Irish name - wikipedia Irish name This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2009 ) A formal Irish - language personal name consists of a given name and a surname. Surnames in Irish are generally patronymic in etymology, although they are no longer literal patronyms, as Icelandic names are. The form of a surname varies according to whether its bearer is male or female and in the case of a married woman, whether she chooses to adopt her husband 's surname. An alternative traditional naming convention consists of the first name followed by a double patronym, usually with the father and grandfather 's names. This convention is not used for official purposes but is generalized in Gaeltachtaí, or Irish - speaking areas, and also survives in some rural non-Gaeltacht areas. Sometimes the name of the mother or grandmother may be used instead of that of the father or grandfather. Contents 1 Epithets 2 Surnames and prefixes 3 Patronyms and other additives 3.1 Traditional Gaeltacht names 4 Examples of first names and surnames 4.1 Notable examples of first names and surnames 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Epithets A first name may be modified by an adjective to distinguish its bearer from other people with the same name. Mór ( `` big '' ) and Óg ( `` young '' ) are used to distinguish father and son, like English `` junior '' and `` senior '', but are placed between the given name and the surname : Seán Óg Ó Súilleabháin corresponds to `` John O'Sullivan Jr. '' ( although anglicised versions of the name often drop the `` O ' '' from the name ). The word Beag / Beg, meaning `` little '', can be used in place of Óg. This did not necessarily indicate that the younger person was small in stature, merely younger than his father. Sometimes beag would be used to imply a baby was small at birth, possibly premature. Adjectives denoting hair colour may also be used, especially informally : Pádraig Rua ( `` red - haired Patrick '' ), Máire Bhán ( `` fair - haired Mary '' ). Surnames and prefixes A male 's surname generally takes the form Ó / Ua ( meaning `` descendant '' ) or Mac ( `` son '' ) followed by the genitive case of a name, as in Ó Dónaill ( `` descendant of Dónall '' ) or Mac Lochlainn ( `` son of Lochlann '' ). A son has the same surname as his father. A female 's surname replaces Ó with Ní ( reduced from Iníon Uí - `` daughter of descendant of '' ) and Mac with Nic ( reduced from Iníon Mhic - `` daughter of the son of '' ) ; in both cases the following name undergoes lenition. However, if the second part of the surname begins with the letter C or G, it is not lenited after Nic. Thus the daughter of a man named Ó Dónaill has the surname Ní Dhónaill ; the daughter of a man named Mac Lochlainn has the surname Nic Lochlainn. When anglicised, the name can remain O ' or Mac, regardless of gender. If a woman marries, she may choose to take her husband 's surname. In this case, Ó is replaced by Bean Uí ( `` wife of descendant of '' ) and Mac is replaced by Bean Mhic ( `` wife of the son of '' ). In both cases bean may be omitted, in which case the woman uses simply Uí or Mhic. Again, the second part of the surname is lenited ( unless it begins with C or `` G '', in which case it is only lenited after Uí ). Thus a woman marrying a man named Ó Dónaill may choose to be use Bean Uí Dhónaill ( Mrs. O'Donnell in English ) or Uí Dhónaill as her surname ; a woman marrying a man named Mac Lochlainn may choose to be use Bean Mhic Lochlainn ( Mrs. McLaughlin in English ) or Mhic Lochlainn as her surname. If the second part of the surname begins with a vowel, the form Ó attaches an h to it, as in Ó hUiginn ( O'Higgins ) or Ó hAodha ( Hughes ). The other forms effect no change : Ní Uiginn, ( Bean ) Uí Uiginn ; Mac Aodha, Nic Aodha, Mhic Aodha, and so forth. Mag is often used instead of Mac before a vowel or ( sometimes ) the silent fh. The single female form of `` Mag '' is `` Nig ''. Ua is an alternative form of Ó. Some names of Norman origin have the prefix Fitz, from Latin language filius `` son '', such as Fitzwilliam, Fitzgerald, and so forth. Other Norman surnames may have the prefix `` de '', such as de Búrca, de Paor, or