Ever wondered about your Irish family roots? If you are a Walsh, an O’Sullivan, O’Connor, Doyle or a McCarthy then look no further!
A little while ago we profiled five of Ireland’s most common surnames. Due to the popularity of the piece, we have decided to continue our exploration of Gaelic family names. In this blog, we will look at the other names featured in the list of Ireland’s top 10 surnames.
Walsh
Irish Pronunciation: Breathnach Bra-knock
Family Mottos:Â Pierced but not dead. Or, Do not irritate the lions.
The name Walsh can be traced back to the Gaelic word Breathnach. This literally translates to Welshman but is used interchangeably with Briton or Foreigner. The name has origins in the 12th century when Welsh and English Normans settled in Ireland under Strongbow. The native Irish referred to these soldiers as âBreathnachâ. Over time, those carrying this name anglicised it to Welsh and then Walsh. The Walsh name is most dominant in the South East coastal counties of Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford.
O’Sullivan
Irish Pronunciation:Â Ă SĂșilleabhĂĄin Oh Sool-a-wa-n
Family Motto:Â The steady hand to victory.
According to folk tales, the O’Sullivan clan are descended from a man named Owen who landed on the Beara Peninsula in Cork around 1600BC. They were originally part of a large group called the Eoganacht (trans. âChildren of Owenâ). By 700-900AD, the EogĂĄnacht split and a faction adopted the name OâSuileabhain.  The name O’Sullivan is derived from the Irish à SĂșilleabhĂĄin meaning one-eyed or hawk-eyed. Some historians believe that this fearsome name was chosen in order to scare away rivals. They did not stray too far from Beara, and today almost 80% of O’Sullivans are based in the southern counties of Cork and Kerry.
O’Connor
Irish Pronunciation: Ă Conchubhair/ à ConÄuážair Oh Kon-ku-bar
Family Motto: From God every help.
This clan name arose in the 10th century as a derivative of its founder Conchobar mac Taidg MĂłr who was a King of Connacht from c. 855 – 882. There are several disputed meanings of this name, including ‘lover of hounds’, ‘wolf-lover’ or ‘patron of warriors’. The Conchobair clan were one of the powerful families in Ancient Ireland with about 100 Kings of Connacht and 2 High Kings of Ireland.
Doyle
Irish Pronunciation: ÒDubhghaill Oh duv-gall
Family Motto:Â He conquers by fortitude.
Doyle is derived from the Irish ÒDubhghaill. The meaning of the name ÒDubhghaill is disputed with some arguing that it comes from Dubhgall which translates as dark and tall while others assert that it is an amalgamation of Dubh meaning dark and Ghall meaning stranger. It is thought that the name was used by the Celts to describe the dark-haired Vikings who arrived on Irish shores during the 9th to 11th centuries. Nowadays, the highest concentration of Doyles is in the Leinster counties of Roscommon, Wexford and Wicklow
McCarthy
Irish Pronunciation: Mac Cårthaigh Mak Car-tig
Family Motto:Â Nothing is Difficult to the Brave and Faithful.
The McCarthys were a powerful family who ruled the province of Munster  during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Mac CĂĄrthaigh which translates into English as “Son of the loving.”
Did you know that the McCarthys have a link to the famous Blarney Castle? This was the seat of the Muskerry branch of the clan. According to legend, the Blarney Stone was gifted to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond, from King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. This ‘magical’ stone was presented to McCarthy as thanks for his assistance in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The castle you see today was built by Dermot McCarthy in 1446. Dermot was renowned for his eloquence and this is the reason behind the Blarney Stone’s reputation for imparting the gift of the gab upon those who kiss it.
Celebrate your Irish Heritage at Blarney.com
Header Image:Â The Rock of Cashel, Source: Wikimedia
