The Most Popular Last Name in Ireland, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the last name you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 1, 2024 06:42
In Ireland, where the echoes of history resonate deeply through last names, understanding which surnames are most common ties us closer to the cultural fabric of the region. This ranking collates data based on the popularity of last names, reflecting both historical influences and current trends. It’s not just about names; it's a reflection of social evolution and migration patterns that have shaped the nation over centuries.
By participating in the voting, you contribute to a broader understanding of Irish heritage and its modern-day relevance. Each vote helps to shape a clearer picture of how certain last names have moved through Irish society, offering insights into familial origins and movements. This engages a community-driven approach to examining how personal identities are interconnected with national history.
What Is the Most Popular Last Name in Ireland?
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158votesThis is the most popular last name in Ireland, with over 13,000 occurrences in the country. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Murchadha," meaning "descendant of Murchadh," which translates to "sea warrior."Murphy is a common last name in Ireland, originating from the ancient Gaelic word 'Ó Murchadha' meaning 'descendant of the sea warrior'. It is one of the most popular surnames in the country and has a rich history and cultural significance.
- Meaning: Descendant of the sea warrior
- Origin: Ireland
- Popularity: One of the most common surnames in Ireland
- Etymology: Derived from the Gaelic word 'Ó Murchadha'
- Cultural significance: Widely recognized and associated with Irish heritage
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249votesThis is the second most common surname in Ireland, with over 10,000 occurrences. It is thought to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Ceallaigh," meaning "descendant of Ceallach," which translates to "bright-headed."The last name 'Kelly' is one of the most common surnames in Ireland. It has deep roots in Irish history and is associated with various clans and families across the country. 'Kelly' derives from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Ceallach', which is believed to translate to 'bright-headed' or 'warrior'.
- Origin: Ireland
- Meaning: Descendant of Ceallach ('bright-headed' or 'warrior')
- Popularity: One of the most common surnames in Ireland
- Clans: Associated with various clans and families
- Language: Gaelic
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321votesThis is the third most popular last name in Ireland, with over 10,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Súilleabháin," meaning "descendant of Súilleabhán," which translates to "dark-eyed."O'Sullivan is one of the most popular last names in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic Ó Súilleabháin, which means 'descendant of Súilleabhán'. The name is associated with the Munster region and has a rich historical significance in Irish culture.
- Meaning: Descendant of Súilleabhán
- Origin: Ireland, specifically Munster region
- Popularity: One of the most popular last names in Ireland
- Etymology: Ó Súilleabháin - 'descendant of Súilleabhán'
- Variants: O'Sullivan, Sullivan, Sulivan
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413votesThis surname is the fourth most common in Ireland, with over 8,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "Breathnach," meaning "Welshman."Walsh is one of the most common surnames in Ireland. It is of Irish origin and is primarily found among people of Irish descent. The name has historical significance and is associated with the ancient high kings of Ireland.
- Origin: Irish
- Popularity: One of the most common surnames in Ireland
- Significance: Associated with the ancient high kings of Ireland
- Distribution: Primarily found among people of Irish descent
- Variations: Possible variations include Welsh, Welch, Wallace
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516votesThis surname is the fifth most popular in Ireland, with over 7,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Briain," meaning "descendant of Brian," which translates to "strong."O'Brien is one of the most common last names in Ireland, particularly associated with people of Irish descent. It has deep historical roots and is believed to have originated from the Gaelic name Ó Briain, meaning 'descendant of Brian'. The name Brian refers to a high-status personal name in Irish history. The O'Brien surname is prevalent among the Irish diaspora as well.
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: Descendant of Brian
- Popularity: High in Ireland and among Irish diaspora
- Historical Significance: Associated with Irish history and culture
- Heritage: Irish
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67votesThis surname is the sixth most common in Ireland, with over 7,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Broin," meaning "descendant of Bran," which translates to "raven."Byrne is one of the most popular last names in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish surname Ó Broin, meaning 'descendant of Bran'. The name is most commonly associated with County Wicklow, where the Byrne clan originated.