de Róiste. Male Meaning Anglicised Daughter Wife Examples Mac son Mc / Mac / M ' Nic Mhic Seán Mac Mathúna, Máire Mhic Mhathúna ( wife of Seán ), Aoife Nic Mhathúna ( daughter of Seán ) Ó / Ua descendant O ' Ní Uí Pól Ó Murchú, Mairéad Uí Mhurchú ( wife of Pól ), Gráinne Ní Mhurchú ( daughter of Pól ) Patronyms and other additives Many Irish surnames are concentrated in particular parts of the country and there are areas where a single surname may account for a large proportion of the population. Examples include O'Reilly in County Cavan, Ryan in County Tipperary and East County Limerick, or O'Sullivan in the Beara peninsula of West Cork ; or areas, such as Glenullin in the Sperrins, where there are several dominant surnames ( in that instance O'Kane, Mullan, McNicholl and some others ). In such cases, the surname may also acquire an additive in popular usage to differentiate one group bearing the same surname from another. This sometimes originates as a simple patronym -- that is, a James whose father was Harry might be referred to as Harry 's James -- but may be passed to later generations, so that James ' son Pat might be Harry 's Pat. This can also occur if a person becomes well known by a nickname : his children may take his nickname as an additive. For example, if Seán O'Brien was often referred to as `` Badger '', his son Patrick might be referred to orally as Pat Badger and written as Patrick O'Brien ( B ). In Tipperary, additives are particularly common among those bearing the Ryan surname. Examples include Ryan Lacken, Ryan Luke and Ryan Doc. A man christened Thomas Ryan might be known as Tommy Doc and his family might be referred as the Docs. While the additive is not part of a person 's official name, it may be used in a postal address, on an election register or in newspaper reports. In this case, Tommy Doc might be written as Thomas Ryan ( D ). Traditional Gaeltacht names In Gaeltacht ( Irish - speaking ) areas, it remains customary to use a name composed of the first name, followed by the father 's name in the genitive case, followed by the name of the paternal grandfather, also in the genitive. Thus Seán Ó Cathasaigh ( Seán O'Casey ), son of Pól, son of Séamus, would be known to his neighbours as Seán Phóil Shéamuis. Occasionally, if the mother or grandmother was a well - known person locally, her name may be used instead of that of the father or grandfather. If the mother 's name is used, then that of the maternal grandfather ( or potentially grandmother ) follows it, for example, Máire Sally Eoghain. These names are not used for official purposes. Often a nickname or English version of a name is used in their composition where the person would use a standard Irish form in formal circumstances. For example, the prominent sean - nós singer Seán Mac Dhonnchadha is perhaps better known as Johnny Mhairtín Learaí. This naming system also survives to a certain extent in rural areas outside the existing Gaeltacht. The system can be particularly useful for distinguishing individuals who live in the same locale and who share a common surname but are not closely related. For example, two individuals named John McEldowney might be known as `` John Patsy Den '' and `` John Mary Philip '' respectively. Even the Irish forms sometimes survive in parts of the Sperrins, so that among the principal families of Glenullin some branches are known by father / grandfather forms such as Pháidí Shéamais or Bhrian Dhónaill. Examples of first names and surnames Notable examples of first names and surnames Most Irish people use English ( or at least anglicised ) forms of their names in English - language contexts and Irish forms in Irish - language contexts. The Irish names of some famous people include : English / Anglicised name Irish name Notes Bertie Ahern Parthalán Ó hEachthiarn Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008. Thomas Ashe Tomás Ághas Gaelic League member Harry Boland Éinrí Eoin Ó Beólláin Moya Brennan Máire Ní Bhraonáin Irish - language spelling as birth name Daniel Buckley Dainéil Ó Buachalla Survivor of RMS Titanic Turlough Carolan Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin Irish harpist and composer