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.
Anderson Scottish, IrishAnglicized form of the Gaelic
Mac Ghille Andrais meaning 'Son of the devotee of St. Andrew'. ... [
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Ardagh IrishA rare Irish surname named after Ardagh, in County Longford.
Bainebridge English, IrishBridge over the Bain, An English town named for its place on the river Bain, now used as a surname. Lives near the bridge over the white water... [
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Barnewall Anglo-Norman, IrishA locational surname given to those who lived by a stream in either Cambridgeshire, which derives its name from the Olde English
beorna meaning "warrior" and
wella meaning "stream", or from one in Northamptonshire, which got its name from the Olde English
byrge meaning "burial mound" and
well, which also means "stream." a burial mound and 'well(a)'... [
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Barrington English, IrishEnglish: habitational name from any of several places called Barrington. The one in Gloucestershire is named with the Old English personal name
Beorn + -ing- denoting association + tun ‘settlement’... [
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Bellew English, IrishOf Norman origin: habitational name from any of the various places in northern France, such as Belleu (Aisne), named in Old French with bel ‘beautiful’ + l(i)eu ‘place’, or from Belleau (Meurthe-et-Moselle), which is named with Old French bel ‘lovely’ + ewe ‘water’ (Latin aqua), or from Bellou (Calvados), which is probably named with a Gaulish word meaning ‘watercress’... [
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Biddle English, IrishVariant of English
BEADLE or German
BITTEL. The name is now popular in the north east region of America, where it was brought by English and Irish immigrants.
Blaney IrishTopographic name from Welsh
blaenau, plural of
blaen "point, tip, end", i.e. uplands, or remote region, or upper reaches of a river.
Bohan Irish (Anglicized)Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Buadhacháin, which comes from the word "buadhach," meaning "victorious."
Bollard English, IrishAccording to MacLysaght, this surname of Dutch origin which was taken to Ireland early in the 18th century.
Bonar IrishA "translation" of Irish Gaelic
Ó Cnáimhsighe "descendant of
Cnáimhseach", a nickname meaning literally "midwife" and ostensibly a derivative of Gaelic
cnámh "bone".
Bonnar Irish, GaelicTranslation of the Gaelic "O'Cnaimhsighe", descendant of Cnaimhseach, a byname meaning "Midwife
Bowe Medieval English, English, Irish (Anglicized)There are three possible sources of this surname, the first being that it is a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of bows, a vital trade in medieval times before the invention of gunpowder, and a derivative of the Old English pre 7th Century 'boga', bow, from 'bugan' to bend... [
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Bracken IrishFrom Irish Ó Breacáin meaning "descendant of Breacán", a personal name from a diminutive of breac 'speckled', 'spotted', which was borne by a 6th-century saint who lived at Ballyconnel, County Cavan, and was famous as a healer; St... [
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Branagh IrishAnglicisation of Irish
Ó Branduibh meaning "descendant of Breathnach", a given name meaning "Welshman". A famous bearer is British actor and filmmaker Sir Kenneth Branagh (1960-).
Brannock IrishOriginally taken from the Welsh place name
Brecknock. Medieval settlers brought this name to Ireland.
Broderick Irish, Welsh, EnglishSurname which comes from two distinct sources. As a Welsh surname it is derived from
ap Rhydderch meaning "son of
Rhydderch". As an Irish surname it is an Anglicized form of
Ó Bruadair meaning "descendent of Bruadar"... [
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Brophy Irish (Anglicized)Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Bróithe ‘descendant of Bróth’, a personal name or byname of unknown origin. Also Anglicized as Broy.
Brosnan IrishAnglicized form of Irish Gaelic
Ó Brosnacháin meaning "descendant of Brosnachán", a given name derived from
Brosna, a small village and parish in County Kerry, Ireland.
Burney English, IrishForm of the French place name of 'Bernay' or adapted from the personal name
Bjorn, ultimately meaning "bear".
Bynes IrishThis is the surname of American actress Amanda Bynes (born April 3, 1986).
Cagney IrishAnglicized form of Irish Gaelic
Ó Caingnigh meaning "descendant of Caingneach", a given name meaning "pleader, advocate". A famous bearer was American actor and dancer James Cagney (1899-1986).
Calligan Irish (Rare)Before Irish names were translated into English, Calligan had a Gaelic form of O Ceallachain, possibly from "ceallach", which means "strife".... [
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Calvey IrishVariation of McKelvey. Meaning rich in possessions or Irish from the French word bald
Canavan Irish (Anglicized)Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ceanndubháin "descendant of
Ceanndubhán", a byname meaning "little black-headed one", from
ceann "head" combined with
dubh "black" and the diminutive suffix
-án.
