Irish Last Names with Meanings

Ever wondered about the meaning behind your Irish surname? Many Irish surnames originated as descriptive nicknames or identifiers based on ancestry. "Murphy" means "sea-battler," while "Kelly" translates to "bright-headed." Explore the rich history hidden in common Irish surnames like Byrne ("raven"), Walsh ("Welsh"), and Ryan ("king"). Delving into these Gaelic meanings can be a fascinating journey into your Irish heritage.

Top 10 Irish Last Names

Best Irish Last Names

Irish last names, or surnames, offer a fascinating peek into Ireland’s rich cultural past. Originating from Gaelic, these names often signify ancestral clans or geographical regions.

Here are 100 Unique Irish last Names along with their meanings:

1, Murphy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Murchadha," meaning "descendant of the sea warrior."

2, Kelly Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ceallaigh," meaning "descendant of Ceallach," possibly meaning "bright

3, O'Brien Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Briain," meaning "descendant of Brian," which means "noble" or "high."

4, Walsh Derived from the Gaelic "Breathnach," meaning "Welshman" or "Briton."

5, Byrne Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Broin," meaning "descendant of Bran," which means "raven."

6, Ryan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Riain," meaning "descendant of Rian," possibly meaning "little king."

7, O'Connor Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Conchobhair," meaning "descendant of Conchobhar," which means "lover of hounds."

8, O'Neill Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Néill," meaning "descendant of Niall," which means "champion" or "cloud."

9, O'Reilly Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Raghallaigh," meaning "descendant of Raghallach," possibly meaning "valiant."

10, Doyle Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dubhghaill," meaning "descendant of Dubhghall," which means "dark stranger" or "foreigner."

11, McCarthy Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Carthaigh," meaning "son of Carthach," which means "loving."

12, Gallagher Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Gallchobhair," meaning "descendant of Gallchobhar," which means "foreign help."

13, Kennedy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cinneide," meaning "descendant of Cinneidigh," possibly meaning "helmet

14, Lynch Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Loingsigh," meaning "descendant of Loingseach," which means "mariner" or "seafarer."

15, Murray Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Muireadhaigh," meaning "descendant of Muireadhach," possibly meaning "sea warrior."

16, Quinn Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cuinn," meaning "descendant of Conn," which means "chief" or "head."

17, Cunningham Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cuinneagáin," meaning "descendant of Cuinneagán," which means "little wolf."

18, Johnston Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Seáin," meaning "son of Seán," which is the Irish form of "John."

19, Hughes Derived from the Welsh name "Hugh," which means "mind" or "intellect."

20, Griffin Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Gríobhtha," meaning "descendant of Gríobhtha," possibly meaning "sturdy" or "vigorous."

21, O'Donnell Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Domhnaill," meaning "descendant of Domhnall," which means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world."

22, Duffy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dufaigh," meaning "descendant of Dubhthaigh," which means "black."

23, Fitzgerald Derived from the Old French "fitz," meaning "son of," and the Norman personal name "Gerald," which means "spear ruler."

24, Flynn Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Floinn," meaning "descendant of Flann," which means "red" or "ruddy."

25, Brennan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Braonáin," meaning "descendant of Braonán," which means "moist" or "tearful."

26, Connolly Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Conghaile," meaning "descendant of Conghal," which means "strong as a wolf."

27, Maher Derived from the Gaelic "Meachair," meaning "hospitable" or "generous."

28, Nolan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Nualláin," meaning "descendant of Nuallán," which means "noble" or "famous."

29, Barrett Derived from the Old French "barat," meaning "trouble" or "strife."

30, Cunningham Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cuinneagáin," meaning "descendant of Cuinneagán," which means "little wolf."

31, Casey Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cathasaigh," meaning "descendant of Cathasach," which means "vigilant" or "observant."

32, Higgins Derived from the Gaelic "Ó hUiginn," meaning "descendant of Uiginn," possibly meaning "viking."

33, Foley Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Foghladha," meaning "descendant of Foghlaidh," which means "pirate" or "sea rover."

34, Keane Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Catháin," meaning "descendant of Cathán," which means "battle."

35, Fitzpatrick Derived from the Old French "fitz," meaning "son of," and the Norman personal name "Patrick," which means "noble" or "patrician."

36, Moran Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Moráin," meaning "descendant of Morán," which means "great."

37, Sweeney Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Suibhne," meaning "descendant of Suibhne," possibly meaning "pleasant" or "agreeable."

38, Joyce Derived from the Gaelic "Seoige," meaning "choice" or "chosen."

39, Maguire Derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir," meaning "son of Odhar," which means "dun" or "sallow."

40, Mccann Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cana," meaning "son of Cana," which means "wolf cub."

41, Power Derived from the Norman French "le Poer," meaning "the poor" or "the meek."

42, Duffy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dufaigh," meaning "descendant of Dubhthaigh," which means "black."

43, Mcgrath Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Craith," meaning "son of Craith," possibly meaning "grace" or "piety."

44, Sheehan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Síocháin," meaning "descendant of Síochán," which means "peaceful."

45, Farrelly Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Fearghail," meaning "descendant of Fearghal," which means "valiant" or "man of valor."

46, Barrett Derived from the Old French "barat," meaning "trouble" or "strife."

47, Sweeney Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Suibhne," meaning "descendant of Suibhne," possibly meaning "pleasant" or "agreeable."

48, Mcdonald Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhomhnaill," meaning "son of Domhnall," which means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world."

49, Daly Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dálaigh," meaning "descendant of Dálach," possibly meaning "assembly" or "gathering."

50, Donovan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Donnabháin," meaning "descendant of Donnabhán," which means "brown" or "dark."

