100 Cool Irish Last Names

Irish surnames show the deep cultural and historical roots of Ireland. These last names often come from old Gaelic words, clan ties, places, or jobs.

Their meanings link to nature, family, and personal qualities giving us a peek into the lives of those who had them.

From the well-known O’Neill to the unique Murphy, these surnames stand for who someone is and hold centuries of stories.

In this post, we’ll look into where some of the most famous Irish last names come from and what they mean bringing to light the tales behind these long-lasting family names.

Irish Last Names

O’Connor – Descendant of Connor (meaning “lover of hounds”).

Murphy – Descendant of the sea warrior.

Kelly – Descendant of Ceallach, meaning “bright-headed” or “warrior.”

O’Brien – Descendant of Brian, meaning “noble” or “strong.”

Doyle – Dark-haired; from the Gaelic word “dobhail,” meaning fortunate or lucky.

O’Neill – Descendant of Niall, meaning “champion” or “cloud.”

Sullivan – Derived from “súl” (eye) and “bhán” (white), meaning “dark-eyed.”

Walsh – Foreigner; originally meaning “Welsh” or “stranger.”

McCarthy – Son of Carthach, meaning “loving” or “kind.”

Hughes – Derived from the Irish name “Uí,” meaning descendant of.

Lynch – From the Irish word “linn,” meaning a pool or a lake.

Ryan – Descendant of Rian, meaning “little king” or “royal.”

O’Reilly – Descendant of Raghallach, meaning “ruler” or “king.”

Maguire – Descendant of Mag Uidhir, meaning “son of the brown one.”

Grant – Derived from the Gaelic word “gránt,” meaning “large” or “great.”

McDonagh – Son of Donnchadh, meaning “brown-haired chieftain.”

Finnegan – Fair or white; a surname reflecting light or fairness.

Brennan – Descendant of Braonán, meaning “sorrow” or “descendant of a sorrowful one.”

Keane – Derived from “Cian,” meaning “ancient” or “enduring.”

Boyle – From the Gaelic word “bogha,” meaning “a bend” or “a loop.”

Kavanagh – Descendant of Caomhánach, meaning “handsome” or “beloved.”

McLaughlin – Son of Lochlann, meaning “from the land of the Vikings.”

Fitzgerald – Son of Gerald, meaning “rule of the spear.”

Shannon – Derived from the River Shannon, meaning “wise” or “old river.”

O’Malley – Descendant of Maille, meaning “chief” or “leader.”

Mahon – Derived from the Irish name “Mathghamhain,” meaning “bear.”

Coleman – Descendant of Colmán, meaning “little dove.”

Gallagher – Descendant of Gallchobhair, meaning “foreign help.”

McNamara – Son of the sea warrior, meaning “son of the sea.”

Clancy – Descendant of Clann, meaning “family” or “descendant of.”

Healy – Descendant of Éaladh, meaning “pride” or “esteem.”

Tobin – Derived from the name “Tóibín,” meaning “God is good.”

Moran – Meaning “great” or “big,” a surname linked to strength.

Dunne – Derived from the Irish word “donn,” meaning “brown” or “dark.”

Foley – Descendant of Folláine, meaning “prosperous” or “healthy.”

Tierney – Descendant of Tighearnach, meaning “lord” or “ruler.”

Mulligan – Derived from the Gaelic word “mullach,” meaning “summit” or “top.”

Reddy – Derived from the word “ruadh,” meaning “red” or “reddish.”

Gibbons – Derived from the name “Gibson,” meaning “son of Gilbert.”

Hannon – Derived from the name “Ánann,” meaning “grace” or “blessing.”

Murray – Derived from “Muirreach,” meaning “sea warrior.”

Sweeney – Derived from “Suibhne,” meaning “pleasant” or “well-disposed.”

O’Rourke – Descendant of Ruarc, meaning “famous ruler.”

Whelan – Derived from the word “O’Faolain,” meaning “descendant of Faolán,” meaning “little wolf.”

Doherty – From the town of Doire, meaning “oak tree.”

Cunningham – Derived from the place name “Cunningham,” meaning “descendant of Cuinn.”

Kiely – Derived from the Gaelic name “Caoilfhinn,” meaning “slender” or “fair.”

Carroll – Derived from the Gaelic “Ceallach,” meaning “warrior” or “brave.”

O’Keeffe – Descendant of Ceife, meaning “handsome” or “pleasant.”

Cronin – Descendant of Crónán, meaning “little dark one.”

Ahern – Derived from the Gaelic name “Ó hEidhinn,” meaning “descendant of Eidhinn,” a personal name.

Barton – Derived from the word “bar,” meaning “hill,” and “tun,” meaning “town,” referring to a settlement on a hill.

Brady – Descendant of Brághaid, meaning “spirited” or “broad.”

