Celtic Surnames

These names are used by Celtic peoples.

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Ahearn Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna.

Ahearne Irish
Anglicized form of Ó hEachthighearna.

Angus Irish, Scottish
From the given name Aonghus.

Argall Cornish
From a place name meaning "shelter, quiet place" in Cornish.

Baines 1 Welsh
From Welsh ab Einws meaning "son of Einws", a diminutive of Einion.

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".

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).

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.

Buckley 2 Irish
From Irish Ó Buachalla meaning "descendant of Buachaill", a nickname meaning "cowherd, servant".

Burke English, Irish
Derived from Middle English burgh meaning "fortress, fortification, castle". It was brought to Ireland in the 12th century by the Norman invader William de Burgh.

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.

Callaghan Irish
Variant of Callahan.

Callahan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ceallacháin meaning "descendant of Cellachán".

Callan Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Cathaláin meaning "descendant of Cathalán".

Caomhánach Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Kavanagh.

Carey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Ciardha meaning "descendant of Ciardha".

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".

Cavanagh Irish
Variant of Kavanagh.

Cavanah Irish
Variant of Kavanagh.

Cavanaugh Irish
Variant of Kavanagh.

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".

Connelly Irish
Variant of Connolly.

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".

Conway Welsh, English
From the name of the River Conwy in Wales, or the town situated at the mouth of the river. It is possibly derived from Welsh cyn "foremost" and the common river name suffix wy.

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.

Crowley 1 Irish
From the Irish name Ó Cruadhlaoich meaning "descendant of Cruadhlaoch", a given name meaning "hardy hero".

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".

Daugherty Irish
Variant of Doherty.

David um 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".

Delany Irish
Variant of Delaney 2.

Dempsey Irish
Anglicized form of Irish Ó Díomasaigh meaning "descendant of Díomasach", a given name meaning "proud".

Dermott Irish
Variant of McDermott.

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.

Devine 1 Irish
Variant of Devin 1.

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".

Donaghue Irish
Variant of Donoghue.

Donne Scottish, Irish
From Gaelic donn meaning "brown", a nickname for a person with brown hair.

Donnell Irish
Variant of O'Donnell.

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".

Donohoe Irish
Variant of Donoghue.

Donohue Irish
Variant of Donoghue.

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".

Dougherty Irish
Variant of Doherty.

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".

Dùbhghlas Scottish Gaelic
Gaelic form of Douglas.

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.

Duffy 2 Irish, Scottish
Anglicized form of Mac Dhuibhshíthe.

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".

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.

Flanagon Irish
Variant of Flanagan.

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".

Friseal Scottish Gaelic
Gaelic form of Fraser.

Fylan Irish
Variant of Whelan.

Gallagher Irish
Anglicized form of the Irish Ó Gallchobhair meaning "descendant of Gallchobhar".

Gilmore Scottish, Irish
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic MacGilleMhoire or Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhuire meaning "son of the servant of Moire".

Gilmour Scottish, Irish
Variant of Gilmore.

Gilroy Irish
Anglicized form of Mac Giolla Ruaidh or Mac Giolla Rí.

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.

Griffiths Welsh, English
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.

Halloran Irish
From Irish Ó hAllmhuráin meaning "descendant of Allmhurán". The given name Allmhurán means "stranger from across the sea".

Hanegan Irish
Variant of O'Hannagain.

Hanigan Irish
Variant of O'Hannagain.

Hannigan Irish
Variant of O'Hannagain.

Hannigen Irish
Variant of O'Hannagain.

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.

Ivers English, Irish
Patronymic derived from the given name Ivor.

Jones English, Welsh
Derived from the given name Jon, a medieval variant of John.

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.

Kavanah Irish
Variant of Kavanagh.

Kavanaugh Irish
Variant of Kavanagh.

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).

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".

Lane 3 Irish
From Irish Ó Luain meaning "descendant of Luan", a given name meaning "warrior".

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.

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".

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 Aba Irish, Scottish Gaelic
Gaelic form of McNab.

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.