Old Celtic Origin Surnames

This is a list of surnames in which the origin is Old 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.
Angus Irish, Scottish
From the given name Aonghus.
Arthur English, French
From the given name Arthur.
Arthurson English
Means "son of Arthur".
Arthursson Swedish
Means "son of Arthur".
Beirne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Berne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Blain Scottish
From the given name Bláán.
Blaine Scottish
From the given name Bláán.
Blevins Welsh
Derived from the Welsh given name Bleddyn.
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).
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".
Burns 2 Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Byrne Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
Byrnes Irish
Variant of O'Byrne.
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.
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".
Cavan Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Caoimháin meaning "descendant of Caomhán".
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".
Connor Irish
Variant of O'Connor.
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.
Daley Irish
Variant of Daly.
Daly Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Dálaigh meaning "descendant of Dálach".
Davin Irish
Variant of Devin 1.
Delaney 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Dubhshláine meaning "descendant of Dubhshláine".
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.
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".
Donne Scottish, Irish
From Gaelic donn meaning "brown", a nickname for a person with brown hair.
Donoghue Irish
From Irish Ó Donnchadha meaning "descendant of Donnchadh".
Donovan Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish name Ó Donndubháin meaning "descendant of Donndubán".
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 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories.
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.
Ellis English, Welsh
Derived from the given name Elijah, or sometimes Elisedd.
Ennis Irish
Variant of Innes 1.
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.
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.
Flynn Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Floinn meaning "descendant of Flann".
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".
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.
Gough 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mag Eochadha meaning "son of Eochaidh".
Griffin 1 Welsh
Derived from the given name Gruffudd.
Griffith Welsh
Derived from the given name Gruffudd.
Griffiths Welsh
Means "son of 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".
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).
Hasek Czech
From a diminutive of the given name Havel.
Havel Czech
Derived from the given name Havel.
Havelka Czech
Means "son of Havel" in Czech.
Havlíček Czech
From a diminutive of the given name 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".
Hayes 2 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó hAodha meaning "descendant of Aodh".
Hearn Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna.
Hennessy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó hAonghuis meaning "descendant of Aonghus".
Howell Welsh
From the Welsh given name Hywel.
Hughes 2 Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Hyland 2 Irish
Variant of Whelan.
Innes 1 Scottish
From a place name derived from Gaelic inis meaning "island".
Innes 2 Scottish
From the given name Aonghus.
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.
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.
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.
Kelley Irish
Variant of Kelly 1.
Kelly 1 Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ceallaigh meaning "descendant of Ceallach".
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".
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.
Langdon English
Derived from the name of various places, of Old English origin meaning "long hill" (effectively "ridge").
Lewis 2 Welsh
Anglicized form of Llywelyn.
Lindon English
Variant of Lyndon.
Llewellyn Welsh
Derived from the Welsh given name Llywelyn.
Llywelyn Welsh
Derived from the Welsh given name Llywelyn.
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 Amhalghaidh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCauley.
MacAmhalghaidh Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCauley.
Mac an Fhilidh Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McNeilly.
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.
MacCailein Scottish Gaelic
Means "son of Cailean" in Gaelic.
MacCallion Scottish
Anglicized form of MacCailein.
Mac Cárthaigh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCarthy.
Mac Cionaodha Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McKenna.
MacCionaodha Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McKenna.
MacCoinnich Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of MacKenzie.
Mac Cormaic Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCormick.
MacCormaic Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCormick.
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 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.
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 Giolla Bhrighde Irish
Means "son of the servant of Brighid" in Irish.
Mac Giolla Dhuibh Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kilduff.
MacInnes Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Aonghais meaning "son of Aonghas".
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.
Mac Mathghamhna Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McMahon.
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.
MacNiven Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Naoimhín.
MacQueen Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Shuibhne.
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.
Mac Thaidhg Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McCaig.
MacThaoig Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of McCaig.
Maddox Welsh
Derived from the given name Madoc.
Mag Aonghuis Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McGuinness.
Magee Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
Mag Eochadha Irish
Irish Gaelic form of McGough.
Mahoney Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Mathghamhna meaning "descendant of Mathgamain".
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".
Marvin English
Derived from the Welsh given name Merfyn or the Old English name Mærwine.
McArthur Scottish
Means "son of Arthur" in Gaelic.
McBride Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Bhrighde.
McCaig Scottish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacThaoig meaning "son of Tadhg".
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.
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.
McCrory Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Ruaidhrí meaning "son of Ruaidhrí".
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.
McEachern Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Eachairn.
McEwan Scottish
Anglicized form of MacEòghainn.
McGee Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
McGough Irish
Variant of Gough 2.
McGuinness Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mag Aonghuis meaning "son of Aonghus".
McKay Scottish
Anglicized form of MacAoidh.
McKee Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Aodha.
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.
McMahon Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Mac Mathghamhna meaning "son of Mathgamain".
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".
McQueen Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Shuibhne.
McSheehy Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Mac Síthigh, meaning "son of Sítheach".
Merrill 1 English
Derived from the given name Muriel.
Mollown Irish
Variant of Malone.
Monroe Scottish
Anglicized (typically American) form of Munro.
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 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to a master criminal in the Sherlock Holmes series.
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.