Adaire. A for an, the; dair, oak. The oak; hence, strong, powerful, robust. Adare, from the same.
Aincy. Ain, a circle; neać, corrupted into ey, an individual, an agent.
Aitken. Ait, pleasure, fancifulness; ceann, head. Mental delight.
Alncy. Aluin, beautiful; neać, an individual. A pleasing person.
Arran. Ara, kidney; an for tan, land, riches, possessions in land or stock. Land of the kidney.
Ardry. Ard, chief; riǵ (ree), king. Head king or ruler. Awrdry, of like derivation.
Baine. Baine, milk, from the adjective bân, white. Milk. Bain, contracted from the original name.
Baile. Bâile, a town, a village.
Bailey. Bâile, a town; lać, a broken form of lućt, folk, people. Resident of a town.
Baird. Bârd, genitive baird, a poet. Offspring of a Celtic minstrel.
Ball. Bâll, a member; one of a community, society, or association. Baull has the same root.
Ballantyne. Bâile, a town; an, of the; tan or tain, land, region. The town of the region.
Bannigan. Baine, milk; gan, offspring, descendant. One nourished from infancy upon milk.
Bannon. Bân, white; on for an, a termination indicative of personality. A pale-faced person.
Barmore. Bârr, top, summit, swelling tide, head; muir, the sea, genitive mâra, of the sea. Swelling tide of the sea.
Barney. Bârr, head; neać, an individual. A leader. Perhaps, the equivalent of bairneać, a limpet, because found on tops (bârr) of rocks when the tide has ebbed.
Barr. Bârr, top, summit, head.
Barret. Bârr, head; aid́, a suffix expressive of a personal noun. Manager; superintendent; leader.
Barry. Bârr, top; aid́, indicative of personality; originally, barraid́. One at the summit; a man of eminence.
Baugh. Possibly a corruption of beać, pronounced bäch, a bee.
Beahney. Beat́a, life; neać, an agent. A living being.
Benaugh. Biad́, food; neać, an individual. One who provides food; a victualler.
Benner. Benn, a mountain; er, a contraction for fear, a man. A mountaineer.
Binney. Binn, harmonious; neać, an individual. An agreeable person.
Bourke. Irish for Burke.
Bowan. Possibly from buan, lasting, enduring.
Bower. Bod́ar, pronounced bower, deaf.
Brattan. Brat, a cloak; an, expressing personality. A cloak-wearer; a clergyman.
Breen. Braon, pronounced breen, a drop.
Brennan. Breun, fetid; an, expressive of personality. An offensive person.
Britain. Brith, painted, speckled; tain, country. The country of the painted inhabitants.
Britt. Brith, painted. A painted person.
Brock. Broc, a badger.
Brodie. Brōd́, pride, pleasure; aid́, implying personality. An arrogant person; a voluptuary.
Brogan. Bro, a hand-mill; gan, offspring. Offspring of a hand-mill.
Cabell. Cab, the mouth; aille, the genitive of aill, a cliff. The mouth of the cliff.
Cahal. In Irish Cat́al, from cat́, pronounced cah, battle; al, support. Help in battle.
Caham. Cat́, battle; am, time. Hour of battle.
Cahey. Cat́, battle; ać for neać, a person; possibly, cat́ać, in the original. A warrior.
Cahill. Cat́, battle; aill, a cliff. A battle-cliff.
Callan. Caillin, a girl; or, perhaps, from calla, a hooded cloak; an, a personal suffix. The wearer of a hooded cloak; a nun. Sometimes written Callen.
Camm. Cam, crooked, bent, curved.
Cameron. Cuimir, a valley; on for an, small. A small valley.
Camsuile. Cam, bending; suile, genitive of suil, eye. Bending of eye.
Cangan. Cean, pronounced cahn, fondness; gan, offspring. Child of fondness.
Cann. Cean, fondness, affection, esteem, regard.
Cannon. Cean, affection; on for an, personal suffix. An affectionate person.
Cannavan. Cean, affection; a b́ean, of his woman. Fondness of his woman.
Caird. Cara, a friend, genitive carad, plural cairde, friends. Carde, only another form of the word.
Carey. Car, dear; aid́, a personal suffix. One that is dear, or beloved.
Carlin. Car, dear; lin, a marsh; a swamp. A highly valuable bog.
Carlyle. Car, dear; lile, lily. Beloved lily.
Carmack. Car, dear; mac, son. Dear son.
Carmichael. Car, dear; Michael, a Hebrew word signifying “who is like God.” Dear Michael. In Irish, Michael is written Mićeal, the genitive of which is Mićil.
Carney. Carn, a heap of stones; neać, personal suffix; originally written, doubtless, Car-neać. A quarryman.
Carrell. Car, dear; aill, a cliff. Beloved cliff. Carruill, the primitive form of the name.
Carrick. Car, dear; riǵ, a king. A dear king. Possibly, from carraic, a rock.
Carson. Car, dear; Anglo-Saxon sun, a son. A beloved son.
Carthy. Car, dear; tir, pronounced teer, a country; ać for neać, an individual; originally Cartać. A beloved countryman. Carty, corruption of the original.
Ceiort. Ceirt, a question.
Claney. Clê, left-handed; neać, individual. Left-handed individual.
Cloonan. Cluan, a retreat; an, a person. One who lives in a retreat; a hermit; an anchorite. Clunen, of like derivation.
Cloonas. Cluan, a retreat, a cloister; Anglo-Saxon sun, a son. A monk; one who lives in a monastery.
Clough. Cloć, a stone. Cluff, Anglicised form of the name.
Clune. Cluan, a retreat. A sequestered spot.
Coile. Coill, wood. Coyle, a modified form of the name.
Colahan. Col, kindred; leat́an, wide. Large kindred; wide circle of relations.
Colgan. Col, kin; gan, a descendant. Near relative.
Colman. Colman, a pigeon.
Conley. Conn, of heroes; lać, people. Nation of heroes.
Connell. Conn, of heroes; aill, a cliff. A rampart of brave men; a cliff of heroes.