- Meaning: Descendant of Bran
- Origin: Ireland, specifically County Wicklow
- Popularity: One of the most popular last names in Ireland
- Spelling Variations: O'Byrne, O'Byrnes, O'Beirne, Beirne, Beeron, Burn, Burns
- Irish Gaelic Equivalent: Ó Broin
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711votesThis surname is the seventh most popular in Ireland, with over 6,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Riain," meaning "descendant of Rian," which translates to "little king."Ryan is one of the most popular last names in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish surname Ó Riain, meaning 'descendant of Rian', where Rian is believed to originate from the word 'rí', meaning 'king'. The name is commonly associated with County Tipperary and has spread throughout the country in modern times.
- Origin: Ireland
- Meaning: Descendant of Rian
- Derived from: Irish surname Ó Riain
- County of association: Tipperary
- Popularity: Most popular last name in Ireland
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89votesThis surname is the eighth most common in Ireland, with over 6,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Conchobhair," meaning "descendant of Conchobhar," which translates to "lover of hounds."The last name 'O'Connor' is one of the most popular surnames in Ireland. It belongs to the category of surnames derived from patronymics, indicating ancestral lineage or the name of an ancestor. The prefix 'O' in 'O'Connor' means 'descendant of' and 'Connor' is derived from the ancient Irish name 'Conchobhar' or 'Conchobhar mac Nessa'. The surname has a rich historical significance and is associated with numerous notable individuals and families throughout the centuries.
- Origin: Ireland
- Meaning: Descendant of Connor
- Patronymic Type: Derived from patronymics
- Prefix: O (meaning 'descendant of')
- Derived From: Conchobhar or Conchobhar mac Nessa
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91votesThis surname is the ninth most popular in Ireland, with over 5,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "Mac Carthaigh," meaning "son of Carthach," which translates to "loving."McCarthy is one of the most popular last names in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic name Mac Cárthaigh, which means 'son of Cárthach'. The surname has ancient origins and has been prominent in Irish history and culture for centuries. The bearers of the McCarthy name have played important roles in politics, literature, and other fields.
- Origin: Ireland
- Meaning: Son of Cárthach
- Spelling Variants: MacCarthy, MacCarty, MacArthy
- Clan: MacCarthy Mor
- Crest: A lion rampant gules
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108votesThis surname is the tenth most common in Ireland, with over 5,000 occurrences. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ó Dubhghaill," meaning "descendant of Dubhghall," which translates to "dark stranger."Doyle is one of the most popular last names in Ireland. It is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Ó Dubhghaill, which means 'descendant of Dubhghall'. Dubhghall combines the elements 'dubh' meaning 'black' and 'gall' which means 'stranger' or 'foreigner', indicating a person with dark or black features who may have been of Norse or Viking descent.
- Origin: Ireland
- Meaning: 'Descendant of Dubhghall', where Dubhghall means 'black stranger'
- Variants: Ó Dubhghaill, Doyley
- Alternate Spellings: Doyel, Doyal, Doile, D'oyly
- Irish Gaelic Spelling: Ó Dubhghaill
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Ranking factors for popular last name
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Geographic distributionExplore the distribution of last names across different regions in Ireland. Some last names may be more prevalent in specific areas, which can provide important insights into the popularity of these surnames.
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Ancestral originsConsider the origins of Irish last names, including Gaelic, Norman, and Anglo-Irish surnames, as these can impact their popularity. Some last names may have evolved or been anglicized over time, which can also play a role in determining popularity.
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Migration and diasporaConsider the influence of Irish emigration to other countries, as this could impact the popularity of certain last names. For example, some Irish surnames may be more prevalent in countries with large Irish populations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
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Cultural representationLook into the representation of Irish last names in popular culture, including literature, film, and television, as this can influence their popularity and recognition.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular last name in Ireland. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or surname is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1308 views
- 192 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each surname once every 24 hours. The rank of each surname is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular last name in ireland
Background Information:
Last names in Ireland have a rich history dating back to the 10th century when the Gaelic system of surnames was established. Traditionally, Irish surnames were based on a person's occupation, physical characteristics, or their father's name. However, during the 16th and 17th centuries, English influence led to the adoption of English surnames by some Irish families.
Today, the most popular last name in Ireland is Murphy, followed closely by Kelly and O'Sullivan. These names are prevalent across the country and have deep roots in Irish history and culture. Understanding the significance of last names in Ireland provides insight into the country's heritage and identity.
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