Erskine Childers Earchta Ó Slatiascaigh ( Irish author and patriot, also his son - President of Ireland -, and grandson ) Michael Collins Mícheál Eoin Ó Coileáin signed Anglo - Irish Treaty with Irish - language name Michael Corcoran Mícheál Ó Corcráin Union Army General Liam Cosgrave Liam Mac Cosgair William ( ? ) Thomas Cosgrave ( the son ), Taoiseach W.T. Cosgrave Liam Tomás Mac Cosgair William Thomas Cosgrave ( the father ), President of the Executive Council Patrick S. Dinneen Pádraig Ua Duinnín was an Irish lexicographer and historian, and a leading figure in the Gaelic revival Michael Joe Costello Mícheál Seosamh Mac Oisdealb Irish Army General Garret FitzGerald Gearóid Mac Gearailt twice Taoiseach John Ford Seán O'Fearna Irish American actor and Movie director James Forrestal Seamus Ó Fuireastal Irish American United States Secretary of Defense Arthur Griffith Art Ó Gríobhtha Gaelic League member ; Sinn Féin founder and leader ; bilingual signature on Anglo - Irish Treaty Patsy O'Hara Peatsaí Ó hEadhra Charles Haughey Cathal Ó hEochaidh three times Taoiseach Michael D. Higgins Micheál Ó hUiggin 9th President of Ireland Douglas Hyde Dubhghlas de hÍde 1st President of Ireland ; CnaG founder George Keller Seóirse Ó Céilechair Cork Born American Architect John Fitzgerald Kennedy Seán Mac Gearailt Ó Cinnéide 35th President of the United States Kitty Kiernan Caitríona Nic Thiarnáin fiance of Michael Collins ( Irish leader ) Jack Lynch Seán Ó Loingsigh twice Taoiseach Mary McAleese Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa née Mary Leneghan / Máire Ní Lionnacháin Kevin McCarthy Caoimhín Mac Cárthaigh Actor Liam Mellows Liam Ó Maoilíosa Thomas Mooney Tomás / Tomaltach Seosamh Ó'Maonaigh Labor Leader Erin Moran Éirinn Máire Ó Móráin Irish - American actress Dr. Trevor Morrow Trebhar Mac Murchadha Former Presbyterian Church in Ireland Moderator Richard Mulcahy Risteárd Ó Maolchatha Old IRA / Irish Army Chief of Staff Denis O'Brien Denis Ó Briain JJ `` Ginger '' O'Connell Irimia Seosamh Ó Conaill Irish Army officer Kevin O'Higgins Caoimhín Ó hUiginn Minister of Justice and Vice-President ; not to be confused with the more recent official also in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Seán T. O'Kelly Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh Vice-President, first Tánaiste, President of Ireland Francis O'Neill Proinsias Ó Néill Thomas Francis O'Rahilly Tomás Phroinsias Ó Rathaille scholar of Celtic language and culture ; sometimes also `` Rahilly '' or `` Rahily '' Joseph O'Sullivan Seosamh Ó Súilleabháin ( likely very common name ) Patrick Pearse Pádraig Mac Piarais CnaG ; An Claidheamh Soluis editor ; St. Enda 's School founder Joseph Mary Plunkett Seosamh Máire Pluincéad Gaelic League member ; an Easter Uprising leader Ronald Reagan Ránall Ó Riagáin 40th President of the United States John Edward Redmond Seán Éamonn Mac Réamainn Albert Reynolds Ailbhe Mac Raghnaill Taoiseach Mary Robinson Máire Bean Mhic Róibín ( née Máire de Búrca ) Cornelius Ryan Cornelius Ó Riagháin War correspondent and author Paddy Ryan Padric Ó Riagháin Irish American Heavyweight boxer Robert Gerard Sands Roibeárd Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh Austin Stack Aibhistín de Staic John L. Sullivan Sean Ó Súilleabháin Irish - American Boxing heavyweight Champion of the World Gerard Toal Gearóid Ó Tuathail This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2010 ) Other people are better known by their Irish name than by their English name : Irish ( Gaelic ) name English / Anglicised form Notes Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh Dudley Forbes though neither Dubhaltach or Fibrisigh correspond to the Anglicised forms Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh Roderick O'Flaherty Flaithrí Ó Maolconaire Florence Conry ( 1560 -- 1629, Archbishop of Tuam ) Gráinne Ní Mháille Grace O'Malley many other Irish - language and English - language respellings of her name also exist Seán Bán Breathnach `` White '' John Walsh Séamus Ó Grianna James Greene though Grianna does not correspond etymologically to the English name `` Green '' or `` Greene '' Gráinne Seoige Grace