Carbrey IrishAnglicized form of Irish Gaelic
Ó Cairbre and
Mac Cairbre meaning "descendant of
Cairbre", a given name meaning "charioteer".
Carlan IrishAnglicized form of Irish
O'Carlain or
O'Caireallain, from the Irish
carla meaning a "wool-comb" and
an meaning "one who" which roughly translates as "one who combs wool"... [
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Carney IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Catharnaigh "descendant of Catharnach", a byname meaning "warlike".
Carrey IrishVariant spelling of
Carey. A famous bearer is Canadian-American actor and comedian Jim Carrey (1962-).
Carville French, IrishAs a French location name it comes from a settlement in Normandy. As an Irish name it derives from a word for "warrior".
Cassey Scottish, IrishThis surname originated around ancient Scotland and Ireland. In its Gaelic form it is called, 'O Cathasaigh', which means 'the watchful one'.... [
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Caulfield IrishComes from the Irish Gaelic
Mac Cathmhaoil, which was Anglicized to
McCawell and then morphed into Caulfield.
Mac Cathmhaoil comes from a word meaning "chieftan".
Cinnamond Scottish, Irish, EnglishPossibly originates from Scottish place name Kininmonth. Probably introduced to Northern Ireland by Scottish settlers where it remains in Ulster. Another origin is the French place name Saint Amand originated from French Huguenots settling in Ireland.
Claine Scottish, IrishAnglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, a patronymic name meaning "son of the servant of Saint John."
Clooney English, IrishFrom Gaelic
Ó Cluanaigh meaning "descendant of
Cluanach". Cluanach was a given name derived from Irish
clauna "deceitful, flattering, rogue".
Coach IrishOrigin uncertain. Most probably a reduced form of Irish McCoach, which is of uncertain derivation, perhaps a variant of
McCaig.
Coakley IrishFrom Irish Gaelic
Mac Caochlaoich "son of
Caochlaoch", a personal name meaning literally "blind warrior".
Cochrane Scottish, Scottish Gaelic, IrishDerived from the 'Lowlands of Cochrane' near Paisley, in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Origin is uncertain, the theory it may have derived from the Welsh
coch meaning "red" is dismissed because of the historical spelling of the name
Coueran.... [
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Condrick IrishSurname of an Irish immigrant who had snuck onto a ship and travelled to Australia during the early 1900's.
Cone IrishReduced form of McCone. Americanized spelling of North German Kohn or Köhn, or Kuhn.
Conklin Irish, DutchOrigin unidentified. Most likely of Dutch origin (the name is found in the 18th century in the Hudson Valley), or possibly a variant of Irish
Coughlin.
Conlon IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic Ó Conalláin or Ó Caoindealbháin.
Conran IrishThe surname Conran is derived from 'O Conarain', and Conran is a more anglicized version.... [
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Considine IrishAnglicisation of Irish
Mac Consaidín meaning "son of Consaidín". The given name
Consaidín is the Irish form of
Constantine... [
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Conway Welsh, Scottish, IrishAs a Welsh surname, it comes from the name of a fortified town on the coast of North Wales (Conwy formerly Conway), taken from the name of the river on which it stands. The river name
Conwy may mean "holy water" in Welsh.... [
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Coogan IrishAnglicized form of the Gaelic name "MacCogadhain"; composed of the Gaelic prefix "mac," which means "son of," and the Gaelic personal name "Cuchogaidh", which means "Hound of War". The name is also found in Ireland as Cogan, Coggan, Coggen, Cogin, Coggon, Coogan and Goggin(s).
Cooley IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Chúille ‘son of the servant of (Saint) Mochúille’, a rare Clare name.
Corkery Irish (Anglicized)Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Corcra "descendant of
Corcra", a personal name derived from
corcair "purple" (ultimately cognate with Latin
purpur).
Costello IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Mac Oisdealbhaigh meaning "son of Oisdealbhach". The given name
Oisdealbhach is derived from Irish
os meaning "deer, fawn" and
dealbhach meaning "resembling, shapely".
Cotter IrishReduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Oitir "son of
Oitir", a personal name borrowed from Old Norse
Óttarr, composed of the elements
ótti "fear, dread" and
herr "army".
Court English, French, IrishA topographic name from Middle English, Old French
court(e) and
curt, meaning ‘court’. This word was used primarily with reference to the residence of the lord of a manor, and the surname is usually an occupational name for someone employed at a manorial court.... [
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Cranley IrishThe surname Cranley was first found in Ulster (Irish: Ulaidh), where they held a family seat but were also to be found in County Offaly and Galway. The sept is styled the Princes of Crich Cualgne and are descended from Cu-Ulladh, a Prince in 576.
