Clans

Doohey, Dowey, Dowie, Duffey, Duffie, Duhig, O’ Duffy, Ó Dubhthaigh   The name Duffy is an Anglicisation of the Irish Ó Dubhthaigh, from the Gaelic “Dubhthach” meaning ‘the dark one’. There were...

Garman, Gorman, Mac Gorman, Ó Gormáin.     Most of the Irish Gormans today are descended from the Mac Gormáin sept, whose territory was Slivemargy in Co. Laois in the midlands.  The name is the...

This name originates in England. However in Ireland the name White was used locally for many Irish people who had the elements ‘ban’ –white or ‘fionn’ – fair. The Whites settled in Ireland, in all provinces, throughout...

The Ó Tuama sept was located in Co. Cork in the southern province of Munster. Twomey, and its variations, are the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Tuama. The name is common in Ireland today, although it is not one of the 100 most numerous. It...

Ó Síodhacháin comes from the Gaelic word “siodhach” which means ‘peaceful’. The Ó Síodhacháin sept originated in the barony of Lower Connello in Co. Limerick, and was part of the...

The name O’ Meara has always been associated with County Tipperary. Records show that over 60 years ago less than one third of the people of the name used the prefix O, today it is rare to find the name without the prefix – listed as Meara or...

Ó Caoimh comes from the word “caomh” which means ‘gentle’ or ‘kind’. The family is descended from Art Ó Caom, who himself was descended from the King of Munster. The clan’s territory was originally...

The name O’ Hara is a phonetic pronunciation of the Irish name Ó hEaghra. O’ Hara’s today are chiefly found in Counties Sligo and Letrim. The actress Maureen O’ Hara has made the name famous all over the world. The hand...

This name means illustrious, and originated in County Clare, but also had very strong associations with County Limerick. Nowadays the name is also found in abundance in Counties, Mayo and Roscommon. The hand knit O’ Grady sweater has a honeycomb...

Statistics show that the name O’ Flaherty is still most numerous and common in their original habitat in County Galway, than elsewhere in Ireland. The same name is found in Ulster, but there the initial F is silent producing the name O’...

Dwyer is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Duibhir or Ó Dubhuidhir, from “Dubh” meaning dark, and “odhar”, meaning sallow. The clan originated in County Tipperary, where they were a strong force of resistance against...

The surname O’ Driscoll comes from the Irish O hEidirisceoil, from eidirisceoil meaning ‘go between’ or ‘bearer of news’ Few Irish names have been so continuously associated with their territory of origin as the Driscolls or...

Mulligan came from the Gaelic name Ó Maolagáin, derived from the word “maol” which means ‘bald’. The sept was located in Co. Donegal, in the baronies of Boylagh and Raphoe, where they were rulers of the territory of...

Murtagh, O' Moriarty, O' Muircheartaigh.   Moriarty is the English version of the Irish O Muircheartaigh, made up of muir, ‘sea’ and ceardach, ‘skilled’ therefore ‘one skilled in the ways of the sea’...

Mac Mathghamhna, Mac Mathúna, Mahon, Mc Machon, Mc Mann.   The English Mc Mahon comes from the Gaelic Mac Mathghamha, from “mathghamquain” meaning ‘bear’. There were two different septs of the...

Mac Cionnaith, Mac Kenna.   Mac Cionnaith means son of Cionnaith, a personal name. The clan originated in Co. Meath in the east of the country, and subsequently moved northward to Truagh, an area on the border of the modern counties of Tyrone...

Mallon, Ó Maoileoin.   Malone is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Maoileoin, from ‘Maol’ meaning ‘bald’, in reference to Irish monks, and the personal name Eoin, together giving the meaning of ‘a...

Mac Aodh, Mac Gee, Mac Kee, Mc Gee, Mc Kee.   Mac Aodh means ‘son of Aodh’, a popular personal name meaning ‘fire’. The name can be either of Scottish or Irish origin. There were three Irish clans of the...

The two native Gaelic surnames O’ Longáin and O Longaigh have both been anglicised to Long. It is likely that both names derive from the Gaelic word ‘long’ meaning ship, therefore seafarer. The name Long is most commonly...

O’ Kenney, O’ Kenny, O’ Kinney, Ó Cionnaith.   The name Kenny comes from the personal name Cionaodh. It was borne by a high king of Ireland seems to have become popular from the Eighth Century in Ireland...