Connaught. Connaćt, in the original, from conn, of heroes; aćt a termination, like tas in Latin, or tion in French or English. Having the quality of heroes.
Connor. Conn, of heroes; cub́ar, fond of. Fond of heroes.
Corbin. Cor, a knot, a union; binn, harmonious. A happy union; a joyous wedlock.
Corbitt. Cor, a knot; bit́, life. Wedlock.
Corley. Cor, a knot; lać, people. United people.
Connell. Conn, of heroes; aill, a cliff, a wall. A close, compact body of heroes.
Cornell. Corn, horny; uille, an elbow. An elbow inflexible as horn.
Cornwall. Corn, a goblet, a drinking-cup, a tumbler, so called because in ancient times drinking-cups were commonly made of horn (corn); aill, a cliff. The horny cliff.
Cowel. Coćal, a hood, a cowel, a vestment. Or, perhaps, from cuać, hollow; fal, a cover. A hood, or hollow cover.
Cowgill. Coḿ, together; giolla, a servant. Co-laborer.
Craig. Cre, creed; ać, an individual. A churchman; the possessor of a creed.
Cravin. Craob́, a branch; in, denoting small. A branchlet; a twig.
Cree. Cre, creed, earth, the symbol of faith.
Creegan. Cre, creed; gan, offspring. An inheritor of a creed.
Creagh. Cre, creed, earth; ać, an agent. Teacher of a creed; cultivator of the earth.
Creen. Crion, pronounced creen, withered, palsied.
Creenan. Crion, withered; an, personal suffix. A palsied person.
Cromwell. Crom, crooked; aill, a cliff. A crooked cliff.
Cronin. Coroin, a crown; in, implying diminutiveness. A coronet; a small crown.
Crowley. Crod́a, pronounced crowya, brave; lać, people. Magnanimous people.
Crupp. Crup, a wrinkle, a contraction.
Currie. Curam, care (applied in Irish to all over whom one has charge); lać, an agent. A supervisor; a superintendent; a manager. Curry, the commoner form of the name.
Daley. Dall, blind; eać, individual. Blind person.
Dall. Dâll, blind, sightless.
Dana. Dana, strong, powerful, mighty; bold, daring.
Darr. Daor, pronounced deer, dear, condemned.
Darra. Daor, dear; a, contraction of neać, an individual. A person of wealth.
Darragh. Same derivation as Darra. In certain parts of Ireland, ać is pronounced agh, or ach. Darrach is an apt illustration of the latter sound.
Dearr. Daor, dear. Perhaps in Darr, Darrach, etc., the e, in the course of time, has been dropped for the sake of brevity, or to satisfy the whims of the possessors of those names.
Deaver. Originally Duib́ir, from dub́, black; ir, man. A dark-complexioned man.
Deegan. De, of God; gan, an offspring. Son of God. Degan has the same signification.
Deor. Daor, dear.
Dermod. Originally Diarmoid, from Dia, God; armoid, of arms. God of arms.
Dermott. See Dermod for derivation. So intimately related are the dentals t and d, that it is not at all unreasonable that they should be interchangeable.
Derr. Dair, an oak.
Devlin. Dub́, black; linn, a marsh, a swamp.
Dill. Dill, fond, affectionate.
Dinnan. Dion, protection; an, implying a person. A protegé.
Donahugh. Dona, unhappy, bad, evil; Hugh, the Dutch for spirit. An evil spirit; an unhappy disposition.
Donegan. Dona, unhappy; gan, offspring. An unhappy child.
Donnell. Doḿnać, Sunday, aille, of beauty. The Sunday of beauty. Perhaps, Irish for Daniel.
Dooner. Dun, a fort, a stronghold; er for fear, a man. The defender of a fort.
Dooley. Duil, expectation; eać, an individual. A sanguine person.
Dornan. Dorn, a clenched fist; an, denoting personality. A pugilist.
Duff. Dub́, pronounced dubh or duv, black.
Duffy. Dub́, black; eać, an individual. A black person.
Dunbarton. Dun, a stronghold; barton, a corruption of Britain. A stronghold of the Britain.
Dunaghan. Dun, a stronghold; a for an, of the; gean, affection. A stronghold of the affection.
Duncan. Dun, a fort; cean, a head. The head of a fort; a chieftain.
Dungan. Contraction of Dungannon, which, in Irish, is Dungeanain. From dun, a stronghold; gein, affection; ain, a land. A stronghold of the land of affection.
Dunkin. Dun, stronghold; cinn, genitive of ceann, head. The stronghold of the head.
Dundore. Dun, stronghold, de, of; oir, gold. Stronghold of gold.
Dunmore. Dun, the fort; an, of the; oir, gold; originally, Dun-an-oir. The fort of the gold.
Dunmoulin. Dun, the fort; muillin, a mill. The fort of the mill.
Dunn. Dun, a fort, a stronghold, a castle, a hill, a mound.
Dunpatrick. Dun, stronghold; Padruic, Patrick. The stronghold of Patrick.
Eagen. See Egan. Gen is probably a corruption of gan.
Eagin. See Egan. Ginn is the equivalent of gan.
Egan. Aod́, pronounced eey, Hugh; gan, offspring. Descendant of Hugh. Aod́gan, the original form. Eoghan, a corrupted phase of the word.
Eill. Eile, aile, oile, another.
Eire. Eire, Ireland. Eyre, a slightly altered form of the name.
Eirey. Eire, Ireland; ać, an individual. An Irishman; a native of Ireland.
Ennis. Inis, an island.
Erionnach. Originally, Eireannac, equivalent to Eire, Ireland; an of; nać, an individual. Native of Ireland; an Irishman.
Ey. Ad́, pronounced ey, luck, fortune, chance.
Fadden. Corruption of Padruic, Patrick. Patrician; nobleman.
Fagan. Fat́, cause, reason; gan, offspring. Result; effect; consequence.
Fahan. Fat́, a plain, a field; an, indicative of a person. A farmer; a cultivator of the earth.
Fahy. Fat́, reason; ać, an individual. A reasoner; a logician.
Farnell. Fearn, a shield; aille, beautiful. A beautiful shield.
