Where your folk
came from

MacCabe
Hired mercenaries orignating from Scotland. The gaelic word cába meaning a cap or a hood reflected their style of headdress. The MacCabes are a numerous family and predominate in the Cavan area.
Cadigan
A county Cork family and different from Cadogan which has Welsh orgins.

Cafferty
Can also be found with the Mac attached. It is common in Donegal and to a lesser degree in Fermanagh.
MacCaffrey
Related to the Maguires of Fermanagh. Fairly numerous also in counties Cavan and Monaghan.
Cagney
Rarely seen in any other part of Ireland except south-west Cork.

MacCague
Largely confined to north Monaghan. Is a variant of the MacTeague name from Tyrone.
Cahalane
Meaning mighty in battle, popular in west Cork and parts of Kerry.

Cahill
A clan which is found in many parts of the country, including Galway and Clare but also in Cavan and Donegal plus Tipperary.
Caldwell
Originated in England but now common in parts of Ulster, including Cavan, Armagh and Tyrone - also Meath.
Callaghan
Thought to have been called after Ceallacháin, 10th century King of Munster. The clan gives its name to Clare village, O’Callaghan’s Mills. Very numerous in Cork and neighbouring counties.
Callan
Unconnected with the town of the same name in Co. Kilkenny. Instead it is a name most associated with Ulster, more particularly the counties of Monaghan and Armagh.

Callinan
One-time chief servants of the powerful MacCarthys of Cork. Another branch of the family later settled in Galway but, to this day, are most numerous in the Rebel County and neighbouring Kerry.
MacCallion
Very much associated with the northern counties of Donegal, Tyrone and Derry. Centuries ago were mercenary soldiers in the employ most of the Donegal O’Donnells.
MacCambridge
Very much identified with the Ulster-Scots people of Co. Antrim. Is not seen anywhere else outside of the north-east of Ireland.
Campbell
Despite the name’s association with Scotland, the Campbell clans in Tyrone and Donegal are predominantly Irish in origin. A common name in Ulster generally. Also Dublin.

Campion
Not unconnected with the surname champion as both are derived from the french word for combatant as in battle. Most common in the midlands, especially after the plantation of Laois and Offaly in the seventeenth century.
Canavan
Found principally in Ulster, especially Tyrone and Armagh.

MacCandless
Confined almost exclusively to Ulster. Appears in various forms.
MacCann
A common name in Ulster, especially in county Armagh.

Canning
Some of English origin but in some places related to the midland name Cunneen. See Leitrim.
Cantwell
An old English family in Ireland since the twelfth century. See Kilkenny and Cork.

Canty
From west Cork, sometimes called County

Caraher
South Ulster around Monaghan and Armagh. Often Carragher.

Carbery
Cairbre means charioteer, different septs. See Ballymacarbry in Waterford.
Carew
Of Norman origin, long connected with Tipperary, Cork, Carlow and Kildare.
Carey
Very common throughout, especially in western counties. Connected to McCary, Crean, Currane, Keary, Kerins, Kerrane and Kierghry.
Carley
Of English and Irish origin. English family settled in Wexford and Irish version is popular in Westmeath area.
Carlin
A form of Carolan found in Donegal and Tyrone.

Carmody
An old Thomand name found in Limerick and Clare.

 

Carney
Common throughout, especially in western seaboard counties like Mayo and Clare. Also Meath. In Ulster often MacKearney.
Carolan
An east Cavan - north Meath sept.
Carpenter
Often from MacAteer
Carr
Very popular in Donegal. An anglicised form of Carry, MacElhar, Kerrane and Mulcair.
Carrig
Found in Clare - Limerick area.
Carroll
Very common. Various septs, the most important of which are from the Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny area. Also Louth and south Ulster.

MacCarron
Related to the O’Neills and found in Monaghan and Tyrone.

 

Carry
Popular in north Meath area.
MacCartan
Son of Art and a great Down name.

Carter
Of English origin.

MacCarthy
One of the great Irish families and most common in the south west Munster area.
MacCartney
Sometimes Scottish, others related to Mulhartagh and MacCaugherty in Tyrone

Carty
Often Carthy and found in Connacht, Wexford and Meath.

