The Irish have always loved words and language, and Ireland is known as a land of poets and playwrights. Irish Surnames Based on Personality or Physical Traits (and Meanings) Walsh - The last name Walsh is very common in Ireland, and it signifies the Welsh people who moved to Ireland during the Norman invasion.Shea - The last name Shea or Shay is originally from Kerry.Ryan - Ryan is the most common surname in Tipperary and Carlow.It is mainly found in Tyrone, Galway, and Westmeath in Ireland. Martin - This name is popular in both Ireland and England.Dunne - This is the most common last name Laois.Deasun - Is a last name that refers to those from South Munster.Clarke - Clarke is one of the oldest surnames in Ireland.Carroll - Carroll is a common last name in Ireland and quite popular in Armagh, Kerry, Louth, and Offaly.Byrne - Is common in Wicklow, Dublin, and Louth.The O’ Boyles were the chieftains of Donegal. Boyle - The last name Boyle is prevalent in Kildare and Offaly.Here are some Irish last names specific to various regions of Ireland. Irish last names can be widespread in one area and nearly non-existent in another. Image: The Cliffs of Moher Irish Last Names Based on Region (and Meanings) O’Murphy - Anglicized version O’Murchadha.Alternative spellings Moore, Muir, and Mure. O’Kelly - Anglicized version of O'Ceallaigh.The O’Brien or O’Briain is one of Ireland’s oldest aristocratic families. Brian Boru was the King of Ireland in the 10th century. McCarthy - Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Cárthaigh. In addition to Mc, Mac, and O, the commonly used Fitz is an influence of the French Fis, meaning son. Like many cultures, many Irish last names follow the patronymic tradition of a family name being based on the father’s or grandfather’s first name. Irish last names are also often based on physical characteristics, clan names, and the region from which the family hailed. The familiar O means “grandson,’ therefore O’Brien means Grandson of O’Brien. Many Irish surnames we are familiar with that begin with Mc or Mac are patronyms Mc and Mac stand for “son,” so Mc Doyle would mean Son of Doyle. Because of this disruption to Gaelic life, research into Irish genealogy is challenging because of the changing and disappearance of some names over time. During the British colonization of Ireland, last names were changed to sound more Anglican. If you know of other good medieval names I should add to the list, let me know! And if you like master lists, check out my reference book Master Lists for Writers, designed to make writing go a little (or a lot) faster.Find your Irish last name and learn about its meaning and origins on this list of popular Irish surnames.įor centuries, even though the Norman invasion of the English, Irish last names were defined by clans and septs (smaller groups within clans). Mary / Molly (I’ve never understood why “Molly” is a nickname for “Mary,” but English nicknames are sometimes like that) Guinevere (this famous old medieval name is actually Welsh, and it means “white shadow” or “white wave ” it’s related to the modern name Jennifer) Medieval Female Namesĭouglas (yes, this was a medieval female name, but it somehow evolved to be a male name)Įlysande (this medieval girl name means “healthy and strong”) (I know some expecting parents have used my name lists, too, so if that’s why you came here looking for medieval girl names, congratulations! There are some pretty and unique ones in this mix.)īookmark the page or save it on Pinterest so you can find it when you need it! So if you’re a historical novelist looking for good medieval names that are accurate, I’ve saved you some time! If you’re writing an epic fantasy in the European “swords and sorcery” vein, you might like the feel of some of these, too. Just a few of these names are from King Arthur, but I found most of them through hard historical research. You can also use my list of Medieval Male Names and my list of Medieval Last Names. Hi friends! This used to be a part of a huge master list of old medieval names, but because that one was a lot for people to scroll through, I’ve divided it up into a few separate posts.
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