Joyce Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin Ellen Cullen Antoine Ó Raifteiri Anthony Raftery Proinsias De Rossa Frank Ross Pádraig Harrington Patrick Harrington Pádraig Ó Riain Patrick Ryan Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha Patrick O'Sugrue Padraig Ó Síocháin P.A. Sheehan Pádraig Ó Fiannachta Patrick Finnerty Lorcan Ua Tuathail Laurence O'Toole Dara Ó Briain Darragh O'Brien Doireann Ní Bhriain Doreen O'Brien Cathal Brugha Charles William St. John Burgess Éamon de Valera Edward De Valero See also Celtic onomastics Place names in Ireland Scottish Gaelic name Welsh surnames References Jump up ^ Coyle, Colin ( 2009 - 05 - 17 ). `` Surge in deed poll name changes ''. The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ Autograph signature of Mac Cosgair, 1924 Archived 2012 - 07 - 30 at Archive.is Jump up ^ `` Roll of the Honorary Burgesses of The City of Cork - Freedom of the City ''. Cork, Ireland : Cork City Council. 2010 - 04 - 09. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 05. ^ Jump up to : `` An Rolla '', Dáil Debates, Dáil Éireann, F, 1919 - 01 - 21, archived from the original on 2007 - 11 - 19, retrieved 2010 - 05 - 05 chapter = ignored ( help ) Jump up ^ Signature of Caoimhín Ó hUiginn Jump up ^ `` Beathnaiséisí : Séan T O'Ceallaigh '' ( in Irish ). Dublin : Áras an Uachtaráin / President of Ireland. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ MacMahon, Michael ( 2009 - 07 - 01 ). `` James Delargy and the Storymen of North Clare ''. Ennis, County Clare : Clare County Library. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 05. Originally from : MacMahon, Michael ( 2009 ). `` James Delargy and the Storymen of North Clare ''. The Other Clare. Shannon, County Clare : Shannon Archaeological & Historical Society. 33 : 63 -- 70. ISSN 0332 - 088X. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Department of the Taoiseach website, historical pages Jump up ^ Toal, Gerard ( 2006 - 11 - 29 ). `` Faculty Page : Dr Gerard Toal, Virginia Tech ''. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 06. External links Irish Names at LibraryIreland.com The Origins of Irish Surnames at IrishTimes.com Find Irish Family Names at Dubliner.com 16th & 17th Century Anglicized Irish Surnames from Woulfe by MedievalScotland.org Gaelic given names Native masculine names Aodh Aodhán Aonghus Art Breandán Breasal Brian Cailean Cainnech Caoimhín Cathal Cearbhall Cian Cianán Ciarán Cinnéididh Colm Conall Conán Conchobhar Cormac Criofan Dáire Déaglán Diarmaid Domhnall Donn Donnchadh Eachann Éibhear Eochaidh Eóghan Fearghal Fearghus Féilim Fiach Fínghin Fionn Fionnbharr Fionnlagh Fionntán Flann Garaidh Iarlaith Lorcan Lughaidh Muircheartach Muiredach Muirgheas Murchadh Niall Oisín Rían Rónán Ruairí Searbhreathach Tadhg Toirdelbach Native feminine names Aíbinn Aifric Áine Aisling Aoife Barrdhubh Bébinn Bríd Cacht Caoimhe Ciara Clíona Clodagh Cobhlaith Dearbhail Dearbhfhorghaill Deirbhile Deirdre Dubhchobhlaigh Eithne Éadaoin Feidhelm Fíona Fionnuala Forbflaith Fíneamhain Gormflaith Gráinne Íde Lasairfhíona Meabh Mór Muirgheal Muirenn Niamh Nuala Órlaith Sadhbh Saoirse Síthmaith Sláine Sorcha Úna Germanic - derived masculine names Amhlaoibh Annraoi Dubhghall Éamonn Gearóid Gofraid Ímar Lachlann Liam Maghnus Raghnall Risteárd Roibeárd Séarlas Somhairle Tiobóid Tormond Ualtar Ùisdean Bible - derived masculine names Abracham Adhamh Árón Biniáimin Daibhí Dainéal Eafráim Gaibrial Íosac Maitiú Maois Mícheál ( Maidhc ) Nóe Seán Séamus Seosamh Síomón Solamh Tomás Bible - derived feminine names Abigeál Ánna Eábha Eilís Léá Madailéin Máire Mallaidh Náoimí Ráichéal Ríobhca Rút Sinéad Siobhán Seacailín Seosaimhín Latin / Greek - derived masculine names Aindréas Antóin Críostóir Damhnaic Pádraig Proinsias Giolla Críost Gréagóir Labhrás León Máirtín Nioclás Nollaig Peadar Pilib Pól Seoirse Stíofán Téodóir Uinseann See also Goidelic languages Irish language Scottish Gaelic language Manx language Irish name List of Scottish Gaelic given names Scottish Gaelic name Irish genealogy Personal names by culture Albanian American African - American Arabic Armenian Ashanti Azerbaijani Bangladeshi Basque Belarusian Bulgarian Burmese Cambodian