MacCarville
A south Ulster family. See Monaghan.

Casey
Numerous unrelated septs. Popular in Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath.
MacCashin
Sometimes with the O. Popular enough in Laois, Tipperary and Waterford.
Cashman
Comes from the Kerry name Kissane and mostly found in Cork.
Caskey
Of Norse origin, found in Derry and Tyrone.
Caslin
Found in Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford.
Cassells
Of Norman origin and found in Meath.
Casserly
A north midlands name.
Cassidy
A Fermanagh family who acted as physicians to the powerful Maguires. See Derry nowadays.
Cassin
Found in the Tipperary-Offaly area.
MacCaughey
Often spelt MacCahey and a familiar name in Tyrone.

McCaul
Related to McCall, also to MacCahill coming from the Irish MacCathmhaoil. Found mainly in Ulster.
McCauley
See MacAuley. Two different branches. One around the midlands and the other more numerous in the north west.

Caulfield
An English settler family and connected to such local names as Caffrey and Gaffney. Also MacCaul and common in Mayo.
MacCausland
Found in Derry and Tyrone.
MacCavana
An Antrim form of MacEvanny
Cavanagh
See the more numerous Kavanagh.
Cheasty
A well known Waterford family.
Cheevers
Also Chivers. Arrived with the Normans and found mostly in Leinster.
Clabby
O’Clabaigh means wide mounted and found in Roscommon.
MacClafferty
See MacLafferty and mostly a Donegal name.

Claffey
Meaning Laitheamh, the Irish word for ruler and fairly common in Offaly and south Westmeath areas.
Clancy
Two prominent branches. One in Clare who were attached to the O’Briens and the other in the north midland area of Roscommon and Leitrim.
Clarke
An English name but most Clarkes are native Irish. Sometimes an anglicised version of O’Clery.
Clavin
A well known Laois-Offaly sept.

MacClean
Or MacLean, of Scottish origin and common enough in the Derry, Antrim and Dublin areas.
Clear
Or Clare in Meath, from the Norman De Cleir. See Kilkenny and Wexford.
MacCleary
Mac A leary in Sligo and most common in Ulster counties.
Clegg
An old English name found in Ulster and Dublin areas.
MacClelland
Scottish origin who settled in Ulster.
Clerkin
Meaning clerk and a fairly popular name in Monaghan.

Clery
Or Cleary was a great Galway sept who migrated and are now mostly found in Munster.
Clafferty
Often anglicised as Clifford and found in its original form in Tyrone and Donegal.
Clinch
Or Clynch, of English origin and found in Meath-Dublin.
MacClintock
Another Scottish name associated with Antrim and Derry.

Clinton
Or MacClinton which originated in Donegal and Fermanagh. Clinton itself is of Norman origin.
Clogher
Found in Roscommon.
Clogherty
Originates from Connemara.
Clohessy
From Ballycloghessy in Clare. Still attached to this area. See also Limerick.
Cloney
Often Clooney or McLoonie in Donegal. See Wexford.
MacClory
An old Down-Armagh family.
Close
Common enough in parts of Antrim.
MacCloskey
Connected to the O’Kanes. Found in Derry and other neighbouring parts of Ulster.
MacCloy
Another famous Scottish clan which arrived in Ireland during plantation times. See Antrim.
MacClare
Came from Scotland but ironically probably arrived there from Antrim-Derry areas. Connected to MacAteer.
MacClusker
Connected to MacCluskey and found in Derry and Armagh.
Coady
See Cody. Found mostly in Kilkenny area.
Coakley
Related to Kehilly and found in Cork
Coates
Arrived with the Plantation of Ulster. See Dublin.

Cobbe
Established in Laois, Offaly and Kildare area during the seventeenth century.
Coburn
Popular enough in north Louth. In some cases from the Irish MacConboirne.
Cochrane
Scottish origin but often connected to Corcoran.
Codd
An old English family who settled in Wexford. Still mostly associated with the Model County.
Cody
See Coady
Coen
Related to the Coynes in Connacht, the Cowans in east Ulster and somethimes Cohen.


