Clans

Moore, O’ Moore, O’ Mora, O’ More, Ó Mórdha.   Moore was originally Ó Mórdha, from the Gaelic word “mordha” meaning ‘noble or stately’. The original sept was...

Morahan, Moran, O’ Moraine, O’ Moran, O’ Morane, Ó Móráin.   Moran is the English version of two distinct Gaelic surnames; Ó Móráin, from the Gaelic...

The name Murphy is the Anglicisation of two Gaelic names, Ó Murchadha and Mac Murchadha, both from the popular personal name ‘Murchadh’ meaning ‘sea warrior’. The Mac Murchadha sept was based in Ulster and was part of the...

This surname can be of Scottish or Irish origin. The Scottish version of the name was originally Mac Murray, derived from “Moray” which means ‘settlement by the sea’. The Gaelic version of the name was Ó Muireachaidh, which...

Ó Briain comes from the personal name Brian, and denotes a descendant of Brian Boru, King of Ireland in the 11th Century. Brian Boru was a member of the Uí Toirdealbhaigh sept, who were part of the Dál gCais tribal grouping, and were...

Ó Conaill, ‘descendant of Conall’, comes from the personal name Conall, which most likely is derived from “Con”, meaning ‘hound’, and “gal”, meaning ‘valour’. The name was very popular,...

Ó Domhnaill comes from the personal name Domhnall meaning ‘world-mighty’. The name is most strongly connected with Co. Donegal in the north-west of Ireland, although there were other septs of the same name in a number of areas,...

Ó Néill comes from the personal name Niall, which possibly means ‘passionate’ or ‘vehement’. The O’ Neills were the leading family of the Cineál Eoghan tribal grouping, who ruled the ancient territory of...

The name O’ Reilly, and its variations, is extremely common throughout Ireland. The clan is descended from the Ó Raghailligh of Breffny, which comprises the modern areas of counties Cavan and Longford, and their influence also extended to...

Ó Súilleabháin comes from the Gaelic “Súil”, meaning ‘eye’, and can mean ‘Black-eyed’ or ‘Hawk-eyed’. The O’ Sullivan sept was part of the Eoghanacht tribal grouping, and...

The name Quinn can have two distinct origins. In the areas of counties Clare, Longford and Antrim, the name originated as the personal name Conn, meaning ‘chief’ or ‘leader’. The name is also came from Co. Tyrone, in the northern...

The Ryan name originated as Ó Maoilriaghain, meaning ‘descendant of a devotee of St. Riaghan’. The name was originally Anglicised as Mulryan, and has today been shortened to Ryan. The name first appeared in the barony of Owney, on the...

Mac Suibhne comes from the Gaelic word “suibhne” meaning ‘pleasant’, and Sweeney is the Anglicisation of this name. The original Suibhne from whom Sweeneys claim descent was a Scottish chief. The Sweeneys arrived in Ireland from...

The Gaelic name Breathnach means ‘British’ or ‘Welsh’, and the name Walsh is a semi-translation of this meaning. The name arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion at the end of the 12th century, and was established in a...