Farnan. Fearn, a helmet; an, person. One who carries a helmet; a warrior. Sometimes written Farnon.
Farne. Fearn, a shield, genitive fearne. Belonging to a shield.
Farney. Fearn, a helmet; eać, an individual. A knight; a warrior.
Fearn. Fearn, a shield, a helmet.
Farr. Fear, pronounced far, a man.
Feenan. Fion, pronounced feen, wine; an, a person. Wine-merchant.
Feeney. Fion, wine; eać, an agent. Wine-dealer.
Fei. Feit́, pronounced fāh, a sinew.
Feighan. Feit́, a sinew; an, expressive of diminutiveness. A small sinew.
Fenton. Fiontan, perhaps, in the original, a vineyard; from fion, wine; tan, a land.
Fergus. Originally, Feargus; from fear, a man; gus, a suffix denoting towards. One tending towards manhood; a youth.
Fernley. Fearn, a helmet; lać, people. A warlike people. Fernly, a slightly abbreviated form of the same.
Filmore. File, a poet; Muire, Mary. A poet devoted to Mary; one that writes or sings of Mary.
Finbar. Fionn, pronounced fin, fair, white; barr, summit, head. A white summit.
Finnley. Fionn, fair; lać, people. Fair people.
Finne. Fionn, fair, white.
Flinn. Fionn, white; linn, a marsh, a swamp. In allusion, doubtless, to a summer array of white flowers. Flynn, the same word, in slightly altered garb.
Fow. Foǵ, reward, booty, spoil.
Fowne. Fionn, fair. In Tipperary, Waterford, and Kilkenny, fionn is pronounced fown and not fin as is the case generally in Ireland.
Fulmer. Feolmar, jealous, envious of another’s fame, reputation, or glory.
Gahn. Gean, pronounced gahn, affection, esteem.
Gall. Gall, a foreigner, an Englishman, a stranger.
Galligan. Gall, genitive gaill, stranger; gan, offspring. Descendant of the stranger.
Gallagher. Geall, promise; geallać, genitive geallaiǵ, promise; er, person. A person of promise.
Gallen. Geallan, a linnet.
Galloway. Doubtless, same as Galway. In the original Gailliḿ, the town of the strangers.
Garrett. Gearroid́, from gearr, short; aod́, compounded of aoi, a being, and De, of God. An humble servant of God.
Garrity. Gearroid́, Garrett; eać, an agent. A representative of Garrett.
Garvin. Garb́, pronounced garv, rough, rude; in, indicative of personality. A rough, rude, or unlettered person.
Gaw. Gab́, pronounced gaw, to conceive.
Gear. Gearr, short, not tall.
Gee. Aod́, pronounced eey, Hugh.
Geir. Gair, gladness, merriment, rejoicing.
Geogh. Ge, a goose; ać, an agent. One that acts like a goose; a silly person. Geough, Gough, of kindred origin.
Geugan. Geug, a branch; an, a diminutive. A branchlet. Geugen, doubtless, earliest change from the ancient form.
Gilchrist. Giolla, a servant, one devoted to another; Criosd, Christ. A servant of Christ; one devoted to Christianity.
Gill. Giolla, a servant, one devoted to another’s interests; a menial.
Gilmartin. Giolla, a servant; martin, Martin.
Gilmore. Originally, giolla—Muire; giolla, a servant; Muire, Mary. One devoted to Mary.
Ginn. Ginn, an offspring, a descendant.
Ginnelly. Ginn, offspring; aille, of a cliff, the genitive of aill. The fruit of a cliff.
Glass. Glas, green.
Glassy. Glas, green; eać an individual. An inexperienced person.
Gleason. Gle, pure; gleas, purity; on, implying a person. A chaste person.
Glennessy. Glinn, clear; eas, denoting quality, equivalent to ness; y for neać, an individual. A clear-sighted person.
Glenny. Glean, a valley; eać, an individual. A dweller in a valley.
Glinn. Glinn, the bright heavens. Home of the Blessed. Glynn, of like significance.
Gorman. Gorm, blue; an, expressive of person. A blue-eyed person.
Grane. Graine, grain.
Greany. Grian, pronounced green, sun; neać, an agent. Sun-god.
Grogan. Gruag, hairy; an, denoting a person. A hairy person. Grugan, derivable from the same roots.
Guill. Giolla, a servant, a menial.
Guinan. Guin, wound, hurt, sting, from ga, an arrow, and an, a circle, an opening; an, a personal suffix. A sufferer; a wounded man.
Guinn. Guin, an opening, a wound.
Guiness. Irish for Æneas, a corruption of Mac Anǵuis, which latter being the genitive of Aonǵus, pronounced eny-as, the equivalent of Angus.
Guire. Contraction of Maguire, which is traceable to maǵ, plain; uire, a contraction of Muire, Mary. Plain of Mary.
Gunn. Guin, a wound, by dropping i, and doubling its final consonant, becomes the word under consideration.
Gwin. Anglicised form of Guin. Gwinn, Gwynn, and Gynn are referable to the same word.
Hallahan. At́, a ford; leat́an, wide. In Irish, pure and simple, the vowels are never aspirated, but in certain parts of Ireland, as before stated, the English habit prevails, as is attested to by the word under notice.
Heany. Anglo-Saxon hean, humble; neać, an individual. An humble person.
Hinch. Leat́-inse, from leat́, pronounced leh, half, and inse, pronounced insh, island, the final consonant of the first half of the word being carried over to the remaining portion: hence, Le Hinch, or the half-island.
Hugh. Aod́, pronounced eey, is its Irish equivalent: in the Dutch, its parental language, it signifies mind, spirit.
Innis. Inis, an island. Innis is only another phase of the same word.
Ireland. Eire, west, and land. West-land.
Jarlath. Jarflait́, from iar, inferior; flait́, a prince, a chief, one in rank next to a chieftain or prince. A feudatory prince.
Jarley. Iar, inferior; lać, people. Perhaps, derivable from jarla, an earl.
Jennings. Corruption of Mac Eonin, which is compounded of mac, son; Eonin, young Owen, or John. Son of John.
