Irish surnames: meanings and origins
The meaning, Irish spelling and home county of 80 common Irish surnames, from Murphy and Kelly to O'Rourke and Joyce.
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B
- Barryde Barra · from Barry
- BoyleÓ Baoighill · descendant of Baoighill
- BradyMac Brádaigh · son of Brádach
- BrennanÓ Braonáin · descendant of Braonán
- McBrideMac Giolla Bhríde · son of the devotee of Saint Brigid
- O'BrienÓ Briain · descendant of Brian
- Burkede Búrca · of the fortress or town
- ByrneÓ Broin · descendant of Bran
C
- CahillÓ Cathail · descendant of Cathal
- O'CallaghanÓ Ceallacháin · descendant of Ceallachán
- O'CarrollÓ Cearbhaill · descendant of Cearbhall
- McCarthyMac Cárthaigh · son of Cárthach
- CaseyÓ Cathasaigh · descendant of Cathasach
- ClarkeÓ Cléirigh · descendant of the cleric
- CollinsÓ Coileáin · descendant of Coileán
- O'ConnellÓ Conaill · descendant of Conall
- ConnollyÓ Conghaile · descendant of Conghal
- O'ConnorÓ Conchobhair · descendant of Conchobhar
- CullenÓ Cuilinn · descendant of Cuilean
D
- DalyÓ Dálaigh · descendant of Dálach
- O'DohertyÓ Dochartaigh · descendant of Dochartach
- O'DonnellÓ Dónaill · descendant of Dónall
- McDonnellMac Domhnaill · son of Dónall
- DonnellyÓ Donnghaile · descendant of Donnghal
- DonovanÓ Donnabháin · descendant of Donnabhán
- DoyleÓ Dubhghaill · dark foreigner
- DuffyÓ Dubhthaigh · descendant of Dubhthach
- DunneÓ Duinn · descendant of Donn
E
F
- O'FarrellÓ Fearghail · descendant of Fearghal
- FitzgeraldMac Gearailt · son of Gerald
- FitzpatrickMac Giolla Phádraig · son of the devotee of Patrick
- FlanaganÓ Flannagáin · descendant of Flannagán
- FlynnÓ Floinn · descendant of Flann
- FoleyÓ Foghladha · descendant of Foghladh
- FoxÓ Sionnaigh · descendant of Sionnach
G
- GallagherÓ Gallchobhair · descendant of Gallchobhar
- GleesonÓ Glasáin · descendant of Glasán
- McGrathMac Craith · son of Craith
H
- HealyÓ hÉalaighthe · descendant of Éilightheach
- HennessyÓ hAonghusa · descendant of Aonghus
- HigginsÓ hUiginn · descendant of Uiginn
- HoganÓ hÓgáin · descendant of Ógán
- HughesÓ hAodha · descendant or son of Aodh
J
K
- KaneÓ Catháin · descendant of Cathán
- KavanaghCaomhánach · follower of Caomhán
- KellyÓ Ceallaigh · descendant of Ceallach
- KennedyÓ Cinnéide · helmeted head
- KennyÓ Cionaoith · descendant of Cionaodh
- KeoghMac Eochaidh · son of Eochaidh
L
- O'LearyÓ Laoghaire · descendant of Laoghaire
- McLoughlinMac Lochlainn · son of Lochlann
- LynchÓ Loingsigh · descendant of Loingseach
M
- MaguireMag Uidhir · son of Odhar
- McMahonMac Mathúna · son of Mathghamhain
- MahonyÓ Mathghamhna · descendant of Mathghamhain
- MooreÓ Mórdha · descendant of Mórdha
- MoranÓ Móráin · descendant of Mórán
- MurphyÓ Murchadha · sea warrior
- MurrayÓ Muireadhaigh · descendant or son of Muireadhach
N
- McNamaraMac Conmara · son of Cú Mara
- O'NeillÓ Néill · descendant of Niall
- NolanÓ Nualláin · descendant of Nuallán
P
Q
R
- ReganÓ Riagáin · descendant of Riagán
- O'ReillyÓ Raghallaigh · descendant of Raghallach
- O'RourkeÓ Ruairc · descendant of Ruarc
- RyanÓ Maoilriain · descendant of Maoilriain
S
- O'SheaÓ Séaghdha · descendant of Séaghdha
- SheehanÓ Síocháin · descendant of Síochán
- SmithMac Gabhann · son of the smith
- O'SullivanÓ Súilleabháin · descendant of Súilleabhán
- SweeneyMac Suibhne · son of Suibhne
T
W
- WalshBreathnach · Welshman or Briton
- WardMac an Bhaird · son of the bard
- WhelanÓ Faoláin · descendant of Faolán
What Ó, Mac, Ní and Fitz mean
Ó (or O') means "descendant of", as in Ó Briain, the O'Briens. Mac (or Mc) means "son of", as in Mac Cárthaigh, the McCarthys. For women the Irish forms change: Ní replaces Ó (a daughter of an Ó family) and Nic replaces Mac. Fitz is the Norman French word for son and appears in names such as Fitzgerald. Many families dropped the O' or Mac under English rule in the 1600s to 1800s and took it back in the twentieth century, which is why one family can appear as both Sullivan and O'Sullivan.
Looking for a first name?
Many Irish surnames come from old given names. Browse Irish baby names and their meanings.
Where historians disagree about a meaning, the page says so. Most Irish surnames come from several unrelated families, so a name does not always point to one ancestor.