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The 10 most popular Irish last names

Click links after each family to see complete clan story and photos

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral.com, Staff Writer

Published Sunday, September 12, 2010, 7:29 AM

Updated Sunday, September 12, 2010, 7:29 AM

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Coats of arms representing Irish clans

READ THE WHOLE STORY OF THE BYRNE CLAN! CLICK HERE

7. Ryan – the little kings

The meaning of the Irish name Ryan comes from the old Gaelic word "righ" and the old Irish diminutive of "an," which together form the meaning of "little king."

The name Ryan comes from the Irish name O' Riain - a contraction of the older Irish form O'Mulriain, which is now virtually extinct.

Ryan is also an extremely popular first name, especially in Britain and the U.S.

The Ryan family motto is 'Malo More Quam Foedari', which, when translated, means 'I would Rather Die than be Disgraced'. And they call them “little” kings…

READ THE WHOLE STORY OF THE RYAN CLAN! CLICK HERE

8. O'Connor – patrons of warriors

They might not be warriors themselves, but at least O’Connors descend from them!

The O'Connor name, with its varied spellings, doesn't spring from a common source. The name arose in five areas of Ireland: Connacht, Kerry, Derry, Offaly and Clare and split into six distinct septs.

The most prominent sept is that of the Connacht O'Connors who gave us the last two High-Kings of Ireland: Turlough O'Connor (1088-1156) and Roderick O'Connor (1116-1198). They trace their heritage and name from the Irish "Ua Conchobhair," meaning from Conchobhar, a king of Connacht.

READ THE WHOLE STORY OF THE O'CONNOR CLAN! CLICK HERE

9. O'Neill – from a champion, Niall of the Nine Hostages

The O'Neill family traces its history back to 360 A.D. to the legendary warrior king of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages, who is said to have been responsible for bringing St. Patrick to Ireland.

Niall is also said to have been incredibly fertile – he has 3 million descendents worldwide.

“O’Neill” is derived from two separate Gaelic words, "Ua Niall," which means grandson of Niall, and "Neill" meaning "champion."

Ireland’s O'Neills were known by the nickname "Creagh," which comes from the Gaelic word "craobh" meaning branch, because they were known to camouflage themselves to resemble the forest when fighting the Norsemen. Crafty fellows, those O’Neills.

READ THE WHOLE STORY OF THE O'NEILL CLAN! CLICK HERE

10. O'Reilly - ?

The O'Reillys round out the top 10 most popular names in Ireland.

Their family name is derived from the Gaelic "O'Raghailligh," meaning descendants of Raghaillach.

The O'Reillys were the most powerful sept of the old Gaelic kingdom of Breffny (Cavan and the surrounding counties), and the family is still prominent in the area.

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Liamkeyes | Apr 29, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

Redmond is very numerous in County Wexford, they came over in the 10th Century from Normandy along with the Powers in County Waterford and D'evereux's. "More Power sez Oul' Power when young Power was born!!!!!

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sharoneileen | Apr 29, 2011, 03:29 PM EDT

I descend from Murray, Cooney, Kelly, Ryan, Gaffney, McCabe, Amond(Allman), Feehan, Dalton, Gibney, and a few as yet unidentified. I agree with everything except for the dissed Murrays. True there were many Scots but there are purley Irish Murrays as well.

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WoundedKnee | Apr 28, 2011, 06:05 PM EDT

PETERROBRIEN: Does that mean that the Irish Prime Minister Kenny isn't Irish?

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PETERROBRIEN | Apr 25, 2011, 06:40 PM EDT

OLD IRISH SAYING ~~~ By Mac and O you'll surly know True Irishman,they say; But, if you lack both "O" and "MAC" No Irishman are they

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WoundedKnee | Apr 21, 2011, 09:55 AM EDT

bobjenn: "My grandmother was born in County Mayo in 1891,Her family was dirt poor.She had some family,but would`nt talk a lot about them to me or my Brother.any help would be great." That's nothing. My granma was born in Dublin and she was so poor she couldn't even afford a name.

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bobjenn | Mar 30, 2011, 10:42 AM EDT

Her family name was Lavin,Sarah

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bobjenn | Mar 30, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

My grandmother was born in County Mayo in 1891,Her family was dirt poor.She had some family,but would`nt talk a lot about them to me or my Brother.any help would be great.Thank you

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dpleymeister | Mar 04, 2011, 01:12 AM EST

Can anyone help me out please? I've been trying to track down family information for awhile now on the surname McCreight. At one point I found The name may have a varient, McGrath. Im trying to find from what county my family is from. I dont know if this is an almost extinct name or what..

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jerryoneill | Feb 05, 2011, 01:07 PM EST

I think I like the O'Neill name the most. I think it may because of Shaq or maybe uncle Eugene

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GaelicPrince | Nov 14, 2010, 04:59 PM EST

I always thought that Kilmister was the coolest name of all! I say it like "Kill Mister", it supposed to be said like Kilum-ster? I think. Is that irish or ginger pale? My grandfather didn't want me to have his family name, I always dreamed of changing it to Kilmister, is that a popular name in Ireland?

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johnsull15 | Sep 20, 2010, 09:39 AM EDT

Being a Sullivan I feel I have to make a comment on the Irish spelling OSileabhin and sil meaning eye? as far as I was taught suil was eye and O Suileabhain was Sullivan meaning hawkeye or one eye, sil means to think or in a different text to drip or ooze. If I am wrong let me know.

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GeorgeDillon | Sep 15, 2010, 02:50 PM EDT

manhattan: "My great grandmother in Longford was a Whitney." Was she any relation to Whitney Houston?

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GeorgeDillon | Sep 15, 2010, 02:48 PM EDT

Joliejo: "My great or maybe, great great grandfather came from Ireland sometime during the mid 1800s. His name was Ratliff. From what I hear he was a real scoundrel, but I still wonder about the name." Yeah, I knew him. He was a real jerk.

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LITTLEGOAT | Sep 14, 2010, 10:01 AM EDT

interesting how usa uses kelly as a first name but ireland no longer does

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Watereskhill | Sep 14, 2010, 01:42 AM EDT

Much as 'WoundedKnee' is sardonic I laughed heartily at his comment. A peculiar truth. Everyone ferreting for a plaque when The Patel Family are the next O'Sullivans of Erin.

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