Kahn. Cean, pronounced kahn, fondness, regard. Kahne, referable to the same root.
Kame. Ceim, pronounced kame, step, grade, dignity.
Kane. Cain, reproach, chaste, undefiled.
Kean. Ciuin, pronounced keeyuin, calm, gentle.
Kearney. Carn, pronounced karn, a heap of stones; cać, an agent. So also Karney.
Keefe. Caoiḿ, pronounced kueev, gentle.
Keegan. Kee, contraction of Mac Aoid́, son of Hugh; gan, offspring. Descendant of the son of Hugh.
Keenys. Ciuin, gentle; eas, a termination expressive of quality. Gentleness.
Kelley. Cailleać, a woman in a hood. The calla was generally worn by the old, and hence the term cailleac came to signify an old woman, a hag.
Kenallay. Cineal, pronounced knawl, a race, clan; ać, an individual. A clansman; one who belongs to a clan.
Kennard. Ceann, pronounced ken, head; ard, top, summit. Top of the head.
Kenna. Ceanna, genitive of ceann, belonging to the head.
Kent. Ceantir, compounded of ceann, head; tir, country. Head of the country.
Kehoe. Ceo, pronounced keogh, darkness. Keogh, similarly derived.
Keohne. Ceo, darkness; ain, a circle, genitive aine, of a circle. Darkness of the circle.
Keonen. Mac Eonin, from Mac, son, and Eonin, young Owen. Son of young Owen.
Kevin. Caoiḿǵein, from caoiḿ, gentle, and gein, an offspring. A gentle child.
Kiernan. Ciaran, from ciar, black; an, expressing personality, and indicative of a noun derived from an adjective. A black person.
Kilgore. Cill, church; gâir rejoicing, merriment.
Kilbritain. Cill, church; Brith, painted; tain, country. The church of the country of the painted inhabitants.
Kineal. Cin, of the head, source; al, offspring. Clan; class; race; progeny.
Kincaid. Cionn, affection, regard; cead, first. First love; earliest affection.
Kinkora. Cionn, love; cora, genitive of coir, justice. Love of justice.
Kinnear. Cionn, affection; fear, a man. An affectionate man.
Kinney. Cionn, pronounced kin, esteem, regard; neać, an individual. A person of esteem. Kinnie, of like derivation.
Kirin. Ciaran, from ciar, black; an, implying person. A black person.
Kirwin. Ciard́ub́an, a swarthy, black-haired person.
Krean. Crion, pronounced kreen, withered, palsied.
Kueney. Ciuin, gentle, mild; neać, an individual. A mild person.
Kynett. Cionn, pronounced in certain parts kynn, affection; aid́, sign of a personal noun. An affectionate person.
Langdon. Loing, of ships; dion, a harbor. A harbor of ships.
Leahy. Leat́an, pronounced leahan, wide; an, denoting personality. A large person.
Lillagan. Lile, genitive of lil, lily; gan, offspring. Descendant of a lily.
Limerick. Luimneać, from luime, or loime, bareness; neać, for na eać, of the horses. Bareness of the horses. The original possessor of this name was, doubtless, a native of the town of the same name, which was built on a peninsula made bare by the many horses sent thither to graze.
Linn. Linn, a marsh, a swamp.
Linnehan. Linn, a marsh; leat́an, wide. A broad marsh. Linahan and Linehan are from the same roots.
Linch. Leat́-inse, leat́, half; inse, island. Half-island. Lynch has like derivation.
Linton. Linn, a marsh; ton, from tun, Anglo-Saxon for town. A town built on a marsh.
Loch. Loć, pronounced loch, lokh, logh, a lake.
Long. Long, a ship. Not to be mistaken for the Anglo-Saxon long, or lang, having length. The typical Longs were of Celtic origin.
Loughlin. Loć, lake; linn, a marsh. A lake within a marsh.
Loughry. Loć, lake; riǵ, pronounced reegh, or reey, king. The lake of the king. Lowry, an abbreviation of the name.
Lunn. Luan, the moon.
McAdam. Mac, son; Hebrew word Adam, a red, or dark-brown man.
McAdoo. Mac, son; Ad́aḿ, pronounced either Adk-oo or Awoo, Adam. Son of Adam.
MacAlister. Mac, son; Alister, Alexander. Son of Alexander. MacAllister, of the same parentage.
Mac Aller. Mac, son; alla, a cliff; er, a man. Son of a cliff-dweller.
McAlonan. Mac, son; aluin, beautiful; an, sign of personal noun. Son of a beautiful person.
McAlvin. Mac, son; Alvin, corruption of Alban, genitive case of Alba, Scotland. Son of Scotland.
McAnally. Mac, son; anail, genitive of anal, breath; ać, an individual. Son of the breath of a person. McNally, only an abbreviated form of the same.
McAndrew. Mac, son; Andrew, a Greek word meaning strong, manly. Son of the strong. MacAndrias is the Irish form, from which are obtainable Anderson and Andrews.
McArdle. Mac, son; ard, high; le, contraction of aille, genitive of aill, a cliff. Son of a high cliff.
McAran. Mac, son; arain, genitive of aran, bread. Son of bread.
McArty. Mac, son; art, pronounced awrt, a place; eać, an individual. Son of a man of the place.
McAteer. Mac, son; an, of the; tir, pronounced teer, country. Son of the country; a countryman.
McAva. Mac, son; Eb́a, pronounced Awa, which is corrupted into Ava. Son of Eve.
McAuley. Mac, son; caille, genitive of caille, fame; eać, an individual. Son of a famous person.
McBeth. Mac, son; beith, genitive of beth, a house. Son of the house. Macbeth is another form of the same name.
McBreen. Mac, son; braone, pronounced breen, genitive of braon, a drop. Son of a drop.
McBrian. Mac, son; Brian, corruption of Britain. Son of the country of the Brith, or painted people.
McBronn. Mac, son; bronn, genitive of bruinn, a womb. Son of a womb.
McBryde. Mac, son; Anglo-Saxon bryd; Irish genitive bryde, of bride. Son of a bride.
McBurney. Mac, son; bur, an inner chamber; neać, an individual. Son of the inner chamber of a person.