Craven Irish, EnglishIrish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Crabháin (County Galway) or Mac Crabháin (Louth, Monaghan) ‘descendant (or ‘son’) of Crabhán’... [
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Crowley Irish (Anglicized), EnglishIrish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cruadhlaoich ‘descendant of Cruadhlaoch’, a personal name composed of the elements cruadh ‘hardy’ + laoch ‘hero’. ... [
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Culbert Anglo-Saxon, Irish, English, ScottishMeaning and origin are uncertain. Edward MacLysaght (The Surnames of Ireland, 1999, 6th Ed., Irish Academic Press, Dublin, Ireland and Portland, Oregon, USA) states that this surname is of Huguenot (French Protestant) origin, and found mainly in Ireland's northern province of Ulster... [
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Culkin IrishReduced anglicization of Irish Gaelic
Mac Uilcín meaning "descendant of Uilcín", a diminutive of
Ulick, itself an Irish diminutive of
William... [
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Cunniff IrishFrom Irish Gaelic
Mac Conduibh "son of
Condubh", a personal name meaning literally "black dog".
Current IrishThe surname of Current, is of Irish/Scottish with several different families, and meanings of this name. There are many spelling variations of this name.
Currie Scottish, IrishIrish: Habitational name from Currie in Midlothian, first recorded in this form in 1230. It is derived from Gaelic
curraigh, dative case of
currach ‘wet plain’, ‘marsh’. It is also a habitational name from Corrie in Dumfriesshire (see
Corrie).... [
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Cusack IrishAn Irish family name of Norman origin, originally from
Cussac in Guienne (Aquitaine), France. The surname died out in England, but is common in Ireland, where it was imported at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century.
Dade IrishAnglicized form of
MacDaibheid, meaning "son of David".
Dailey IrishAnglicized form of Irish Ó Dálaigh meaning "descendant of DÁLACH".
Daily IrishAnglicized form of Ó Dálaigh, meaning "descendent of DÁLACH". The name has strong roots in the county Cork.
Dall IrishDerived from Old Irish
dall, a byname meaning "blind".
Danvers Irish, EnglishFor someone from Anvers, which is the French name of a port called Antwerp, located in what is now Belgium.
Darragh IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Dhubhdarach, a personal name meaning "black one of the oak tree".
Deady IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic Ó Déadaigh ‘descendant of Déadach’, a personal name apparently meaning ‘toothy’.
Dees IrishThe surname Dees refers to the grandson of Deaghadh (good luck); dweller near the Dee River; one with a dark or swarthy complexion. Also considered of Welsh origin.
Dennehy IrishAnglicized form of Irish Gaelic
Ó Duineachdha meaning "descendant of Duineachaidh", a given name meaning "humane". A famous bearer was American actor Brian Dennehy (1938-2020).
Derry Irish, EnglishEnglish variant of
Deary, or alternatively a nickname for a merchant or tradesman, from Anglo-French
darree ‘pennyworth’, from Old French
denree... [
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Diamond IrishAnglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Diamáin "descendant of Diamán", earlier
Díomá or
Déamán, a diminutive of
Díoma, itself a pet form of
Diarmaid.
Dickey IrishNorthern Irish: from a pet form of the personal name Dick 1.
Dillon IrishDillon is a surname of Irish origin but with Breton-Norman roots. It is first recorded in Ireland with the arrival of Sir Henry de Leon (c.1176 – 1244), of a cadet branch of Viscounty of Léon, Brittany... [
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Dineen Irish (Anglicized)Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Duinnín which meant "descendant of Duinnín". The byname
Duinnín was derived from a diminutive of Gaelic
donn meaning "brown" (i.e. "brown-haired man") or "chieftain".
Diskin Irish (Anglicized)Reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Díscín "descendant of
Díscín", which may be derived from
díosc "barren". The place name Ballyeeskeen, now Ballydiscin, in County Sligo, is derived from the surname.
Doane IrishIrish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic
Ó Dubháin ‘descendant of
Dubhán’, meaning ‘the little black one’, a common name in the 16th century in southern Ireland, or
Ó Damháin ‘descendant of
Damhán’ meaning ‘fawn’, ‘little stag’, a rare Ulster name... [
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Dole English, Irish (Anglicized)English: from Middle English dole ‘portion of land’ (Old English dal ‘share’, ‘portion’). The term could denote land within the common field, a boundary mark, or a unit of area; so the name may be of topographic origin or a status name... [
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Dollahan IrishVariant of Hallahan, meaning "Descendent of Áilleacháin"
Donegan IrishAnglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Donnagáin. Diminutive of "donn" which means "brown," referring to hair color.
Donnellan IrishFrom the Gaelic Domhnallain, a diminutive of Donnell/Domhnall meaning "world mighty" (Irish form of the Scottish Donald).
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.
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, hence a nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a duck or a metonymic occupational name for someone who kept ducks or for a wild fowler. ... [
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