Did your family name make the list? Check out our list of the most popular Irish surnames and their meanings and see where you ranked.
Have you ever wondered who your ancestors were, what they looked like, what their profession was, and where they came from? Don’t feel like paying a hefty fee to get you DNA tested? Have no fear. Your Irish surname could give your insight into these questions and more.
Due to mass immigration during the Great Famine, as well as war and conflict, you’re likely to find families with Irish surnames in almost any country in the world. But how can our surnames tell us about where we came from?
The truth is, surnames are a fairly new practice in Ireland, and centuries ago, your ancestors most likely didn’t have one. Initially, families would have been known by aspects of their physical appearance or their life, for example, their hair colour or the complexion of their skin. They could be known for the profession held by their patriarch or matriarch, or perhaps where they had travelled to Ireland from.
Check out our list of the top 100 Irish surnames and second names and their meanings below.
Top 1-50 Irish Surnames
1. Murphy
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Murchadha
Meaning: Sea-battler
2. Kelly
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Ceallaigh
Meaning: Bright-headed
3. O’Sullivan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Súilleabháin
Meaning: Dark-eyed
4. Walsh
Gaelic Equivalent: Breathnach
Meaning: Welshman
5. Smith
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Gabhann
Meaning: Son of the smith
6. O’Brien
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Briain
Meaning: High, noble
7. Byrne
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Broin
Meaning: A raven
See where Byrne ranks on this article of the top 10 Irish surnames in the USA and their meanings, and how it ranks as one of the most stereotypical Irish surnames.
8. Ryan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Maoilriain
Meaning: King
9. O’Connor
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Conchobhair
Meaning: Patron of warriors
10. O’Neill
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Néill
Meaning: From Niall
11. O’Reilly
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Raghallaigh
Meaning: The nine hostages
12. Doyle
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Dubhghaill
Meaning: Dark foreigner
13. McCarthy
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Carthaigh
Meaning: Loving person
14. Gallagher
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Gallchobhair
Meaning: Lover of foreigners
15. O’Doherty
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Dochartaigh
Meaning: Hurtful
16. Kennedy
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cinnéide
Meaning: Helmet headed
17. Lynch
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Loinsigh
Meaning: Seafarer, exile
18. Murray
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Muireadhaigh
Meaning: Lord, master
19. Quinn
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cuinn
Meaning: Wisdom, chief
20. Moore
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Mordha
Meaning: Majestic
21. McLoughlin
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Lochlainn
Meaning: Viking
22. O’Carroll
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cearbhaill
Meaning: Valorous in battle
23. Connolly
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Conghaile
Meaning: Fierce as a hound
24. Daly
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Dálaigh
Meaning: Assembles frequently
25. O’Connell
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Conaill
Meaning: Strong as a wolf
26. Wilson
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Liam
Meaning: Son of William
27. Dunne
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Duinn
Meaning: Brown
28. Brennan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Braonáin
Meaning: Sorrow
29. Burke
Gaelic Equivalent: de Búrca
Meaning: from Richard de Burgh
30. Collins
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Coileáin
Meaning: Young warrior
31. Campbell
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Cathmhaoil
Meaning: Crooked mouth
32. Clarke
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cléirigh
Meaning: Clergyman
33. Johnston
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Seáin
Meaning: Son of John
34. Hughes
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó hAodha
Meaning: Fire
35. O’Farrell
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Fearghail
Meaning: Man of valour
36. Fitzgerald
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Gearailt
Meaning: Spear rule
37. Brown
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac an Bhreithiún
Meaning: Son of the brehon (judge)
38. Martin
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Giolla Mháirtín
Meaning: Devotee of Saint Martin
39. Maguire
Gaelic Equivalent: Mag Uidhir
Meaning: Dun-coloured
40. Nolan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Nualláin
Meaning: Famous
41. Flynn
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Floinn
Meaning: Bright red
42. Thompson
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Tomáis
Meaning: Son of Thom
