The table below is based on Mathesons Top 20 Irish surnames of 1890. In addition to including brief details of his findings and calculations, the table includes statistics revealed by Griffiths Valuation, a survey of households and land carried out county by county between 1848 and 1864. In addition, the table includes some brief details about the origin of each of the names. Surname Griffiths Valuation c1850s 1890 Meaning or Origin Murphy A total of 13,539 Murphy households were recorded across the island, making Murphy the most numerous of Irish surnames in the mid-19th century. It was most prevalent in Cork (3087 households), Wexford (1688), Kilkenny (888). Smallest incidence in Donegal (32) and Derry (66). Total population of Murphys in Ireland estimated at 62,600. It was one of the most well distributed or Irish surnames, most common in Cos. Dublin, Wexford and Cork. From the two Old Irish surnames, OMurchadha and MacMurchadha, both meaning sea warrior. For reasons unknown, the Murphys of the 19th and 20th centuries chose not to re-adopt either the O or Mac prefixes. In 1990, about 52,500 Murphys were telephone subscribers in Ireland. Kelly Griffiths Valuation recorded 11,518 Kellys and only 57 Okellys. Most were in Galway (986), Roscommon (815) and Mayo (595). Ulster had 2640 Kelly entries, with only 65 in Fermanagh. Total population of Kellys estimated at 55,900. Appeared in all counties but most common in Cork, Galway, Mayo, Dublin, Roscommon. Derivation is not certain. Possibly from ceallach, meaning strife. In Irish, the name is written OCeallaigh. Originally only a surname, it became first a boys first name and, later, a girls name. OSullivan Of the 8,000 OSullivan or Sullivan households recorded, nearly three-quarters were in Cork (3388) or Kerry (2567). Some 15 counties had less than 20 households with this name. Some 90% of the OSullivans were estimated to be in Munster. Internationally recognised as one of the great Irish surnames, OSuileabhan, meaning hawk-eyed or one-eyed, remains the most common name in Cos. Cork and Kerry. In 1990 there were approx 32,800 telephone subscribers of this name in Ireland. Walsh Of the 9,843 households names Walsh/e, Welsh, Welch or Brannagh, the largest numbers were found in Co Kilkenny (1420), Cork (1357) and Mayo (1092). The name was most common in Galway, Dublin, Wexford, Cork and Mayo. Numbers were lowest in Ulster. The name was originally Breatnach, meaning from Wales, which arrived in Ireland with the Norman invaders. The name is pronounced Welsh in Munster and Connaught. Smith Scattered across the island, Smith households were most numerous in Cos Cavan (1074), Down (635) and Meath (578). More than half the Smiths were in Ulster, and more than one quarter in Leinster. Especially common in Cos Antrim, Cavan and Dublin. Although Englands most common surname, Smith in Ireland does not necessarily suggest an English ancestry. Many MacGowans (whose name derives from gabhann, meaning smith) had their name translated into English 3-400 years ago. OBrien One of the great Irish surnames centred on Munster, the largest concentrations of OBrien households were found in Cos Limerick (725), Claire (511), Tipperary (455) and Cork (418). Without the O prefix, the name was most common in Cork (806) and Tipperary (628). Smallest numbers in Cos Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny. Of the estimated 490 OBrien registered births this year, all were in Munster or Dublin (105). Without the O prefix, there were around 80 births registered, in Cos Meath, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford. In Irish, OBriain, meaning descendant of Brian (Boru), the name means exalted one or eminence. Its original homeland is Co Clare, but it is now scattered across Ireland. There were 29,400 telephone subscribers of this name in Ireland in 1990. Byrne By far the most prevalent county for Byrne households in the mid 19th century was Wicklow where it was recorded 1203 times. The neighbouring counties of Dublin (893), Carlow (572) and Wexford (534) were the next largest concentrations. The smallest numbers were found in Derry(9) Leinster was the great stronghold of this name, with five times more Byrnes than the other three provinces combined. More than half (301) of the 568 Byrne births in 1890 were in Co. Dublin; 87 were in Co Wicklow. OBroin, meaning raven, can be traced back to Bran, the son of an 11th century king of Leinster. It remains one of the most common Irish surnames in Wicklow and neighbouring counties. Ryan There were 8871 Ryan households recorded in Griffiths Valuation. Nearly half (4090) were in Tipperary. Limerick had 1263 while the next most numerous were Cos Kilkenny (616) and Cork (409). More than half of all Ryan births this year in Munster, especially Tipperary, then Limerick. Only 13 entries in all of Ulster, and just 49 in Connaught. In Old Irish, the name was spelt OMulriain; in Modern Irish, its ORiain. Its long been the most numerous of Irish surnames in Tipperary, and has become a popular first name. It means little king, and the sept of this name were from the Tipperary/Limerick borders. OConnor In the mid-19th century, the singular form of Connor was the most numerous (5377 households), being found mainly in Kerry and Cork. There were 1749 using the plural form Connors (especially in Wexford and Waterford). Those households using the name OConnor numbered only 841 and were mainly in Munster. Of 266 births this year, 80% were in Kerry, Cork, Limerick, Dublin, Clare and Galway. Just 13 Connor/OConnor births were in Ulster. From Conchobar, meaning lover of hounds. The O prefix, formerly discarded, has now resumed its position. The name remains very common in Kerry. ONeill The Neills and ONeills were fairly evenly split with 2578 and 2720 households respectively. Just one fifth (537) of the former and more than half (1412) of the latter were in the six counties that now make up Northern Ireland. There were 407 ONeill births in 1890. They covered nearly all counties but more than half were in Dublin, Antrim, Cork and Tyrone. Only 28 were in Connacht. ONeill, son of Niall, which means