Coffey
Three main groupings. The two most numerous originate in west Cork and along the border lines of Galway and Roscommon. Also a Bardic family in Westmeath.
Cogan
From the Norman de Cogan who settled in Cork and where they are still numerous. Sometimes changed to Gogan or Goggins. Related to Coogan.
Coghlan
See Coughlan

Cogley
See Quigley
Cohen
See Coen
Colavin
A north Connacht sept who migrated to Cavan where they became known as Cullivan.
Colclough
An English name seen in Wexford and Offaly.
Coldrick
Found in Cavan and Meath and connected to Goldrick.

MacCole
Connected to McCaul but Cole is also an English name which arrived in Fermanagh-Cavan during Ulster Plantation times.
Colfer
Found in Wexford

MacColgan
Two main branches, one in Derry-Tyrone, the other around the Offaly area.
Coll
Usually of Viking origin and fairly plentiful in Donegal.
Colleary
Found in Mayo and Sligo.
Colleran
Originates along the Mayo and Galway borderline.

Colley
Claims its identity to the Roscommon-Galway area.
Coleman
An English name but most Irish Colemans arrived from the name O’Colman. Connected to the Cork Cliffords.
Collier
An English name but very common in Meath and also in parts of Wexford and Kilkenny.
MacCollin
Found in the Oriel and sometimes anglicised to MacQuillan or MacCullen.

Collins
An English name but in Ireland it is generally the anglicised version of O’Coileáin. Very popular in Cork and neighbouring parts of Limerick.
Collopy
Mostly found in Limerick.

Coloe
Related to MacCullagh, Coloe can be found in Meath and Westmeath.
MacColum
Mostly an Ulster name but Colum is found around the Longford area.
MacComb
A Scottish family and now common enough in the north east. Connected to MacComish.
Comer
A close relation of the Kerrigans of Galway and Mayo. Also Kerin.
Comerford
An English family tracing its roots back to 1210 in Ireland. Found mainly in Kilkenny.
Comey
Connected to Coomey, Comey can be found in Cavan, Meath. Also in Cork.
MacComiskey
MacCumascaigh, meaning confuser. Found in Monaghan, and along the Cavan-Longford border.
Commone
From O’Comáin in Munster and Ó Cuimín in Connacht. Sometimes called Commons in Wexford and Cummins in Cork.
Comyn
Came with the Normans. Rare but found in Wexford and Louth.
Conaghan
A Donegal name, often changed to Cunningham
MacConaghy
A branch of the Scottish clan Robertson.
Conaty
Originated in east Cavan and associated with the townland of Munterconnacht.
Conboy
Meaning yellow hound. related to Conway and found in Sligo-Roscommon area.
Concannon
O’Concheanainn means fairheaded hound and is found in Mayo and Galway.
Condon
Popular enough in Cork and neighbouring counties.
Condron
Often spelt Conran and comes from the Laois-Offaly area.
MacConley
An Offaly name, sometimes related to Connolly.
Conlon
See O’Connellan

Connaghty
Meaning man from Connacht, found in north Louth area as Conachy.
Connaughton
A popular Connacht name, originally from Mayo-Sligo area and more recently in Roscommon.
MacConeely
A Connemara name. Related to Nealy and Corneely.
MacConnell
Usually MacDhomhnaill and not McConaill meaning son of Daniel not Connell. Very popular in east Ulster and north midlands.
O’Connell
A great Kerry family and now one of the most numerous names in Ireland. Often used without the O further north.
O’Connellan
Mostly seen in Connacht and related to Conlon and Conlan. Also Quinlan and Quinlivan.
Connerton
Related to Connaughton.
Connery
Popular along the Cork and Limerick border.

Connolly
Two strong assemblies of Connollys. In Galway where it is often spelt Connelly and in Monaghan.
MacConnon
An Oriel name and has still strong links to its homeland of Monaghan, south Armagh and north Louth.
MacConnor
Son of Connor and an Ulster name.

O’Connor
One of the great clans of Ireland. A number of distinct septs. In Connacht (one of this branch was the last High King of Ireland), in Offaly, where the letter O is often omitted, in Kerry and in north Clare. Often called Connors.
Conole
Seen around west Clare.



