Ahearn. Cahill has to be one of the most contentious Irish surnames of all time. Beargha refers to ‘spear-like’ and Baire means ‘fair-haired.’It is the anglicized form of ‘O’Byrne’ meaning ‘descendant of Bran.’ In the Irish language, Bran refers to ‘a raven.’One of the most common last names in Ireland, Bell derived from the Old English word ‘Belle.’This surname is a variant of ‘Beirne’ or ‘O’Byrne’ referring to a ‘descendant of Bran.’ It means ‘a raven’ in Irish.Boyle is an anglicized form of ‘O’Boyle’ derived from the Gaelic term ‘O’Baoighill’ referring to the ‘descendant of Baoigheall.’ The word Baoigheall comes from the Irish word ‘geall’ that means ‘pledge’ or ‘promise.’It is an anglicized form of Irish ‘Ó Bradain’ meaning ‘descendant of Bradan.’ This word refers to a ‘salmon’ in Irish.Brady is an anglicized form of ‘Ó Brádaigh’ referring to the ‘descendant of Bradach.’ This name is derived from a Gaelic term which means ‘large-chested.’Brannon is a patronymic Irish surname referring to ‘Son of Bran.’ The word Bran means ‘raven’ in Irish.Brennan is derived from Ó Braonainmeaning meaning a ‘descendant of Braonan.’ Here, Braonan refers to ‘raindrop’ or ‘moisture.’Brogan is an occupational Irish surname referring to a ‘shoe-maker.’It denotes the brown complexion of the skin or brown hair color.Buckley is derived from ‘Ó Buachalla’ that refers to ‘descendant of Buachaill.’ This is a nickname, which evolved as an Irish surname and means ‘cowherd’ or ‘servant.’It is derived from an Old English word ‘Burgh.’ The Irish family name refers to a ‘fortress’ or ‘castle.’Burns is a spelling variant of ‘O’Byrne’ or ‘Ó Broin.’ This Irish surname refers to a ‘descendant of Bran’ where Bran refers to a ‘raven.’It is derived from the word ‘butiller.’ Butler is an occupational Irish surname referring to ‘wine-steward.’It is an anglicized form of ‘Ó Ceallacháin’ referring to the ‘descendant of Ceallachan.’ The name ‘Ceallachan’ is derived from an old Irish term ‘Ceallach,’ which means ‘bright-headed.’This surname likely originated in Scotland and later migrated to Ireland. Read more about Irish First Names. So if Irish surnames are misspelt and mangled in English-language records, you know why. These names have evolved and migrated to various parts of Europe and also across the world.Do you know of any other interesting Irish surnames?
Bliss!To quench your thirst for Irish surnames, MomJunction has compiled a list of 150 Irish last names with meanings and their history.Ahearn is the anglicized form of ‘Ó hEachthighearna’ meaning ‘descendant of Eichthighearn.’ The name Eichthighearn is derived from a Gaelic word and refers to ‘Horse Lord.’This Irish surname is derived from the word ‘Aonghus’ and means ‘one strength.’Barry is an Anglicised form of ‘Ó Beargha’ or ‘Ó Báire’ referring to ‘descendant of Beargh’ or ‘descendant of Baire’ respectively. ‘Patrick’ is derived from the Latin name ‘Patricius’ that means ‘nobleman.’It refers to the ‘son of Simon.’ ‘Simon’ means ‘he has heard’ in Hebrew.’It is an anglicized form of ‘Ó Flannagáin’ that refers to the ‘descendant of Flannagán.’ The name ‘Flannagan’ means ‘reddish’ or ‘scarlet.’This name is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Floinn’ referring to a ‘descendant of Flann.’ The name ‘Flann’ refers to ‘reddish’ or ‘scarlet’ in Gaelic.Foley is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Foghladha’ that means the ‘descendant of Foghlaidh.’ ‘Foghlaidh’ refers to a ‘pirate’ or ‘plunderer.’Friel is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Frighil’ meaning ‘descendant of Fearghal.’ ‘Feraghal’ refers to a ‘man of valor.’It is an anglicized form of ‘Ó Faoláin’ referring to the ‘descendant of Faolan.’ The name ‘Faolan’ is derived from the Gaelic word ‘Fael’ and means ‘little wolf.’Gallagher is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Gallchobhair’ meaning a ‘descendant of Gallchobhar.’ ‘Gallchobhar’ is a combination of two Irish words ‘gall’ meaning ‘stranger’ and ‘cabhair’ meaning ‘help.’It is an anglicized version of ‘Ó Gormáin’ referring to a ‘descendant of Gorman.’ ‘Gorman’ means ‘little blue one.’It is an anglicized version of the Irish name ‘Ó Gríobhtha’ meaning the ‘descendant of Gríobhtha.’ The name ‘Griobhtha’ comes from ‘Griobh,’ which is the Irish name for Griffin – a mythical creature with the body of a lion but head and wings of an eagle.It is derived from the surname ‘McGuinness.’ McGuinness is the anglicized form of ‘Mag Aonghuis’ meaning ‘son of Aonghus.’ Aonghus means ‘one strength.’Hayes is the anglicized form of ‘Ó hAodha’ referring to the ‘descendant of Aodh.’ The name Aodh comes from the Old Irish word ‘Aed,’ which means ‘fire.’It is the anglicized form of ‘O’Healy’ referring to a ‘descendant of the claimant.’Higgins is the anglicized form of ‘Ó hUiginn’ that means ‘descendant of Uiginn.’ Uiginn means a ‘viking.’This Irish surname is an anglicized form of ‘Ó hÓgáin’ meaning a ‘descendant of Ogan.’ The name ‘Ogan’ is derived from the Irish word ‘Og’ which means ‘young.’It is an anglicized form of ‘Mac Aodha’ referring to ‘son of Aodh.’ The name ‘Aodh’ is derived from ‘Aed,’ an Old Irish word for ‘fire.’Ivers is a patronymic surname derived from Old Norse name ‘Ivarr’ referring to a ‘warrior.’Kane is the anglicized form of ‘O’Kane’ or ‘O Cathain’ referring to a ‘battle.’It is derived from the Gaelic name ‘Caomhánach’ referring to ‘students or disciples of Saint Caomhan,’ who was a 6th-century Irish saint.Kearney is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Ceithearnaigh’ that refers to a ‘descendant of Ceithearnach.’ ‘Ceithearnach’ is the Middle Irish word for ‘warrior’ or ‘leader of a warrior group.’Kelly is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Ceallaig’ that means the ‘descendant of Ceallach.’ The word ‘Ceallach’ refers to ‘bright-headed.’It is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Cinnéidigh’ which means ‘descendant of Cennetig.’ ‘Cennetig’ is an Old Irish word referring to an ‘armored head’ or ‘misshapen head.’Kilduff is the anglicized form of ‘Mac GiollaDhuibh’ referring to the ‘son of the black-haired man.’It is an anglicized form of ‘Ó Leannáin’ meaning a ‘descendant of Leannan.’ Leannan means ‘lover.’This Irish surname is the anglicized form of ‘Ó Loingsigh’ that means ‘descendant of Loingseach.’ It is an occupational surname referring to a ‘mariner.’It is derived from the Gaelic word ‘McAlister’ referring to a ‘son of Alistair.