vehement. The main ONiall family, centred on Tyrone, descend from Niall of the Nine Hostages, but there were other, separate, groups in Carlow and Waterford. Still a very big name in Ulster. OReilly By far the greatest concentration of Reilly households was in Co Cavan (1759). The next largest, Meath, had only 579. Reilly households outnumbered OReillys nearly 20-1. Co Cavan remained the stronghold of Reillys with 137 births registered in this year. But there were 319 births elsewhere, including 93 in Dublin and 78 in Longford. Only 10% of Reillys used the Oprefix at this time. From raghallaigh, possibly meaning sociable tribe or group. The origins of the Reillys lies in Breffny (a kingdom based across modern day Cos Cavan and Longford where it remains the most common surname). At the dawn of the 21st century almost 60% of Reillys used the O prefix. Doyle There were 4634 Doyle households recorded across Ireland and more than half were in Wexford (1169), Wicklow (556), Carlow (393) and Dubliln (330). Smallest numbers were in the far northwest. Of the 360-odd Doyle birth registrations, three-quarters were in Co Dublin (162) and Co Wexford (102). Other counties were Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow. One of several common Irish surnames which didnt resume the O prefix, it comes from the Irish for dark stranger ie Vikings, and is not believed to have any Celtic connections. McCarthy With 2298 households, County Cork had by far the highest proportion of the 3830 entries in Griffiths Valuation. There were also 1203 Carty and 534 Carthy households. The southwest of the island remained the stronghold with an estimated 90% of the McCarthy population in Munster. Of about 380 McCarthy 72% wre in Cork. Means loving, and derives from Carthach, an 11th century king of Cashel. In the 12th century the dynasty was exiled from Tipperary and relocated to Cork and Kerry. About 60% of McCarthy families hail from Cork. Gallagher Although widespread, Gallagher households were most common in the north western counties, especially Donegal (1732) and Mayo (627). Smallest numbers were in Kilkenny and Tipperary (just 7 combined). Total 4125 households. Ulster (principally Donegal) still held the greatest number of Gallaghers, with Connacht in second place. Meaning foreign helper, the Old Irish spelling is OGallchobhair; the Modern Irish Gallachoir. It has more than 20 variant spellings, and descends from a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Still holds the number one spot of Irish surnames in Co Donegal. Doherty Some 3033 Doherty and 918 Dogherty households were recorded with the largest numbers Co Donegal (1430 and 290 respectively) and Derry (319 and 155 respectively). Ulster remained the province most densely populated with Dohertys. All other provinces had only small numbers. Originally one of the great families of the Inishowen peninsula, and another that is descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, the Dohertys are still especially numerous in Cos. Donegal and Derry. The name means unlucky and took 14th place in a 1996 survey of common Irish surnames. Kennedy Of the 4820 Kennedy households recorded, just under a quarter (1112) were in Co Tipperary. The remainder were scattered across the island. Limeric, had 262, Antrim 258, Down 211 and Kilkenny 232. Still widely distributed, the province with the lowest population of Kennedys was Connacht. Co Tipperary saw the highest number (70) of Kennedy births, with Dublin in second place with 51. Old Irish spelling: OCeanneidigh. Means ugly head. This surname descended from a nephew of Brian Boru and the family were Lords of Ormond throughout the early medieval period before splitting into three distinct groups and dispersing. Lynch Another of the great Irish surnames centred on Munster, Lynch was recorded 658 time in Co Cork, 400 in Kerry, 274 in Limerick, 261 in Co Clare and 220 in Cos Tipperary and Waterford. Other significant groupings were found in Cavan (516 households) and Meath (300). In 1890, some 188 Lynch births were registered. While Co Cavan ranked at the top, with 51 births, Co Meath was pushed into 5th place with only 17. Kerry had 41, Limerick 31, Co Clare 23, Co Westmeath 14, and Co Louth 11. A name with two distinct derivations, one of them the French/Norman name of De Lench. The other is of Celtic Irish origin, from OLoingsigh, meaning mariner. Murray There were 4455 Murray households and an additional 248 that clung firm to the Mc prefix. Well distributed throughout the island, it had significant groups in Co Cork (356 households), Co Roscommon (278), Co Down (277) Co Galway (262), Co Meath (235). The McMurrays were nearly all in the north east of the island. Some 145 Murray births were registered in 1890. 60 were in Dublin, the remainder in Down (33) and Midlands counties. In Irish Muireb, meaning seafarer. A considerable number of the Ulster Murrays are of Scots or Flemish origin. Quinn A well scattered name, 4442 Quin/Quinn households were recorded in the Valuation. They were most common in Co Tyrone (663), Co Galway (297) and Co Tipperary (265). There were 121 Quinn births in 1890. Tyrone, unsurprisingly, took top ranking as the location of 40 of them. Cos Armagh and Roscommon recorded 26 and 25 each, while Monaghan and Longford saw the remainder. Derived from OCuinn (descendent of Conn) meaning wisdom or chief. It still holds the top spot for Irish surnames in Tyrone but is well-distributed across the island. Moore Although Moores were found in all counties, they were most common in Co Down (404 households), Antrim (376) Laois (290) and Tyrone (237). The smallest numbers were in Co Sligo (13 households), and Co Clare (20). Connaught and Munster had the smallest number of Moores. The name was most numerous in Cos Kildare, Tyrone, Dublin, Derry and Antrim. In Old Irish, Mordha, meaning stately/noble. The OMoores were a leading sept in Co Laois but those that carry the name today may be of English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh origin.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:29:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015