Canadian Catalan Chinese Hong Kong Manchu Tibetan Cornish Croatian Czech Dutch English Eritrean / Ethiopian Fijian Filipino Finnish French Galician Georgian German Germanic Ghanaian Greek Cypriot Hawaiian Hebrew Hungarian Icelandic Igbo Indian Saint Thomas Christian names Indonesian Balinese Chinese Javanese Irish Italian Japanese Amami Okinawan Jewish Kalmyk Korean Lao Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malaysian Mongol Norwegian Pakistani Pashtun Sindhi Persian Polish Portuguese Roman Romanian Russian Sakha Scottish Gaelic Serbian Slavic Slovak Somali Spanish Hispanic America Catalan Swedish Taiwanese aboriginal Tamil Ancient Tamil country Tatar Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Welsh Yakut Yoruba Zimbabwean Gaels General history Gaelic Ireland High King of Ireland Gaelic Irish kingdoms Dál Riata Alba Nine Years ' War Statutes of Iona Flight of the Earls Plantation of Ulster 1641 Rebellion Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 Jacobite risings Bliadhna Theàrlaich Penal Laws Great Hunger Irish diaspora Highland Clearances Gaelic Revival Gaeltacht Gàidhealtachd Gaelic culture Ogham Brehon law Gaelic mythology Lebor Gabála Érenn Gaelic warfare Gaelic astrology Gaelic kinship Bardic poetry Gaelic literature ( Early Irish, Modern Irish, Scottish Gaelic & Manx ) Gaelic type Insular script Fáinne Gaelic music Sean - nós song Oireachtas na Gaeilge Am Mòd Gaelic games Highland games Insular Christianity Gaelic Christian mission Language Primitive Irish Old Irish Middle Irish Classical Gaelic Irish Manx Scottish Gaelic Major tribes or clans Connachta ( incl. Uí Néill, Clan Colla, Clan Donald, Uí Maine, etc ) Dál gCais ( incl. Déisi ) Eóganachta Érainn ( incl. Dál Riata, Corcu Loígde, Clan Conla, Dál Fiatach, etc ) Laigin Ulaid ( incl. Dál nAraidi, Conmhaícne, Ciarraige, etc ) Prominent organisations Údarás na Gaeltachta Foras na Gaeilge Bòrd na Gàidhlig Culture Vannin Conradh na Gaeilge An Comunn Gàidhealach Manx Gaelic Society Seachtain na Gaeilge Gael Linn ULTACH Trust Comunn na Gàidhlig Columba Project Clans of Ireland An Coimisinéir Teanga An Comunn Gàidhealach America Related subjects Haplogroup R - M269 ( human genetics ) Celts Norse -- Gaels ( incl. Uí Ímair and Clan MacLeod ) Kingdom of the Isles Gaelicisation Celts portal Ireland portal Scotland portal Isle of Man portal Category WikiProject Irish ( Gaeilge ) History Proto - Indo - European Proto - Celtic Insular Celtic Goidelic Primitive Irish Old Irish Middle Irish Modern Irish Sociolinguistics Connacht Irish Munster Irish Ulster Irish Status ( Northern Ireland ) Outside Ireland ( in Newfoundland ) Béarlachas Grammar Initial mutations Declension Conjugation Dependent and independent forms Phonology Syntax Writing Orthography Ogham Gaelic type Braille Early literature Modern literature Lexicography Media Journals Comhar Feasta An tUltach Tuairisc.ie Nós An Gael Seachtain Television TG4 Cúla 4 RTÉ One ( Nuacht RTÉ ) BBC Two NI ( sporadic ) NVTV ( sporadic ) Radio RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Raidió Rí - Rá Raidió Na Life Raidió Fáilte BBC Radio Ulster ( Blas ) Publishers An Gúm Cló Iar - Chonnacht Coiscéim Gael Linn Irish Texts Society Sáirséal agus Dill Glór na nGael Qualifications Leaving Cert Irish Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge Names Personal and family names List of personal names Celts portal Ireland portal Category WikiProject Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Irish_name&oldid=832753788 '' Categories : Irish language Names by culture Irish genealogy Hidden categories : Webarchive template archiveis links CS1 errors : chapter ignored CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty CS1 Irish - language sources ( ga ) Articles needing additional references from May 2009 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2010 Articles needing additional references from May 2010 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch 한국어 Magyar Nederlands Русский Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 27 March 2018, at 20 : 30. 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Question: what does the o in an irish name mean
Answer: "descendant"