The 10 most popular Irish last names

Many 'Irish Americans' are in fact 'Scots Irish', but are unaware of it. If you have a Scottish name, or name is pre-fixed by Mc/Mac then you are probably Scots. If your family is/was presbyterian or Baptist you're probably a Scot. If you have red hair/freckles and come from the south - you're probably Scottish. Scotland is a beautiful country too, even though it's got its problems - poor health, high alcohol/drug abuse and violence (see health stats for Scotland). If you're Scots you ought to visit the fatherland - especially the north and the islands. Each area tells a different and rich story, and to hear Gaelic spoken and sung on the Hebrides is something to cherish.

Many 'Irish Americans' are in fact 'Scots Irish', but are unaware of it. If you have a Scottish name, or name is pre-fixed by Mc/Mac then you are probably Scots. If your family is/was presbyterian or Baptist you're probably a Scot. If you have red hair/freckles and come from the south - you're probably Scottish. Scotland is a beautiful country too, even though it's got its problems - poor health, high alcohol/drug abuse and violence (see health stats for Scotland). If you're Scots you ought to visit the fatherland - especially the north and the islands. Each area tells a different and rich story, and to hear Gaelic spoken and sung on the Hebrides is something to cherish.

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My Grandmother was Irish to the bone, but her birth record has been lost over the years. She was a Reynolds. How I wish there was some way to trace muy ancestry. I am very proud of my Irish ancestry.

What about Reynolds, or O'rannals?

This is interesting reading.How about Tobin?I believe it is Norman in origin.

while smith is often an english name, it is also often a native irish name and is synonomous with mcgowan. it is an anglisized version of mac gabhann "son of smith". love the list, but smith can be the surname of native irish as well.

I did notice that Murphy 46, being a Murphy and all myself

NOTICE-Murphy #1

My great Grandmother was a McCOOL ( mac Cumhaill); My grandmother was a WARD. Both these surnames go way back and it would be great if Irish central would do a column on these plus any other old surnames suggested by your readers.

antoinette, while smith is the #1 surname in england, it actually is very often a native irish surname also and is synonomous with mcgowan. mcgowan (mac gobhann) means "son of the smith" and was often anglizised to "smith". so while often is english, it is often the surname of native irish as well. http://irishfamilyhistory.ie/blog/?p=102 othen than that, love the article!

This is a ridiculously inaccurate and inadequate list. Where's Chen? And Czarleszvski? And what about mBongo? And Patel?