Conoo
Also Connoe. Nowadays probably known as Conway. Once very popular in west Cork.
Conrahy
An Offaly-Laois name sometimes changed to Conroy.
Conran
See Condron

Conroy
Mostly associated with Connacht and especially Galway. Related to Conree, Conary and Conry.
Considine
A branch of the O’Briens and found in Clare.
MacConvery
Associated with south Derry.
MacConville
A south Armagh name which branched into other Oriel areas of Down and Louth.



Conway
An anglicised form of several Irish names. MacConnmhaigh in Thomand, MacConmidhe in Tyrone, O’Connbhuidhe in Sligo and O’Connmhacháin in Mayo. Conway itself is numerous in Offaly and Laois.
Conyers
A French family in Kerry-Limerick area. Sometimes used by the O’Connors.
MacCooey
Another Oriel clan.
Coogan
Found mainly in Kilkenny, also Monaghan.



Cooke
Three different origins. Mostly Scottish in Ulster, English in Leinster but the MacDhabhocs, a branch of the Burkes in Galway were anglicised to read MacCooge.
MacCool
Meaning devotee of St Comhghal and found in Donegal. Sometimes changed to Cole.

Cooley
Connected to Colley, MacCawley and Cowley.
Also to the north Clare-south Galway name Kilcooley.
Coonan
Originated in Sligo, nowadays found in Offaly and north Tipperary.
Cooney
One of the leading Irish names. Most popular in Clare, Galway and Cavan.
Coote
An influential family who landed on our shores five hundred years back. Associated with Laois and Cavan (Cootehill).
Corbally
See Louth and Meath.

Corbane
Or Corbett which is English. Corbane comes from Ó Corbáin in Munster or Ó Cairbin in Connacht.
Corbane
Or Corbett which is English. Corbane comes from Ó Corbáin in Munster or Ó Cairbin in Connacht.
MacCorbay
Sometimes Corby and found in the south midlands of Laois, Offaly and Tipperary.
MacCorcoran
Originating around Slieve Bloom area. Still popular in Offaly and neighbouring Westmeath.
O’Corcoran
Chases the family roots back to Fermanagh.
Cordue
Found in Clare. Disputed English or Spanish origin.
Corduff
Comes from the Donegal-Sligo-Mayo area.
Corey
Found in Tyrone. Related to Corry.
Corish
Usually linked to Wexford.
MacCorkell
Or Corkhill and associated with Donegal-Derry.
MacCorless
MacCoirleasa and mainly found in Galway.

Corley
Changed from Curley and associated with Sligo-Mayo area.
McCormack
Spelt McCormick in Ulster. Meaning son of Cormac, it is very popular in Westmeath. The spelling MacCormac is usually of Scottish origin.
Cormican
Linked to MacCormack. Maps Clare, Roscommon and Galway. Also Down.
Corr
Different opinions to origin. Found in north west Ulster. See Tyrone
Corridan
Connected to Corrigan. Associated with the Shannon Estuary areas of Kerry and Clare.
Corrigan
Related to the Maguires of Fermanagh. Still linked to this area.
MacCorry
See also Curry, Corrie and Corr. Another branch of the Maguires. Common in Tyrone.
MacCosgrave
An old west Monaghan family.

O’Cosgrave
No connection to the Macs. Linked to Cosker in south Leinster. Again found in Monaghan.
Cash
Or Cush. Meaning MacCoise (leg). McCosh is found in Antrim. while Cush can be seen in east Tyrone and Armagh.

MacCostello
Strange for a Mac to have Norman origins. Gave their name to the barony of Costello in east Mayo. Still popular in this area. See also Cavan.
Coates
On record along Cork and Waterford border.
Costigan
Related to the Fitzpatricks. See Laois and Kilkenny.
MacCotter
MacCoiter. An old Irish family with a Viking meaning name which remains numerous in Cork.
Cottle
Viking connections and linked to Sligo.
Cotton
An English family long associated with the south east. Ref Ballycotton in Cork.
MacCoubrey
A Scottish name found in Down
MacCoughlan
A leading clan in west Offaly. Still numerous in the Faithful County.
O’Coughlan
Usually titled Coughlan or Coghlan. Cork remains the homeland.
Coulahan
See Cuolahan.
Coulter
Found in Down, Derry area. See Colter.
Counihan
Sometimes linked to Cunningham or Coonan. A Kerry name.
County
See Canty.
De Courcy
Leading Norman John De Courcy arrived in Ireland in 1177. Prominent in west Cork where the name still remains sometimes without the De, often Coursey.