MacCabe. Mac, son; cabe, genitive of cab, a mouth. Son of a mouth.
MacCalla. Mac, son; alla, a cliff, the final c of mac being carried over to alla. Son of a cliff.
McCallan. Mac, son; calla, a hood, genitive same; an, indicative of personality. Son of the wearer of a hood; son of a nun.
McCambridge. Mac, son; cam, treacherous; Scottish brig, a bridge. Son of the keeper of a treacherous bridge.
McCammon. Mac, son; camm or cam, deceitful; on for an, denoting a person. Son of a deceitful person.
McCamy. Mac, son; cam, deceitful; eać, an individual. Son of a deceitful person.
McCardle. Mac, son; ard, high; aille, genitive of aill, a cliff. Son of a high cliff.
McCarne. Mac, son; carn, a heap of stones; neać, an individual. Son of a heap of stones.
McCarroll. Mac, son; carruill, from car, dear, beloved; uille, genitive of uill or aill, a cliff. Son of the beloved cliff.
McCaughan. Mac, son; caiǵ, genitive of cat́, a warrior; an, a diminutive. Son of a short warrior.
McCaull. Mac, son; caille, genitive of caill, fame. Son of fame. McCaulley, from the same.
McCaw. Mac, son; cat́, pronounced cah, corrupted, doubtless, into caw, battle. Son of battle.
McCeever. Mac, son; caoiḿ, gentle; fear, a man. Son of a gentle man.
MacClean. Mac, son; lean, pronounced lane, a marsh. Son of a marsh. MacClaon and MacClane, of similar origin.
McCleary. Mac, son; cleireać, pronounced clêary, a superannuated clergyman. Son of a superannuated clergyman.
McCleil. Mac, son; lile, genitive lil, a lily. Son of a lily.
McClow. Mac, son; cloiće, pronounced clokh, genitive of cloć, a stone. Son of a stone.
McClune. Mac, son; cluain, genitive of cluan, a retreat. Son of a retreat. McCloon, corruption of same.
McColey. Mac, son; col, kindred; eać, an individual. Son of a relative.
McConkle. Mac, son; conn, of heroes; caille, genitive of caill, fame. Son of heroes of fame.
McConn. Mac, son; conn, of heroes. Son of heroes.
McConnolly. Mac, son; conn, of heroes; aille, genitive of aill, a cliff. Son of the heroes of a cliff.
McCool. Mac, son; cuile, pronounced kool, the genitive of cul, the hinder part. Son of the hinder part.
McCorkle. Mac, son; Corcaiǵ, Cork; aille, genitive of aill, a hill. Son of a hill of Cork.
McCosh. Mac, son; coise, pronounced coshe, genitive of cos, a foot. Son of a foot.
McCotis. Mac, son; cotis, genitive case of the Latin cos, a grindstone. Son of a grindstone.
McCrea. Mac, son; cre, pronounced cra, of creed. Son of a creed. From the same roots is derived McCray.
McCreary. Mac, son; cre, of earth; riǵe, of king. Son of the King of the earth.
McCritt. Mac, son; cruite, genitive of cruit, a hump. Son of a hump.
McCrossin. Mac, son; croise, genitive of cros, a cross; in, diminutive. Son of a small cross.
McCrum. Mac, son; croime, crookedness, a noun derived from the adjective crom. Son of waywardness.
McCrunn. Mac, son; Scotch croon, a groan. Son of a groan.
McCrystal. Mac, son; criostail, genitive of criostal, a crystal. Son of a crystal.
McCully. Mac, son; cuile, genitive of cul, the hinder part; eać, an individual. Son of a person’s hinder part.
McCullough. Mac, son; cuile, genitive of cul, the hinder part; loiće, genitive of loć, a lake. Son of the lake of the hinder part.
McCummisky. Mac, son; cuimin, of valley; uisge, genitive of uisge, water. Son of the valley of water.
McCurdy. Mac, son; coire, pronounced kŭrh, genitive of coir, crime, sin; d, of; eać, individual. Son of the original sin of man; son of Adam’s fall.
McDavit. Mac, son; Daib́id́, pronounced occasionally Daivit, but more commonly Dâvee, of David. Son of David. McDevitt, from same.
McDermott. Mac, son; Diarmuid, from Dia, God, armuid, of arms. Son of the God of arms.
McDiarmuid. Mac, son; Diarmuid, God of arms. Son of the God of arms.
McDill. Mac, son; dille, genitive of dill, fondness. Son of fondness.
Mac Donnell. Mac Doḿnaill, in the original, from mac, son; Doḿnaill, genitive of Doḿnall, Donnell. Son of Donnell; Son of the Sunday of Beauty; Son of the Resurrection; Son of God. See Donnell.
McDonough. Mac, son; donaiǵ, genitive of donać, an unhappy person. Son of an unhappy person.
Mac Dowell. Mac, son; doḿan, the world, genitive doḿain, of the world; aille, of beauty. Son of the World of Beauty; Son of Heaven.
Mac Egan. Mac, son; Aod́gan, pronounced Eeygan, of Egan, the Irish equivalent of Hugh. The son of Hugh.
McElway. Mac, son; Elway, a corruption of Gailliḿ, Galway. Son of Galway, the town of the strangers.
McEnnery. Mac, son; Henri, genitive of Henri, Henry. Son of Henry.
McFadden. Mac, son; Fadden is the same as Padden, which is a corruption of Padruic, Patrick, a Latin word for patrician. Son of Patrick. Fitzpatrick, so common in the Celtic, has the same signification.
McFarlan. Mac, son; fara, genitive of fear, a man; lain, of a castle, the nominative singular being lan. Son of the man of the castle.
McFaul. Mac, son; fâile, genitive of fâil, fate. Son of fate.
Mcfee. Mac, son; faoi, genitive of faoi, faith. Son of faith.
MacFeeley. Mac, son; fialaiǵ, genitive of fialać, a generous person. Son of a generous person.
McFetridge. Mac, son; Fetter-rice, from Anglo-Saxon fetor, a chain for the feet, and rice, dominion. Son of a dominion in chains, or that is in bondage.