43. O’Callaghan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Ceallacháin
Meaning: Bright headed
44. O’Donnell
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Domhnaill
Meaning: World-mighty
45. Duffy
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Dufaigh
Meaning: Dark, black
46. O’Mahony
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Mathúna
Meaning: Bear-calf
47. Boyle
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Baoill
Meaning: Vain pledge
48. Healy
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó hÉalaighthe
Meaning: Artistic, scientific
49. O’Shea
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Séaghdha
Meaning: Of fair complexion
50. White
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Giolla Bháin
Meaning: Of fair complexion
Top 51-100 Irish Surnames
51. Sweeney
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Suibhne
Meaning: Pleasant
52. Hayes
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó hAodha
Meaning: Fire
53. Kavanagh
Gaelic Equivalent: Caomhánach
Meaning: Comely, mild
54. Power
Gaelic Equivalent: de Paor
Meaning: The poor man
55. McGrath
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Craith
Meaning: Son of grace
56. Moran
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Móráin
Meaning: Great
57. Brady
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Brádaigh
Meaning: Spirited
58. Stewart
Gaelic Equivalent: Stiobhard
Meaning: One who superintends
59. Casey
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cathasaigh
Meaning: Vigilant in war, watchful
60. Foley
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Foghladh
Meaning: A plunderer
61. Fitzpatrick
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Giolla Phádraig
Meaning: Devotee of Saint Patrick
62. O’Leary
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Laoghaire
Meaning: Calf-herd
63. McDonnell
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Domhnaill
Meaning: World-mighty
64. MacMahon
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Mathúna
Meaning: Bear-calf
65. Donnelly
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Donnghaile
Meaning: Brown valour
66. Regan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Riagáin
Meaning: Little king
67. Donovan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Donnabháin
Meaning: Brown, black
68. Burns
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Broin
Meaning: from Scottish Burness
69. Flanagan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Flannagáin
Meaning: Red, ruddy
70. Mullan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Maoláin
Meaning: Bald
71. Barry
Gaelic Equivalent: de Barra
Meaning: Cambro-Norman name
72. Kane
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Catháin
Meaning: Battler
73. Robinson
Meaning: Son of Robert
74. Cunningham
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cuinneagáin
Meaning: Scottish name
75. Griffin
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Gríofa
Meaning: (Welsh) Gruffudd
76. Kenny
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cionaoith
Meaning: Fire sprung
77. Sheehan
Gaelic Equivalent: O’Siodhachain
Meaning: Peaceful
78. Ward
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac an Bhaird
Meaning: Son of the bard
79. Whelan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Faoláin
Meaning: Wolf
80. Lyons
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Laighin
Meaning: Grey
81. Reid
Gaelic Equivalent: Maoildearg
Meaning: Red haired / ruddy complexion
82. Graham
Gaelic Equivalent: Greachán
Meaning: Grey home
83. Higgins
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó hUiginn
meaning: Viking, sea-rover
84. Cullen
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cuilinn
Meaning: Holy
85. Keane
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Catháin
Meaning: Distant, long
86. King
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Cionga
Meaning: Ruler
87. Maher
Gaelic Equivalent: Meagher
Meaning: Fine, majestic
88. MacKenna
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Cionaoith
Meaning: Fire-sprung
89. Bell
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Giolla Mhaoil
Meaning: Servant of the devotee
90. Scott
Gaelic Equivalent: Albanach
Meaning: a Scottish gael
91. Hogan
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó hÓgáin
Meaning: Young
92. O’Keeffe
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Caoimh
Meaning: Gentle
93. Magee
Gaelic Equivalent: Mag Aoidh
Meaning: Fire
94. MacNamara
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Conmara
Meaning: Hound of the sea
95. MacDonald
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Dónaill
Meaning: World-mighty
96. MacDermott
Gaelic Equivalent: Mac Diarmada
Meaning: Free from jealousy
97. Molony
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Maolomhnaigh
Meaning: Servant of the Church
98. O’Rourke
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Ruairc
Meaning: Descendant of Ruarc
99. Buckley
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Buachalla
Meaning: Cow herd
100. O’Dwyer
Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Dubhuir
Meaning: Black
That concludes are list of Irish surnames, their meanings and their Irish language equivalent. Did your name appear along the way?