MacCourt
An Oriel name, fairly numerous in the north east.


Courtney
Norman but sometimes the anglicised version of Cournane and MacCourt.
MacCoveney
Originally Kilkenny, now Cork.
Cowan
Popular in Ulster where it has links to MacCoan, Coyne, MacKeown and MacIlhone.
Cowhig
Also Cowhey. Connected to Coffey and found in Cork.
Cowley
One of the tribes of Kilkenny. Often of English origin. See Meath and Cork.
MacCowley
A variant of MacAuley in Donegal.
Cox
Anglicised from MacQuilly and popular in Roscommon area.

MacCoy
An anglicised form of MacAodh (son of Hugh). Mainly found in Derry and Antrim.
MacCoyle
MacGiolla Chomhgaill (devotee of St Comgal). Popular in counties Donegal, Tyrone and Monaghan.
O’Coyne
O’Cadhain meaning wild goose. Connected to Kyne and Kilcoyne. Numerous in Mayo. Also in Meath and Westmeath.
MacCracken
Connected to MacNaughton and found in Antrim and Derry.
Craddock
An influential family who arrived from Wales.
Crahan
Linked to MacCrohan in Kerry and O’Creaghan in Mayo.
Craig
From the Scottish word crag and very numerous in Ulster.
Craney
Often MacCranny, also Crany and Creaney. Down and Armagh names.
Craughwell
As the town of the same name suggests from east Galway.
Craven
Somtimes English but more often from the Galway O’Crabhain. Found here and in Roscommon. Also north Louth. Linked to Creavan.
Crawford
An Ulster name.

MacCrawley
Usually titled Crawley and found in Armagh, Down and Louth.
MacCrea
A Scottish name common in Ulster.
MacCready
Originating in Raphoe, Co. Donegal. Linked to MacConready in Derry.
Creagh
Found in Clare-Limerick area. Connected to the O’Neills.
Crean
See also Creaghan and Crehan. Meaning O’Croidheáin (heart). A Donegal sept with links in Sligo. Crehan is popular in Clare-Galway area.
Creavan
See Craven, or Creavin.

Creed
Or Creedon and associated with Cork.

MacCreery
A variant of MacRuaidhri meaning MacRory and found in Tyrone and Antrim.
MacCreesh
A wing of the powerful MacGuinness clan and found in the Oriel counties, especially Armagh.
MacCreevy
See MacGreevy.
Cregan
Fairly widespread often spelt Creegan in Connacht.
Cregg
Associated with Roscommon
Creighton
Scottish but sometimes linked to Creaghan and Crehan.
Cremin
A branch of the MacCarthys and found mostly in Kerry. Often spelt Cremins.
Creenan
Linked to Crinion and also counties Kilkenny and Laois.

Crennigan
Found in the north midland counties of Westmeath, Roscommon and Longford. Also Crinnigan.
Cribben
A Mayo name.
MacCrifferty
Linked to Fermanagh, sometimes titled Clifford.
MacCrilly
An Oriel family. Possibly related to Crawley. See Down.
MacCrinion
Popular in Meath.
Croffy
Found in east Galway.

Crofton
English and although family originally settled in Connacht, nowadays found mostly in Leinster area.
MacCrohan
Related to the O’Sullivans. A west Kerry sept based on the Dingle peninsula.
Crolly
Connected to Crilly in Oriel counties and Crowley further south.
Cromie
Or Crombie. Recorded around Newry area. Scottish origin but sometimes O’Cromy in Armagh.
Cromwell
An English name seen in parts of east Meath.

Cronan
A variant of Cronin in Tipperary.

