Irish surnames are so authentic that you only have to hear or read them to understand that they are indeed Irish.
O’Sullivan Murphy, O’Brien, Ryan… All these family names are 100% Irish and have their own meaning… They are generally divided into 3 categories:
To find out more, here’s a short list of the most common Irish family names and their meanings:
| Rank | Last name |
Gaelic equivalent | Meaning |
| 1 | Murphy | ó Murchadha | naval battle |
| 2 | Kelly | ó Ceallaigh | with shiny head |
| 3 | O’Sullivan | ó Súilleabháin | with dark eyes |
| 4 | Walsh | Breathnach | Welsh |
| 5 | Blacksmith | Mac Gabhann | the blacksmith’s son |
| 6 | O’Brien | ó Briain | high, noble |
| 7 | Byrne | ó Broin | a crow |
| 8 | Ryan | ó Maoilriain | King |
| 9 | O’Connor | ó Conchobhair | patron saint of warriors |
| 10 | O’Neill | ó Néill | by Niall de |
| the nine hostages | |||
| 11 | O’Reilly | ó Raghallaigh | |
| 12 | Doyle | ó Dubhghaill | dark stranger |
| 13 | McCarthy | Mac Carthaigh | loving person |
| 14 | Gallagher | ó Gallchobhair | foreign lovers |
| 15 | O’Doherty | ó Dochartaigh | pest |
| 16 | Kennedy | ó Cinneid | directed helmet |
| 17 | Lyncher | ó Loinsigh | sailor, exile |
| 18 | Murray | ó Muireadhaigh | lord, master |
| 19 | Quinn | ó Cuinn | wisdom, leader |
| 20 | Moore | ó Mordha | majestic |
| 21 | McLoughlin | Mac Lochlainn | viking |
| 22 | O’Carroll | ó Cearbhaill | valiant in battle |
| 23 | Connolly | ó Conghaile | fierce as a dog |
| 24 | Daly | ó Dálaigh | assembles frequently |
| 25 | O’Connell | ó Conaill | strong as a wolf |
| 26 | Wilson | Mac Liam | son of William |
| 27 | Dunne | ó Duinn | brown |
| 28 | Brennan | ó Braonáin | sorrow |
| 29 | Burke | de Búrca | by Richard de Burgh |
| 30 | Collins | ó Coileáin | young warrior |
| 31 | Campbell | twisted mouth | |
| 32 | Clarke | óCléirigh | pastor |
| 33 | Johnston | Mac Seáin | son of John |
| 34 | Hughes | ó hodh | Light |
| 35 | O’Farrell | ó Fearghail | good man |
| 36 | Fitzgerald | Mac Gearailt | lance rule |
| 37 | brown | Mac and Bhreithiún | fils du brehon (judge) |
| 38 | Martin | Mac Giolla Mháirtín | devotee of saint martin |
| 39 | Maguire | Mag Uidhir | a color |
| 40 | Nolan | ó Nualláin | famous |
| 41 | Flynn | ó Floinn | bright red |
| 42 | Thompson | Mac Tomáis | Thom’s son |
| 43 | O’Callaghan | ó Ceallacháin | glossy head |
| 44 | O’Donnell | ó Domhnaill | powerful |
| 45 | Duffy | ó Dufaigh | dark black |
| 46 | O’Mahony | ó Mathúna | teddy bear |
| 47 | Boyle | ó Baoill | an empty promise |
| 48 | Healy | hóalaighthe | artistic, scientific |
| 49 | O’Shea | ó Séaghdha | well, majestic |
| 50 | white | Mac Giolla Bháin | fair-skinned |
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