35 Most Common Irish Last Names With Meanings

Irish or Gaeilge is one of Ireland’s two official languages. It was seen for the first time in Ogham form in the fifth century. So, I have selected 35 most common Irish last names with meaning included.

Dunne

Dunne comes from the Irish Ó Doinn and Ó Duinn and means ”brown” or ”dark.” The Dunnes, one of the chiefly families of the Ui Failghe, used to have many castles in Ireland.

Murphy

Murphy is the most common surname in Ireland. It is a variant of two Irish surnames: Mac Murchaidh and Ó Murchadha.

Griffin

Griffin is a name of Irish and Welsh origins and is meaning ”descendant of Gríobhtha.”

Kelly

Kelly is from the word ceallach (bright-headed).

Regan

Regan has its origins in the Gaelic ‘Ríoghán’ and has a meaning that I like, ”royal” or ”little king.”

O’Brien

O’Brien means a descendant of Brian.

Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald has Irish and Anglo-Norman French origins and means “son of Gerald.” Barry Fitzgerald was an Irish actor who bore this name and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Going My Way.

Walsh

Walsh comes from a Middle English word “Welsh” (foreigner). Welsh, Welch, and Walshe are all variants of the name.

Doherty

Doherty is meaning unlucky or obstructive.

Smith

Smith is an occupational surname and the 5th most common surname in Ireland. Smith is from the Old English word smithe (blacksmith).

Doyle

Doyle is from the Gaelic Ó Dubhghaill and is meaning “descendant of Dubhghall.” Doyle is one of the top 10 most common surnames in Ireland

O’Sullivan

O’Sullivan comes from the Irish O’ Suileabhain and it means ”descendant of the one-eyed.”

O’Sullivan is the 3rd most common surname in Ireland.

Jordan

Jordan has Hebrew origins and is symbolizing “to flow down.”

Facts about the Irish language

Gaeilge is the name of the language in Irish.

Irish has three major dialects. Each differs slightly in vocabulary, pronuncition, and grammar.

There are no words for “yes” or “no” in Irish.

Ogham is basically ancient Irish “edge writing.”

Irish evolved from the earliest human languages that were spoken in the Middle East.

Burke

Burke means “a fortified settlement” or “fortress.” It has roots in the House of Burgh that is an Irish family that descends from the Anglo-Norman de Burgh dynasty.

Kavanagh

Kavanagh originates in the Irish Caomhánach that means “follower of St. Caomhán”. Kavanaugh is another version.

Collins

Collins is a diminutive of the Greek Nicholas which means “victory of the people.” In case you didn’t know, Saint Nicholas of Myra grew into the figure we call Santa Claus today. The name Collins also comes from the Irish word cuilein (darling).

McLoughlin

McLoughlin derives from the Gaelic Ó Maoilsheachlainn which is means “son of Lochlann.”

Campbell

Campbell is the third most common surname in Northern Ireland. It has origins in the Gaelic Caimbeul that is symbolizing “crooked mouth.”

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MacCarthy

Son of Cárthach.

Clarke

Clarke is a popular surname in Ireland and is pronounced “klahrk.” It comes from the Latin clericus (means cleric or priest). Clark and Clerk are variants of Clarke.

McDermott

McDermott means free from envy or free man.

Connolly

Connolly is meaning ‘descendant of Conghal’ and comes from the Gaelic name O’Conaill.

Malone

From the Irish “Mael Eóin,” Malone means “servant of Saint John” or “bald John.”

Gallagher

Gallagher is linked with the Irish noble Gallagher family of County Donegal and means helper of the stranger.

How to choose a good Irish name

Many Irish names are from Gaelic which is the ancient language of Ireland.

Consider character backstory.

Make certain you are spelling it correctly.

Stick with an existing name.

Hayes

Hayes is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó hAodha and is meaning ”enclouser” or ”hedged area.”

Nolan

Nolan is from Ó Nualláin meaning noble or famous. The O’Nolans of Ireland are one of the oldest families in Ireland.

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O’Carroll

O’Carroll means “descendant of Cearbhall.” Carrell or Carroll are different variations.

Hughes

Hughes is a variant of the Old French name Hugues and is symbolizing ”mind” or ”heart.” It also comes from the ancient Irish name of Ó hAodha. Irish rugby player Ailsa Hughes made her debut for Ireland in 2017.

O’Dwyer

O’Dwyer means ”black” and is from the Gaelic Ó Dubhuir. Clan O’Dwyer is one of Ireland’s oldest aristocratic houses.

Kennedy

Kennedy is an Anglicisation of Ó Cinnéide (grandson of Cinnéidigh). The Irish family O’Kennedy was a sept of the Dál gCais.

O’Reilly

O’Reilly is in the top 5 most common surnames in Ireland. It means “descendant of Raghallach.”

Lynch

Lynch is from the Gaelic “O’Loingsigh,” meaning “descendant of Loingseach.”

O’Neill

O’Neill is one of the most common Irish surnames and means “descendant of Niall.”

McCarthy

McCarthy has several variants that I love including MacCarthy and McCarty. It means ”loving” or ”son of the loving one.”

McMahon

McMahon is an Irish surname that means ”son of the bear.”