Cronekan
Claims that it is from O’Crónmhacháin around the Youghal area of east Cork.
Cronelly
Or Cronley, recorded in the Offaly area.



Cronin
From Crón which means brown or dark. An erenagh family from Gougane Barra on the Cork-Kerry border who have spread their wings into neighbouring areas of Munster.
Cronogue
Connected to Leitrim.

Crosbie
Sometimes Crosby. An English name but also an anglicisation of MacCrossan. Seen in Meath.
MacCrossan
Once from along Laois-Offaly border but nowadays most popular in the northern counties like Donegal. Usually spelt Crossan.
Crotty
Originally a Limerick-Clare sept which migrated to Waterford area.
MacCroughan
A variant of Crohan.

Crowe
Related to MacEnroe and found in Cavan. See also Clare.
Crowley
O’Cruadhlaoich, meaning hard (cruadh) while laoch is hero. A well known Cork name.
MacCrowne
Also Croan and found in Roscommon.
MacCrudden
MacRodáin is a Donegal name since changed to Rudden in Cavan.
Crumley
Or Cromley is found in Donegal and Derry.
MacCrumlish
Has Donegal connections.
Cryan
Connected to Crean in Roscommon.
Cuddihy
Cuidigtheach means helper and Cuddy is a popular Laois-Kilkenny name.
Cuddy
See Cuddihy.
MacCue
Linked to MacLoo and MacHugh in Fermanagh and Donegal.
Cuffe
Of different origins. Probably English.
Cuggeran
Found in Clare.

Culhane
An anglicisation of O’Cathaláin in Limerick. Or Cohalan in Cork.
Culhoun
Linked to Cullen.

MacCullagh
Mac Con Uladh is the hound of Ulster. Spelling MacCulloch is usually Scottish.
MacCullen
Found in Monaghan but sometimes as MacQuillan or MacCollin.
O’Cullen
A very popular name in Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow.
Culleton
Both Mac and O and associated with the south east.

Culligan
Linked to Quilligan and Colgan. Map see Clare also Cavan.
Cullinan
Originally from south west Cork, it is spelt Cullinane in Clare and Tipperary.
Culloty
From codladh (sleep) and a Kerry-west Cork name.
Cully
On record in the north east.

MacCulready
A branch of the O’Rourkes found in Longford-Leitrim area. Sometimes anglicised to Gray.
Cummins
See Commons.

Cunnea
Or Conney. Found in Donegal where it is sometimes changed to Quinn.
MacCunneen
A Mayo family, sometimes changed to Rabbit in Galway.

O’Cunneen
Originated in Clare-Limerick and midlands. Still found in Westmeath-Offaly area and again sometimes changed to Rabbit.
Cunnegan
Both Mac and O and a Galway name.


MacCunniff
From MacCondarbh (black hound). Associated with Kinniff, MacNiff, Cudda, MacAdoo, MacEndoo or MacAniff. See Donegal.
Cunningham
From a Scottish family who settled in Donegal and used as an anglicised version for many Irish names.
MacCualahan
See Offaly. The Os are linked to Mayo.
MacCurley
Linked to the Ulster version Turley, Curley is associated with Mayo, Galway and Roscommon.
Curnane
Often changed to Courtney. See Kerry.
Curran
Originally Tipperary and Waterford. Numerous variants. Linked to Maddens in Galway. Popular enough in Kerry.
MacCurry
Connected to MacCorry.

MacCurtin
Often used with the prefix O and mostly associated with Cork and Kerry.
Curtis
An English name common enough in Meath.
Cusack
A Norman family but Cusack in Clare is of different origin and comes from the Irish MacIosóg. On record in Cavan.
MacCushely
From Tyrone, linked to Costello and changed to Cosgrave in Monaghan.
Cushing
Related to Cussen and found in south eastern counties.
Cushnahane
From O’Cosnacháin (defender). Found in Antrim area.
MacCusker
Sometimes without prefix Mac further south they are a branch of the MacGuires of Breffni.
Cussane
Found in Galway.
Cussen
Of Norman extraction sometimes changes to Cousins.

MacCutcheon
A branch of the Scottish clan MacDonald and found in Ulster.