Clans

Kellaher, O' Ceileachair, Keliher.   The name Kelleher is the English version of the Irish, O’ Ceileachair – meaning "overly fond of ones wife" The original Céileachar or Kelleher who was a nephew of the famous Brian Boru...

The name Joyce is a true Irish one and is found primarily in Connacht. Although the name is not Gaelic, the first authentic record of the name dates back to 1283, to a Welshman who married an Irish woman O’ Brien and settled with her in County...

O’ Higgins, Ó hUigín.   The vast majority of those bearing the Higgins surname today are descended from the sept of Ó hUigín which was based in the midlands. The name comes from the Gaelic...

Hickie, Hicky, O’ Hickee, O’ Hickey, Ó hÍceadha.   The name Hickey is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó hIcidhe, from the word “iceadh” meaning ‘healer’. This name was...

ó hAonghasa.   In modern times the prefix O has been entirely dropped from the name Hennessy. The Irish of the name is O hAonghusa, meaning decendant of Aonghus or Aongus. The principal sept were found in County Offaly. Another sept had...

O hEigceartaigh, O' Hegarty.   The word eigceartach means unjust. The original O’ Hegarty sept were located on the borders of the counties Donegal and Derry. A branch of this family migrated to County Cork, where the name is now most...

Heally, Heeley, Hely, O’ Healihy, O’ Healy, Ó hÉilidhe.   The Healys in Ireland are descended from two different clans, the Ó hÉilídhe, from the Gaelic...

Hughes, McAodha, McHugh, O’ Hea, Ó hAodha.   The Hayes are descended from the Gaelic sept of the Ó hAodha, although Hayes is also a common name in England where it derives from places of the same name...

The surname Hanley or Hanly is the Anglicised form of the Irish name O Hainle – possibly derived from áulinn meaning beautiful. Nowadays the name is principally found in two areas, in Connacht - Counties Roscommon and Galway and in Munster...

This name means inhabitant of Flanders, many of whom emigrated from Flanders to Britain, settling on the Scottish borders, around the year 1200 . The Irish Flemings however were in Ireland approximately four centuries before this. The name is scattered...

Gilpatrick, Kilpatrick, Mac Giolla, Phádraig.   Fitzpatrick is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Phádraig, and is not Norman despite the ‘Fitz’ commonly seen in other Norman names. The Gaelic name...

Ó Donnnghaile comes from the personal name Donnáil, which is composed of the words “donn” meaning ‘brown’, and “gal” meaning ‘bravery’. The Donnellys are descended from Donnáil O’...

Doolan, Dowlan, Dowlin, Dowling, O’ Dolan, O’ Dowlane, Ó Dubhláin.   The name Dolan is first found in Leinster where they are believed to be descended from Eochaidh, King of Leinster, and...

O' Dempsey, O Diomasaigh.   The name Dempsey comes from the Irish ‘diomasach’ meaning proud. The O’ Dempsey families were a powerful sept in Counties Laois and Offaly. The families were consistently pro-English in the time...

De l’aunaie, Ó Dubhshláine.   The surname Delaney, and its variations, are the Anglicisation of two different surnames, the Gaelic Ó Dubhshláine, and De l’aunaie of Norman origins. The Norman name means...

Mac Isog, MacIosog.   The name Cusack is originally derived from a place in Guienne in France and was first Anglicised as de Cussac, it was introduced into Ireland following the Norman invasion of 1172. Nowadays the name is common in Meath,...

Coningham, Conyngham, Counihan, Cunnigan, Ó Cuinneagáin.   Cuinneagán comes from the Scots’ Gaelic word “Cuinneag” which means ‘milk-pail’, and was brought to Ireland by...

This name may be of Gaelic or Norman origin. In Gaelic, Ó Cuillin comes from the word “Cuileann” meaning ‘holly-tree’. The name originated in south-east Leinster, and remains strong there until this day. The Norman name can...

O' Crowley, O' Cruadhlaoich.   The sept of O’ Crowley began as an offshoot of the McDermott’s in County Roscommon. Branches settled in Dunmanway in County Cork – and are still much identified with that area. Another small...

O' Cróinin, Cronin.   The name Cronin is from a diminutive cron meaning ‘swarthy’ or ‘yellow’. The origin of this family name lies in Cork, particularly the West of the County, where place names such as Cooscronin...