Mac Gahan. Mac, son; geain, genitive of gean, affection. Son of affection. McGahn, McGhan, are equivalents.
McGail. Mac, son; gaille, genitive of gail, steam. Son of steam.
McGarry. Mac, son; gearraiǵ, genitive of gearrać, a short person. Son of a short person. McGarey, McGary, McGeary, are of similar origin.
McGarvey. Mac, son; garb́eaiǵ, pronounced garvey, genitive of garb́eać, a rough person. Son of a rough person.
McGaver. Mac, son; gab́air, of a goat. Son of a goat.
McGee. Mac, son; Aod́, pronounced eey, Hugh. Son of Hugh.
McGill. Mac, son; giolla, genitive of giolla, a servant. Son of a servant.
McGlinn. Mac, son; glinne, genitive of glinn, the bright heavens. Son of the bright heavens. Sometimes spelt McGlynn.
McGloon. Mac, son; gluin, pronounced gloon, genitive of glun, the knee. Son of the knee. McGlone, McGlune, from the same.
McGlory. Mac, son; gloireaiǵ, pronounced gloireay, genitive of gloireać, a glorified person, or saint. Son of a glorified person.
McGowan. Mac, son; gob́an, pronounced gowan, genitive of gob́a, a smith. Son of a smith.
McGrane. Mac, son; grain, genitive of grân, a grain. Son of a grain. McGran, McGrann, equivalents.
MacGrath. Mac, son; graid́e, genitive of grad́, love. Son of love.
MacGraw. Mac, son; graid́e, pronounced grath or graw, love. Son of love.
McGrenery. Mac, son; greine, genitive of grian, sun; riǵ, pronounced ry or ree, king. Son of the sun-king.
McGuinn. Mac, son; guine, genitive of guin, a wound, an opening, a circle. Son of an opening.
McGuinness. Corruption of MacAnguis, the son of Anguis, Irish for Æneas.
McGuire. Mac, son; Maǵ-Muire, from maǵ, plain, Muire, of Mary. Son of the plain of Mary.
McGurk. Mac, son; gurke, German for cucumber. Son of a cucumber.
McHallahan. Mac, son; T́alla, genitive, of hall; leat́an, wide. Son of a wide hall.
MacHugh. Mac, son; Aod́, Hugh. Son of Hugh. From this name have sprung M’Coy, M’Gee, M’Kay, M’Coy, and Magee. Ua Aoid́, descendant of Hugh, has given us Hughson and Hughes.
MacHulay. Mac, son; Aoid́, of Hugh; lać, people. Son of Hugh’s people.
McInnis. Mac, son; inis, an island. Son of an island.
McInteer. Mac, son; in for an, of the; tir, pronounced teer, country. Son of the country. McIntyre, the usual spelling, is from the same roots.
McKaig. Mac, son; coige, genitive of coig, war. Son of war.
McKane. Mac, son; caine, genitive of cain, the undefiled. Son of the undefiled.
McKeefy. Mac, son; caoiḿeaiǵ, genitive of caoiḿeać, a gentle person. Son of a gentle person.
McKeene. Mac, son; ciuine, of silence. Son of silence.
MacKeever. Mac, son; caoiḿ, gentle; er for fear, a man. Son of a gentle man.
MacKiernan. Mac, son; ciarain, genitive of ciaran, a dusky person. Son of a dusky person.
McKieman. Mac, son; caoiḿ, gentle; an, implying person. Son of a gentle person.
McKim. Mac, son; caoiḿ, gentle. Perhaps, a contraction of McKieman.
McKinney. Mac, son; Kinney, from cionn, pronounced kin, affection, esteem; eać, an individual. Son of Kinney.
McKnight. Mac, son; cnioćta, genitive of cnioćt, a knight. Son of a knight.
MacKeon. Mac, son; Eoin, genitive of Eon, Owen or Eugene. Son of Owen or Eugene. MacKoun, Keon, Coyne, Owens, and Owenson, are all from the same roots.
McLain. Mac, son; leune, pronounced laine, genitive of leun, misfortune, misery. Son of misfortune.
McLuth. Mac, son; luait́, genitive of luat́, swiftness. Son of swiftness.
McMain. Mac, son; miain, genitive of mian, desire. Son of desire.
McMam. Mac, son; maim, genitive of mam, a mother. Son of a mother.
McMillin. Mac, son; muillin, of a mill. Son of a mill. McMullin, from the same.
McMinn. Mac, son; min, genitive of min, pronounced mĭn, meal. Son of meal.
McMurrich. Mac, son; murraiǵ, genitive of murrać, a man of the sea. Son of a seafaring man.
McNarr. Mac, son; nairr, Irish genitive of the German narr, a fool. Son of a fool.
McNamara. Mac, son; na, of the; mara, genitive of muir, the sea. Son of the sea.
McNamee. Mac, son; anaim, genitive of anam, a soul; ee for eać, an individual. Son of a person of soul; a generous person.
McPadruic. Mac, son; Padruic, Patrick. Son of Patrick. Fitzpatrick has the same significance, fitz being the Scotch for son.
McPayne. Mac, son; payne, from old English payne, pain. Son of pain.
McPhail. Mac, son; fâile, genitive of fâil, fate. Son of fate.
McQuade. Mac, son; Dutch kwade, genitive kwaide, evil. Son of evil.
MacQueen. Mac, son; Anglo-Saxon quean, a woman, allied to Irish gein, an offspring. Son of the Queen.
McQuigan. Mac, son; caoi, pronounced kwee, wailing; gan, offspring. Son of lamentation.
McQuillan. Mac, son; cuilleain, genitive of cuillean, a cur. Son of a cur. Quillen, Quillan and Quilkin, of like derivation.
McRae. Mac, son; rae, pronounced like ray, genitive of rae, the moon. Son of the moon; one influenced by the moon; a lunatic.
McShain. Mac, son; Seaǵâin, pronounced Shawn, genitive of Seaǵan, John. Son of John. McShane, McShawn, McShaughn, of like significance.
McShimon. Mac, son; Shimoin, Simon. Son of Simon. Fitzsimon, a kindred form.
