# List of people with surname O'Brien

O'Brien is a surname of Irish origin. It has many variants in the Irish diaspora worldwide, such as Brien, O'Bryan, O'Brian, Brian, O'Brine and O'Bryen which all claim a general common ancestry. The original Gaelic surname is Ó Briain (plural, Uí Briain). Notable people with the name include:

## As surname
### A

* Aidan O'Brien (born 1969), Irish race horse trainer
* Aiden O'Brien, Irish football player
* Alan O'Brien, Irish association football player
* Alex O'Brien (born 1970), American tennis player
* Ambrose O'Brien (1885–1968), Canadian founder of National Hockey Association
* Andy O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Anne O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Arthur O'Brien (1878–1951), New Zealand rugby union fullback
* Austin O'Brien (born 1981), American actor and photographer

### B

* Barry O'Brien (born 1957), American TV screenwriter and producer
* Billy O'Brien (baseball) (1860–1911), American baseball player
* Billy O'Brien (footballer), Welsh association football player
* Brendan O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Brenna O'Brien (born 1991), Canadian actress and voice actor
* Brock O'Brien (born 1988), Australian rules footballer with Fremantle
* Buck O'Brien (1882–1959), pitcher with Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox
* Burton O'Brien (born 1981), Scottish football player

### C

* Casey O'Brien (b. 2001), American ice hockey player
* Cathy O'Brien (athlete) (b. 1967), American long-distance runner
* Cathy O'Brien (conspiracy theorist) (b. 1957), American purported child-abuse victim
* Cecily O'Bryen (1899–1984), British diving champion
* Charles O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Christian O'Brien (1914–2001), British geologist, author & historian
* Ciaran O'Brien (born 1987), American soccer coach and player
* Cinders O'Brien John F. or Darby O'Brien (1867–1892), American baseball pitcher
* Clinton O'Brien (born 1974), Australian rugby league footballer
* Conal O'Brien (born 1956), American television director
* Conan O'Brien (born 1963), US comedian and talk show host
* Connor O'Brien (disambiguation) or
* Conor O'Brien (disambiguation), various people
* Cubby O'Brien (born 1946), American drummer and original Mouseketeer

### D

* Daniel O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Danielle O'Brien (born 1990), Australian ice dancer
* Danny O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Dara Ó Briain, Irish comedian and presenter
* Darcy O'Brien (1939–1998), American true crime author
* Daryl O'Brien (b. 1941), Australian rules footballer
* Dave O'Brien (actor) (1912–1969), American film actor
* Dave O'Brien (sportscaster), American sportscaster
* David O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Doug Brien (born 1970), American football placekicker
* Don Brien (born 1959), Canadian sprint canoer
* Declan O'Brien (1965–2022), American film and TV writer and producer
* Declan O'Brien (footballer) (born 1979), with Drogheda United
* Dennis O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Derek O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Dermod O'Brien (1865–1906), Irish painter
* Donald O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Doug O'Brien (born 1984), Canadian ice hockey defenceman
* Dylan O'Brien (b. 1991), American actor

### E

* Ed O'Brien (b. 1968), English musician
* Edmond O'Brien (1915–1985), American actor
* Edna O'Brien (1930–2024), Irish novelist
* Edward O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Edwin Frederick O'Brien, (born 1939), American Catholic prelate
* Eileen O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Elaine O'Brien (1955–2014), American politician
* Erin O'Brien (writer), American writer
* Erin Joanne O'Brien (1934–2021), American actress
* Eugene O'Brien (disambiguation), various

### F

* Fergal O'Brien (born 1872), Irish professional snooker player
* Fergal O'Brien (trainer) (born 1972), Irish National Hunt trainer
* Fergus O'Brien (1930–2016), Irish politician
* Fitz James O'Brien (1826—1862), American SF and fantasy writer
* Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan 1911–1966), Irish novelist and satirist

### G

* Gareth O'Brien (born 1991), English rugby league footballer
* Geraldine O'Brien (1922–2014), Irish botanical illustrator
* George O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Ger O'Brien (born Gerard O'Brien, 1984), Irish footballer
* Gerard O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Geoffrey O'Brien (born 1948), American poet, editor, film critic
* Glenn O'Brien (1947–2017), American writer, "The Style Guy"
* Gray O'Brien (born Gerard O'Brien, 1968), Scottish actor
* Gavin O'Brien (born 1993), Irish hurler

### H

* Harry O'Brien, later Héritier Lumumba (born 1986), Australian rules footballer
* Harry J. O'Brien "Shorty" (1884–1955),American football, basketball, baseball coach
* Helen O'Brien (1925–2005), British nightclub owner and spy
* Henry O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Hod O'Brien (1936–2016), American jazz pianist
* Hugh O'Brien (1827–1895) mayor of Boston

### I

* Iain O'Brien (born 1976), New Zealand cricketer
* Ian O'Brien (born 1947), Australian breaststroke swimmer
* Ignatius O'Brien, 1st Baron Shandon (1857–1930), Lord Chancellor of Ireland, 1913–1918

### J

* Jack O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Jake O'Brien (ice hockey) (born 2007), Canadian ice hockey player
* Jake O'Brien (fighter) (born 1984), American MMA fighter
* Jake O'Brien (footballer) (born 2001), Irish footballer
* James O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Jamie O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Jeremiah O'Brien (1744–1818), US Navy officer of the American Revolutionary War
* Jesse O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Jim O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Joan O'Brien (born 1936), American actress and singer
* Joe O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Joey O'Brien (born 1986), Irish football player
* John O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Joseph O'Brien (disambiguation), various

