cork, Ireland.
Ó Coigligh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Quigley.