McSorley. Mac, son; Soḿairle, of Sorley, or Charles. Son of Charles.
McSwain. Mac, son; Scotch swayn, genitive swayne, a lover. Son of a lover.
McSweegan. Mac, son; saoi, pronounced swee, a sage, a philosopher; gan, offspring. Son of the descendant of a philosopher.
McTague. Mac, son; Tad́g, pronounced Taig, genitive Taid́g, of Thaig. Son of Thaig.
McTamanney. Mac, son; tam, still, sluggish, placid; neac, an individual; originally, doubtless, tamnać, genitive tamnaiǵ. Son of a quiet person. Tamany, Tamney, slightly modified forms of the same.
McTaney. Mac, son; Taney, from teann, pronounced tāne, stiff, straight, independent, stubborn, hopeful, strong, reliant; ey for eać, an individual. Son of Taney; son of an independent person.
McTask. Mac, son; taisg, genitive of tasg, task, labor. Son of labor.
McTeer. Mac, son; tir, pronounced teer, country. Son of the country. Corruption of McIntire.
McThomas. Mac, son; Tomais, genitive of Tomas, Thomas. Son of Thomas. Thompson, from the same, is an analogous, but inverted, form.
McTighe. Mac, son; tiǵe, pronounced tighe, genitive of teać, a house. Son of a house.
McTurk. Mac, son; tuirc, genitive of torc, a boar, a hog. Son of a boar.
McVan. Mac-a-b́ean, from mac, son; a, of his; b́ean, pronounced van, woman. Son of his woman.
Mackin. Mac, son; cionn, of fondness. Son of fondness.
Macoun. Mac Eoin, from mac, son; Eoin, of Owen. Son of Owen. Mackuen, of similar origin.
Magagal. Maǵ-a-geall, from maǵ, plain; a, of the; gall, stranger. The plain of the stranger.
Magher. Maǵ, pronounced mâgh, a plain, genitive maiǵ, of plain; er, a man. A man of the plain.
Maguire. Maǵ, a plain; uire, contraction of Muire, of Mary. The plain of Mary.
Main. Mein, mind.
Malone. Maǵ, plain; luain, genitive of luan, pronounced loon, the moon. The plain, or face of the moon.
Maloney. Maǵ, plain; luain, of the moon; neać, individual. The man in the face of the moon.
Martin. Martan, from mart, an ox; an, denoting diminutiveness. A young ox.
Marvin. Marb́, pronounced marv, dead; in, implying personality. A dead person.
Maury. Mâiri, of the Mauri; riǵ, king. The king of the Mauri.
Moyall. Maǵ, pronounced, occasionally, moy, a plain, a level country; aille, of the cliff. The plain of the cliff. Sometimes written Moyal.
Meehan. Mian, pronounced mee-an, desire, the h being ornamental rather than useful.
Meenan. Mion, pronounced meen, small; an, suffix expressive of littleness. A small person.
Menough. Maon, pronounced meen, wealth; eać, an individual. A person of wealth.
Milnamow. Muillin-na-maǵ, from muillin, a mill; na, of the; maǵ, pronounced mow, plain. The mill of the plain.
Mishney. Misneac, pronounced mish-neay, or mishneach, courage.
Miskey. Meisge, pronounced misge, or miske, drunkenness.
Moll. Mol, active verb imperative, signifying “praise thou,”
Molloy. Mol-ad́, pronounced moloo, “let him praise.”
Morgan. Muir, the sea, genitive mara, of the sea; gan, offspring. A descendant of the sea; a mariner.
Mowbray. Maǵ, pronounced mow, a plain, a level country; braiǵ, pronounced bragh, or bray, genitive of brać, malt. The level country of the malt.
Mowrey. Maǵ, plain; riǵ, of king. The plain of the king. Mowry, the same.
Moy. Maǵ, sometimes pronounced moy, a level country.
Moyer. Maǵ, the level country; er for fear, a man. A man of the level country.
Muir. Muir, the sea. Other forms, Muire, Muhr, Moor, Moore, Murr.
Muirhead. Muir, the sea; Anglo-Saxon head. Head of the sea.
Muirney. Muir, the sea; neać, an individual. One that follows the sea; a mariner. Murney, from the same roots.
Mulcahey. Originally Mulcat́aiǵ, genitive of Mulcat́eać, from mul, mound, cat́aiǵ, of warrior. Mound of a warrior. Mulcahy, another form of spelling.
Mulcrone. Mul, axle; cruine, pronounced croon, of the world. The axle of the world.
Muldoon. Mul, a mound, a knoll; dun, stronghold, castle. The mound on which the castle stands.
Mullin. Muillin, a mill. Mullen betrays like origin.
Mullock. Muillin, a mill; loiće, genitive of loć, lake. The mill of the lake.
Murdock. Muir, the sea; Gothic dok, an inlet, a gulf. Sea-harbor.
Murlin. Muir, the sea; linn, a marsh. A marsh by the sea.
Murray. Murrać, Murragh, from muir, the sea, and ać, an individual. A navigator; a sailor.
Murtagh. Muir, the sea; teać, sometimes incorrectly pronounced teagh, a house. A house by the sea; a light-house. Murtagh, Murtaugh, indicate their kinship.
Neachtan. Neać, a man; tain, of the country. A man of the country; a countryman; a farmer. Naughten, corrupted form of the name.
Nee. Ni, or niǵ, pronounced nee, neegh, neey, a daughter.
Neeley. Niall, Neill, genitive Neill, of Neill; y for neać, an individual. Child of Neill. Sometimes written Neely.
Neilan. Neill, of Neill; an, denoting personality. One of the family of Neill. Neelan and Neelen are the same. Neelans, the son of Neelan, the final s being a contraction of sun, Anglo-Saxon of son.
Neill. Niall, from ni, a daughter; aille, genitive of aill, a cliff. Daughter of the cliff. Neill, Neille, Niell, Nille, Neal, Neel, Newill, Nihill, a few of the many forms of the name.
Neilson. Neill, of Neill; Anglo-Saxon sun, son. The son of Neill. Nelson, of like derivation and import.