### K

* Kate O'Brien (disambiguation)
* Katharine O'Brien, American film director
* Katharine O'Brien (disambiguation), other people of that name
* Katherine O'Brien (born 1963), Canadian pediatric infectious disease physician
* Kathleen O'Brien (1914–1991), Australian illustrator and fashion artist
* Katie O'Brien, British tennis player
* Keith O'Brien (1938–2018), Scottish Roman Catholic prelate
* Ken O'Brien (born 1960), American football quarterback
* Kerry O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Kevin O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Kieran O'Brien (born 1973), English actor
* Kim O'Brien, American film and television actress
* Kirsten O'Brien (born 1972), British TV presenter
* Kitt O'Brien (born 1990), American football player
* Kitty Wilmer O'Brien (1910–1982), Irish landscape painter

### L

* Larry O'Brien (1917–1990), American politician
* Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1949), businessman, mayor of Ottawa
* Laurence O'Brien (1792–1870), Irish merchant and politician in Newfoundland
* Lawrence O'Brien (disambiguation), various
   * Lawrence D. O'Brien (1951–2004), Canadian politician representing Labrador
* Leighton O'Brien (born 1976), American soccer player with Seattle Sounders
* Lévis Brien (born 1955), Quebec politician
* Leo O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Leonora O'Brien, Irish pharmacist and entrepreneur
* Leslie O'Brien (1908–1995), Governor of the Bank of England
* Leslie O'Brien (cricketer) (1905–1967), played for New South Wales
* Liam O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Lucy O'Brien (born 1961), writer on women in music
* Lucy O'Brien (philosopher) (born 1964), at University College, London
* Lucy O'Brien (doctor) (1923–2006), Irish missionary in Africa
* Luke O'Brien (born 1988), English footballer with Bradford City

### M

* Margaret O'Brien (born 1937), American actress
* Margaret O'Brien (politician) (born 1973), Michigan Republican
* Mariah O'Brien (born 1971), American actress and interior designer
* Mark O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Mary Eileen O'Brien, American academic administrator
* Matthew O'Brien (mathematician) (1814–1855), Irish mathematician
* Maureen O'Brien (born 1943), English actress in Doctor Who series
* Michael O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Michele O'Brien (born 1980), soccer coach and player for Chicago Red Eleven
* Mick O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Mike O'Brien (hurler) (born 2011) with Glenroe and Limerick
* Miles O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Mollie O'Brien (born 1952), folk singer from West Virginia

### N

* Niall O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Nick O'Brien (born 1993), Australian rules footballer for Essendon

### O

* Olivia O'Brien (born 1999), American singer and songwriter

### P

* Paddy O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Parry O'Brien (1932–2007), American shot put champion
* Patricia Salas O'Brien (born 1958), Peruvian sociologist and Minister of Education
* Patrick O'Brien (disambiguation), for people with forename Patrick or Pat
* Pat O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Paul O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Peter O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Phil O'Brien (disambiguation), various

### R

* Raymond O'Brien (born 1944), American Roman Catholic priest
* Raymond Moulton O'Brien (1905–1977), British-born American businessman
* Richard O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Riley O'Brien (born 1995), American baseball pitcher
* Robert O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Ron O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Roy O'Brien (born 1974), Irish football player

### S

* Scott O'Brien (born 1957), American football player, coach and scout
* Sean O'Brien (disambiguation)
* Sean Patrick O'Brien (1988–2023), American professional wrestling referee
* Shane O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Shannon O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Sicele O'Brien (1887–1931), Irish woman aviation pioneer
* Simon O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Soledad O'Brien (born 1966), American woman television journalist
* Stephen O'Brien (born 1957), UK conservative politician for Eddisbury
* Stuart O'Brien (1906–2004), American film editor
* Stuart O'Brien (stage) (1833–1883), Australian actor

### T

* Terence O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Thomas O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Tim O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Timothy O'Brien (theatre designer) (1929–2022), British theatre designer
* Timothy O'Brien (endocrinologist), Irish professor
* Timothy L. O'Brien (born 1961), American journalist
* Tina O'Brien (born 1983), English actress
* Tom O'Brien (actor) (b. 1965), American film actor
* Tom O'Brien (American football) (b. 1948), coach at North Carolina State University
* Tom O'Brien (outfielder) (1873–1901), baseball outfielder
* Tom O'Brien (second baseman) (1860–1921), 19th century baseball player
* Tom O'Brien (trade unionist) (1900–1970), British trade unionist and Member of Parliament
* Tommy O'Brien (baseball) (1918–1978), baseball outfielder

### U

* Una O'Brien, British civil servant

### V

* Vincent O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Virginia O'Brien (1919–2001), American actress and comic "Frozen Face" singer

### W

* Walter O'Brien (born 1975), Irish businessman and computer specialist
* Walter A. O'Brien (1914–1998), American Progressive Party politician
* William O'Brien (disambiguation), various
* Willis H. O'Brien (1886–1962), American motion picture special effects pioneer

### Z

* Zach O'Brien (born 1992), professional ice hockey player

## As first or middle names

* O'Brien Alston (b. 1965), American former football linebacker
* O'Brien Schofield (b. 1987), American former football linebacker
* O'Brien Smith (c. 1756–1811), Irish-American political figure

## Fictional people named O'Brien

* O'Brien, a character in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
* Lady Cassandra O'Brien, fictional character, Doctor Who antagonist
* Chloe O'Brian, a fictional character played by actress Mary Lynn Rajskub on the US television series 24
* Graham O'Brien, a companion of the Thirteenth Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who
* Keiko O'Brien, fictional character, wife of Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
* Miles O'Brien, a fictional character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
* Sarah O'Brien, a fictional character on the ITV series Downton Abbey
* Shelia O'Brian, a character from the animated TV series Dungeons and Dragons
* Mr. O'Brien, Mrs. O'Brien and Jack O'Brien, fictional characters in The Tree of Life film