50+ Popular Irish Last Names To Connect You To Your Inner Paddy
Need baby naming inspo? You’re in luck.
Passed down from generation to generation, last names connect us to the family that came before us. Some of us may have ancestors from further afield to where we live now, and surnames are a great way to trace our origins. Thanks to a long history of emigration, Irish last names have pretty much infiltrated the globe. You’ll likely recognize a common one when you see it (Conan O’Brien or the Kennedys, anyone?). But there are plenty more rooted in Ireland’s clan history that show just how much family is in a surname.
Read on to see our list of popular Irish last names, their Irish spellings, and their meanings. If your family surname is listed below, now’s a great time to get connected to your roots!
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Common Irish Last Names
1. Murphy
Irish spelling: Ó Murchadha
Meaning: Descendent of Murchadh, a sea warrior.
2. O’Brien
Irish spelling: Ó Briain
Meaning: Descendent of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland.
3. Kennedy
Irish spelling: Ó Cinnéide
Meaning: Descendent of Cennétig Mac Lorcáin, father of Brian Boru.
4. O’Reilly
Irish spelling: Ó Raghallaigh
Meaning: Descendent of Raghallach, King of Connacht (Ireland’s western province).
5. O’Neill
Irish spelling: Ó Néill
Meaning: Descendent of Niall Noigiallach, an Irish king.
6. Smith/McGowan
Irish spelling: Mac Gabhann
Meaning: Son of the blacksmith.
7. O’Rourke
Irish spelling: Ó Ruairc
Meaning: Descendent of Ruarc, King of Bréifne (an area including counties Leitrim and Connacht).
8. Walsh
Irish spelling: Breathnach
Meaning: Welshman.
9. Murray
Irish spelling: Ó Muireadhaigh
Meaning: Descendent of Muireadhaigh, a seaman.
10. Collins
Irish spelling: Ó Coileáin
Meaning: Descendent of the young warrior/hound.
11. Sheeran
Irish spelling: Ó Síorán
Meaning: Descendent of Sírín.
12. O’Sullivan
Irish spelling: Ó Súilleabháin
Meaning: Descendent of the dark-eyed.
13. McCarthy
Irish spelling: Mac Carthaigh
Meaning: Son of Cárthach, King of Munster (Ireland’s southern province).
14. Lynch
Irish spelling: Ó Loinsigh
Meaning: Descendent of Loingseach, a seaman.
15. Fitzpatrick
Irish spelling: Mac Giolla Phádraig
Meaning: Follower of Saint Patrick.
16. Sweeney
Irish spelling: Mac Suibhne
Meaning: Son of Suibhne, a Scottish lord whose grandson arrived to Ireland and brought the name with him.
17. Regan
Irish spelling: Ó Riagáin
Meaning: Descendent of Riagáin. There were actually two Ó Riagáin clans in Ireland, one related to Brian Boru and one that powerfully ruled in the county of Meath.
18. O’Leary
Irish spelling: Ó Laoghaire
Meaning: Descendent of Laoghaire, a calf-keeper.
19. Mullan/Mullen/Mullins
Irish spelling: Ó Maoláin
Meaning: Descendent of Maelan, King of Maigh Seóla (in Galway).
20. Mulligan
Irish spelling: Ó Maolagain
Meaning: Descendent of the bald man.
Boomerang/Giphy
21. Ryan
Irish spelling: Ó Riain
Meaning: Descendent of Riain, a king.
22. Quinn
Irish spelling: Ó Cuinn
Meaning: Descendent of Conn, a wise chief.
23. Kelly
Irish spelling: Ó Ceallaigh
Meaning: Descendent of Ceallach, meaning war or contention.
24. Whelan
Irish spelling: Ó Faoláin
Meaning: Of the wolf.
25. Maher
Irish spelling: Ó Meachair/Meagher
Meaning: Of the generous/hospitable.
26. Hogan
Irish spelling: Ó hÓgáin
Meaning: Of youth.
27. O’Keeffe
Irish spelling: Ó Caoimh
Meaning: Of the noble/the gentle.
28. O’Dwyer
Irish spelling: Ó Dubhuir
Meaning: Black.
29. Buckley
Irish spelling: Ó Buachalla
Meaning: Descendent of the cow herder.
30. McDermott
Irish spelling: Mac Diarmada
Meaning: Son of Diarmait, King of Leinster, and High King of Ireland.
31. O’Connor
Irish spelling: Ó Conchobhair
Meaning: Descendent of Conchubhair Donn, another King of Connacht.
32. Dunne
Irish spelling: Ó Duinn
Meaning: Brown.
33. Donovan
Irish spelling: Ó Donnabháin
Meaning: Brown-black.
34. Lyons/Lyne
Irish spelling: Ó Laighin
Meaning: Of the spear.
35. Donnelly
Irish spelling: Ó Donnghaile
Meaning: Brown valor.
36. McMahon
Irish spelling: Mac Mathúna
Meaning: Son of Mathghamhna, Chief of a clan in Aran.
37. Casey
Irish spelling: Ó Cathasaigh
Meaning: Alert, vigilant and watchful.
38. Kenny
Irish spelling: Ó Cionaoith
Meaning: Fire born.
39. Foley
Irish spelling: Ó Foghladh
Meaning: Plunderer.
40. Cleary/Clarke
Irish spelling: Ó Cléirigh
Meaning: Descendent of the clerk/cleric.
41. Duffy
Irish spelling: Ó Dufaigh/Ó Dubhthaigh
Meaning: Black.
42. Moore
Irish spelling: Ó Mordha, Muir, Moir
Meaning: Moir/Ó Mordha could mean of greatness or grandiose while Muir means sea.
43. Brennan
Irish spelling: Ó Braonáin/Ó Branáin
Meaning: Ó Braonáin means of the droplet while Ó Branáin means of the raven.
44. Doyle
Irish spelling: Ó Dubhghaile
Meaning: Descendent of Dubhghal, meaning black valor.
45. Gallagher
Irish spelling: Ó Gallchobhair
Meaning: Descendent of Gallchobhar, an Irish king.
46. McLoughlin
Irish spelling: Mac Lochlainn
Meaning: Son of the vikings.
47. Daly
Irish spelling: Ó Dálaigh
Meaning: Of the assembly.
48. Boyle
Irish spelling: Ó Baoill
Meaning: Vain pledge.
49. O’Shea
Irish spelling: Ó Séaghdha
Meaning: Descendent of the majestic.
50. Farrell
Irish spelling: Ó Ferghail
Meaning: Man of valor.
Giphy
51. Barry
Irish spelling: O’ Baire
Meaning: Fair-headed, fair-haired, pointed, spear, or sharp.
52. Campbell
Irish spelling: Caimbeul
Meaning: Crooked mouth.
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