Nesbit. Nees, son of Nee; bit́, life. Life of Nees; life of the son of Nee; life of the son of a daughter. Sometimes written Nesbitt.
Ney. Neać, pronounced neay, a man. More probably from niǵ, a daughter.
Nicoll. Neać, occasionally pronounced neach, a man; aille, genitive of all, a cliff. The man of the cliff. Nicol is similarly derived.
Noell. Neul, pronounced na-il, a cloud. Noel, Nowel, Newell, cognate forms.
Nolan. Noell, from neul, a cloud, and an, implying person. Son of Noell; son of the cloud. Nolen, a less common form of the name.
Noon. Noin, pronounced like oi in toil, noon. Noone, Nune, are forms of the same.
Noonan. Noinean, a daisy, from noin, day, noon. Like the Saxon term daisy—day’s eye—derived from day.
O’Beirne. O, for ua, a grandson, a descendant; beirne, genitive of beirn, a child. Grandson of a child.
O’Brien. O, descendant; Brien, corruption of Britain. Grandson of a Briton. O’Bryan, of similar signification.
O’Connell. Ua Connaill, from ua, grandson; Connaill from conn, of heroes, and aille, of a cliff. Descendant of Connell; grandson of heroes of the cliff.
O’Connor. O, descendant; Connor, from conn, of heroes, cub́ar, fond of. Grandson of Connor; descendant of those fond of heroes. O’Conner, slightly modified form.
O’Daley. O, grandson; dalaiǵ, genitive of dalać, a blind fellow. Descendant of a blind man.
O’Dare. O, descendant; dara, genitive of dair, the oak. Grandson of Dare.
O’Dea. O, descendant; Dea, of God. Descendant of God. O’Day, an obscure form of the name.
O’Donovan. O’Don-a-b́ean, from o, grandson; dona, unfortunate; a, of; b́ean, woman. Descendant of an unfortunate woman. O’Donovan, of like significance.
O’Donnell. Ua Doḿnaill, from ua, descendant; Doḿnaill, of Donnell. Grandson of Donnell; a descendant of Christ. O’Donal, an abbreviated form of the name. See McDonnell.
O’Farra. O, descendant; fara, genitive of fear, a man. Grandson of man.
O’Farrell. O, grandson; fara, of man; aille, of cliff. A descendant of the man of the cliff.
O’Gara. O, descendant; gara, genitive of gearr, a noun derived from an adjective of the same name, meaning shortness. Grandson of a short person.
O’Gorman. O, grandson; Gorman, a blue-eyed person. Descendant of a blue-eyed person.
O’Grady. O, descendant; graid́e, genitive of grad́, affection; y for eać, an individual. Grandson of Grady; descendant of an affectionate person.
O’Hara. O, grandson; hara, Irish genitive of the Anglo-Saxon noun hara, a hare. Descendant of a hare.
O’Kee. O, descendant; Kee, corruption of Mac Aoid́, pronounced Mac Eey, son of Hugh. Grandson of the son of Hugh.
O’Keef. O, offspring; caoiḿ, gentle. Descendant of the gentle. O’Keef, O’Keeffe, analogous words.
O’Kelley. O, descendant; Kelley, from caillaiǵ, genitive of cailleać, an old woman, a hag. Grandson of an old woman.
O’Leary. O, grandson; Anglo-Saxon lǽr, learning; Irish y for eać, an individual. Descendant of an educated person.
O’Lone. O, descendant; luain, genitive of luan, a warrior. Grandson of a warrior.
O’Lochlin. O, grandson; loiće, genitive of loć, pronounced loch, a lake; linn, a swamp. Descendant of Lochlin. O’Loughlin, O’Laughlin, cognate terms.
O’Malachlyn. O’McLochlin, from o, descendant; McLochlin, son of Lochlin. Descendant of McLochlin.
O’Mara. O, descendant; mara, genitive of muir, the sea. Offspring of the sea. O’Meara, most generally in use.
O’Millin. O, offspring; muillin, of the mill. Descendant of the mill. O’Mullen, O’Mullane, derivable from the same roots.
O’Neill. Ua Neill, from ua, grandson; Neill, genitive of Niall, Neill. Descendant of Neill. O’Neil, O’Neal, quite commonly occur, and are similarly derived.
Oram. Or, gold; am, time. Time is gold; precious opportunity.
Ord. Ord, order, arrangement.
O’Regan. O, descendant; Regan, from riǵ, a king; an for tan, place, region. Descendant of Regan.
O’Reilly. Ua Raǵallać, from ua, grandson, riaǵail, a rule; ać, an individual. Descendant of a ruler; grandson of a king.
O’Rourk. Ua Ruarcać, from ua, descendant; rad́arc, pronounced in Connaught rooarc, sight, and ać, an individual. Grandson of Rourk; descendant of a man of judgment. O’Rourke, O’Rorke, kindred names.
Orr. Or, gold, wealth, riches. In a secondary sense, precious, valuable.
O’Shaughnessy. O, descendant; Seaǵan, pronounced Shaughn, or Shawn, genitive Seaǵain, John; nees, ni, daughter, and Anglo-Saxon s for sun, son; y for eać, an individual. Grandson of a person belonging to the son of the daughter of John. O’Shannessy, of like derivation.
O’Shanter. O, descendant; Seaǵain, John’s; ter, from tir, country. A descendant of John’s country.
Ossian. Osna, a sigh; n for an, denoting a personal noun. One who sighs; a mourner.
O’Sullivan. O, descendant; suile, pronounced soo-il, genitive of suil, the eye; i for a, his; b́ean, woman.
O’Toole. O, descendant; genitive tuile, pronounced too-il, of flood. Descendant of a flood.
Owen. Eon, perhaps from uan, pronounced oo-an, a lamb. From Mac Eoin, son of Owen, have arisen MacKeon, Keon, Coyne, Owens, and Owenson.
Owenson. Owen, and sun, the Anglo-Saxon of son. Son of Owen. Owens is the same name curtailed of the last two letters.
O’Weir. O, descendant; Anglo-Saxon wér, a man, Irish genitive weir. Descendant of man.