Byrne – Derived from “O’Broin,” meaning “descendant of Bran,” a personal name meaning “raven.”

Casey – Descendant of Cáis, meaning “vigilant” or “watchful.”

Coffey – Derived from the Gaelic word “Ó Cobhthaigh,” meaning “descendant of Cobhthach,” meaning “victorious” or “good.”

Collins – Descendant of “Colla,” a personal name meaning “swarthy” or “dark.”

Comerford – Derived from the place name “Comerford,” meaning “descendant of a chieftain.”

Conroy – Descendant of Conaire, meaning “descendant of the chieftain” or “warrior.”

Cormack – Derived from the Irish personal name “Cormac,” meaning “charioteer” or “son of the charioteer.”

Curley – Derived from the word “curley,” meaning “little curly-haired one.”

Dalton – From the town name, meaning “town in the valley” or “settlement in the valley.”

Daly – Derived from the word “Ó Dálaigh,” meaning “descendant of Dálach,” meaning “assembly” or “meeting.”

Dempsey – Derived from the Irish name “Dempsey,” meaning “descendant of Damasach,” meaning “proud” or “haughty.”

Dillon – Derived from the word “díol,” meaning “loyal” or “faithful.”

Donnelly – Descendant of “Dónal,” meaning “dark or brown-haired chieftain.”

Duffy – Derived from “Ó Dubhthaigh,” meaning “descendant of Dubhthach,” meaning “dark” or “black.”

Egan – Derived from the Gaelic name “Ó hÍgán,” meaning “descendant of the little fire.”

Enright – Derived from “Ó hEighnigh,” meaning “descendant of Eighnach,” meaning “descendant of the king’s son.”

Feeney – Derived from “Ó Fionn,” meaning “descendant of the fair-haired one.”

Fitzpatrick – From the Norman “Fitz” meaning “son of,” and “Patrick,” meaning “noble” or “nobleman.”

Flynn – Derived from the word “Ó Floinn,” meaning “descendant of Flann,” meaning “red” or “ruddy.”

Foley – Derived from “Ó Follamhain,” meaning “descendant of the prosperous one.”

Gahan – Derived from “Ó Gaoithín,” meaning “descendant of the little wind.”

Galligan – Derived from “Ó Goillmhaoil,” meaning “descendant of the foreign warrior.”

Harte – Derived from “Ó hAirt,” meaning “descendant of Art,” meaning “stone” or “bear.”

Hughes – Derived from the Gaelic word “Ó hEoghain,” meaning “descendant of Eoghan,” meaning “youth” or “born of the noble family.”

Jenkins – Anglicized form of the Welsh surname meaning “son of Jenkin” (diminutive of John).

Keegan – Derived from “Ó Céagáin,” meaning “descendant of Ceagan,” meaning “little fiery one.”

Keogh – Derived from “Ó Caoch,” meaning “descendant of the blind man.”

Kerrigan – Derived from “Ó Cearraigh,” meaning “descendant of the dark-haired man.”

Kiely – Derived from “Caoilfhinn,” meaning “slender” or “fair.”

Kirby – Derived from “Cyrby,” meaning “fortress of the church.”

Larkin – Derived from the Gaelic word “Ó Lorcáin,” meaning “descendant of Lorcán,” meaning “fierce” or “brave.”

Lawlor – Derived from “Ó Leathlobhair,” meaning “descendant of Leathlobhar,” meaning “left-handed.”

Lynch – From the Irish word “linn,” meaning “a pool” or “lake.”

McCarthy – Derived from “Mac Carthaigh,” meaning “son of the loving one.”

McGrath – Derived from “Mac Craith,” meaning “son of grace” or “son of the fortunate one.”

McMahon – Derived from “Mac Mathghamhna,” meaning “son of the bear” or “strong.”

McTiernan – Derived from “Mac Tighearnán,” meaning “son of the lord.”

Moran – Derived from the Gaelic word “Ó Moráin,” meaning “descendant of the great one.”

Mulvihill – Derived from “Ó Maolmhuire,” meaning “descendant of the devotee of Mary.”

Murray – Derived from “Muirreach,” meaning “sea warrior.”

Nolan – Derived from “Ó Nóláin,” meaning “descendant of the noble one.”

O’Connell – Derived from “Ó Conaill,” meaning “descendant of Conall,” meaning “strong as a wolf.”

O’Rourke – Derived from “Ó Ruairc,” meaning “descendant of Ruarc,” meaning “famous ruler.”

O’Sullivan – Derived from “Ó Súileabháin,” meaning “descendant of the dark-eyed one.”

Reilly – Derived from “Ó Raghallaigh,” meaning “descendant of Raghallach,” meaning “ruler.”

Roche – Derived from the Gaelic word “Ros,” meaning “wood” or “forest.”

Treacy – Derived from “Ó Treasaigh,” meaning “descendant of the bold one.”