51, Callahan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ceallacháin," meaning "descendant of Ceallachán," which means "bright

52, Doherty Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dochartaigh," meaning "descendant of Dochartach," which means "hurtful" or "obstructive."

53, Buckley Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Buachalla," meaning "descendant of Buachall," which means "cowherd."

54, Kennedy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cinneide," meaning "descendant of Cinneidigh," possibly meaning "helmet

55, Bradley Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Brolcháin," meaning "descendant of Brolchán," which means "badger."

56, Boyd Derived from the Gaelic "Buidhe," meaning "yellow" or "fair

57, Dunne Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Duinn," meaning "descendant of Donn," which means "brown" or "dark."

58, Hogan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó hÓgáin," meaning "descendant of Ógán," which means "young."

59, Madden Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Madáin," meaning "descendant of Madán," which means "little dog."

60, Mcgee Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aodha," meaning "son of Aodh," which means "fire."

61, Reilly Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Raghailligh," meaning "descendant of Raghailligh," possibly meaning "valiant."

62, Sheehy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Síocháin," meaning "descendant of Síochán," which means "peaceful."

63, Stafford Derived from the Old English place name "Staf ford," meaning "landing place" or "ford by a stave."

64, Tyrrell Derived from the Old Norse name "Thorvaldr," meaning "Thor's ruler."

65, Conroy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Conraoi," meaning "descendant of Conraoi," which means "wise" or "learned."

66, Mcinerney Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Ionraoi," meaning "son of Ionraoi," which means "lover of peace."

67, Duignan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Duibhgeannáin," meaning "descendant of Duibhgeannán," which means "blacksmith."

68, Hanlon Derived from the Gaelic "Ó hAnluain," meaning "descendant of Anluan," which means "champion" or "warrior."

69, Dowling Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Dubhlaoin," meaning "descendant of Dubhlaoin," which means "black" or "dark."

70, Ennis Derived from the Gaelic "Inis," meaning "island" or "meadow."

71, Enright Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ceanndubháin," meaning "descendant of Ceanndubhán," possibly meaning "black

72, O'keefe Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Caoimh," meaning "descendant of Caomh," which means "gentle" or "beautiful."

73, Callaghan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ceallacháin," meaning "descendant of Ceallachán," which means "bright

74, Hanley Derived from the Gaelic "Ó hÁinle," meaning "descendant of Áinle," which means "champion" or "warrior."

75, O'hara Derived from the Gaelic "Ó hEaghra," meaning "descendant of Eaghra," which means "lord" or "ruler."

76, Brophy Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Bróithe," meaning "descendant of Bróthach," which means "hospitable" or "generous."

77, Mahony Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Mathghamhna," meaning "descendant of Mathghamhain," which means "bear."

78, Macdonald Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Dhomhnaill," meaning "son of Domhnall," which means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world."

79, Macmahon Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mathghamhna," meaning "son of Mathghamhain," which means "bear."

80, Flanagan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Flannagáin," meaning "descendant of Flannagán," which means "reddish" or "ruddy."

81, Mcnamara Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Conmara," meaning "son of Conmara," which means "hound of the sea."

82, O'brien Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Briain," meaning "descendant of Brian," which means "noble" or "high."

83, Brogan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Brogáin," meaning "descendant of Brogán," which means "little shoe" or "little boot."

84, Cody Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cuidighthigh," meaning "descendant of Cuidighthigh," which means "helpful."

85, Coffey Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cobhthaigh," meaning "descendant of Cobhthaigh," which means "victorious."

86, Cullen Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Cuilinn," meaning "descendant of Cuilinn," which means "holly."

87, Darcy Derived from the Norman

88, Dillon Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Duilleáin," meaning "descendant of Duilleán," which means "little leaf" or "little blade."

89, O'mahony Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Mathghamhna," meaning "descendant of Mathghamhain," which means "bear."

90, Roche Derived from the Norman

91, Slattery Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Slatraigh," meaning "descendant of Slatraigh," which means "robber."

92, O'grady Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Grádaigh," meaning "descendant of Grádaigh," which means "noble" or "illustrious."

93, Fitzsimons Derived from the Old French "fitz," meaning "son of," and the Norman personal name "Simon," which means "listener" or "hearing."

94, Finnegan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Fionnagáin," meaning "descendant of Fionnagán," which means "little fair one."

95, Malone Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maoil Eoin," meaning "descendant of Maol Eoin," which means "devotee of St. John."

96, Macgrath Derived from the Gaelic "Mac Craith," meaning "son of Craith," possibly meaning "grace" or "piety."

97, Maguire Derived from the Gaelic "Mag Uidhir," meaning "son of Odhar," which means "dun" or "sallow."

98, Mannion Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Mainnín," meaning "descendant of Mainnín," which means "monk" or "religious."

99, Mulryan Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Maolriain," meaning "descendant of Maolrán," which means "devotee of St. Rónán."

100, O'donoghue Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Donnchadha," meaning "descendant of Donnchadh," which means "brown warrior."

These names often carry significant meanings related to ancestry, characteristics, or historical contexts in Irish culture.

Common Irish Surnames

Among the most common Irish surnames are Murphy, Kelly, and O’Sullivan. These names are steeped in history, each telling a unique story of its bearers’ lineage.

The “O” and “Mac” Prefixes

Many Irish surnames begin with “O’” or “Mac”. “O’” denotes “descendant of”, while “Mac” means “son of”, indicating a strong patriarchal influence in Irish naming traditions.

Unique Characteristics

Irish surnames are unique in their strong connections to the bearers’ lineage and place of origin. They serve as enduring links to Ireland’s vibrant past and rich cultural heritage.

Conclusion

Irish last names are more than mere identifiers; they are windows into the bearers’ ancestry and the country’s historical tapestry. Understanding their origins and meanings enriches our appreciation of the Irish heritage.