Unique Irish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking for a unique and meaningful last name that reflects your Irish heritage? This list of uncommon Irish surnames explores their origins and rich history, offering a glimpse into the fascinating tapestry of Irish culture and genealogy. Whether you're searching for a distinctive name for your family or simply exploring the diversity of Irish surnames, this collection provides a comprehensive overview of some of the rarest and most intriguing names found in Ireland.
1. **Aherne:** Meaning "descendant of Aodharn," a Gaelic personal name meaning "noble fire."
2. **Ainsworth:** A name of Anglo-Norman origin, meaning "worth of the meadow."
3. **Allen:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ailean," meaning "handsome" or "bright."
4. **Annan:** A surname derived from the Gaelic word "an áth," meaning "the ford."
5. **Armstrong:** Of Scottish origin, meaning "strong arm" or "powerful arm."
6. **Atkinson:** An English surname meaning "son of Atkin."
7. **Bally:** Derived from the Gaelic word "baile," meaning "town" or "village."
8. **Barrington:** A name of Norman origin, meaning "from Barrington," a place in England.
9. **Barry:** Meaning "red" or "ruddy," derived from the Gaelic word "barr."
10. **Beasley:** A surname of English origin, meaning "beaver's meadow."
11. **Bell:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Beall," meaning "mouth of a river."
12. **Bennett:** An English surname meaning "son of Benedict."
13. **Blake:** Derived from the Gaelic word "blac," meaning "black."
14. **Boate:** A name of English origin, meaning "dweller by a boat."
15. **Bolger:** Derived from the Gaelic word "bolg," meaning "bag" or "pouch."
16. **Boyle:** Meaning "dweller by the ford," derived from the Gaelic word "boile."
17. **Brennan:** A name of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Bran."
18. **Broderick:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Brodhair," meaning "needle-maker."
19. **Burke:** Meaning "son of Red," derived from the Gaelic word "Buarch."
20. **Burns:** Of Scottish origin, meaning "dweller by the stream."
21. **Byrne:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Brian."
22. **Caldwell:** Meaning "cold well," derived from the Old English words "cōld" and "well."
23. **Callan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ceallán," meaning "small church."
24. **Campbell:** Of Scottish origin, meaning "crooked mouth."
25. **Carey:** Meaning "lover of God," derived from the Gaelic word "Caoiri."
26. **Carroll:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Carolus."
27. **Casey:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Caisey," meaning "vigilant" or "watchful."
28. **Cavanagh:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Con."
29. **Clancy:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Clann," meaning "descendants."
30. **Clarke:** A surname of English origin, meaning "clerk" or "scribe."
31. **Cleary:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Cléirigh," meaning "clerk" or "scribe."
32. **Coleman:** Meaning "little dove," derived from the Gaelic word "Colmán."
33. **Connolly:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Conchobhar."
34. **Cooke:** A surname of English origin, meaning "cook."
35. **Corcoran:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Corcrán," meaning "brown-haired."
36. **Corrigan:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Cormac."
37. **Costello:** Meaning "dweller by the castle," derived from the Gaelic word "Costello."
38. **Coyle:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Coill," meaning "wood" or "forest."
39. **Cronin:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Cron."
40. **Cullen:** Meaning "little wolf," derived from the Gaelic word "Cúlan."
41. **Daly:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Dála."
42. **Darcy:** A name of Norman origin, meaning "from Darcy," a place in England.
43. **Dempsey:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dempsey," meaning "son of David."
44. **Dillon:** A surname of Norman origin, meaning "from Dillon," a place in France.
45. **Dolan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dólan," meaning "brown" or "hazel-eyed."
46. **Donnelly:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Donnchadh."
47. **Donovan:** Meaning "dark-haired," derived from the Gaelic word "Donn."
48. **Dooley:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Dubhghall."
49. **Doyle:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dúthaigh," meaning "country" or "land."
50. **Duffy:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Dubhthaigh."
51. **Duggan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Dubhgán," meaning "dark-haired."
52. **Dunne:** Meaning "dark" or "brown," derived from the Gaelic word "Donn."
53. **Dwyer:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Dubhghall."
54. **Egan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ógán," meaning "young" or "youthful."
55. **Ellis:** A surname of English origin, meaning "dweller by the elm tree."
56. **Ennis:** Meaning "island," derived from the Gaelic word "Inis."
57. **Farrell:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Fearghal."
58. **Fitzgerald:** Meaning "son of Gerald," derived from the Norman name "Gerald."
59. **Fitzpatrick:** Meaning "son of Patrick," derived from the Irish name "Patrick."
60. **Flynn:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Flann," meaning "red."
61. **Ford:** A surname of English origin, meaning "dweller by the ford."
62. **Fox:** A surname of English origin, meaning "fox."
63. **Gallagher:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Gallóglaich," meaning "foreign warrior."
64. **Gannon:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Gann."
65. **Gardner:** A surname of English origin, meaning "gardener."
66. **Garvey:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Garbhí," meaning "rough" or "wild."
67. **Gibbons:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Gib."
68. **Gilroy:** Meaning "red-haired," derived from the Gaelic words "giolla" and "ruadh."
69. **Gleeson:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Giolla Íosa."
70. **Goodwin:** A surname of English origin, meaning "good friend."
71. **Graham:** Of Scottish origin, meaning "gravelly homestead."
72. **Grant:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "big" or "great."
73. **Green:** A surname of English origin, meaning "dweller by the green land."
74. **Griffin:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Gribhín," meaning "little griffin."
75. **Hagan:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Aodhagán."
76. **Halloran:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Laoghaire," a Gaelic personal name.
77. **Hanley:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ó hAnluain," meaning "descendant of Owen."
78. **Harrington:** A name of Norman origin, meaning "from Harrington," a place in England.
79. **Harris:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Harry."
80. **Hart:** A surname of English origin, meaning "deer."
81. **Harvey:** A surname of French origin, meaning "from Harvey," a place in France.
82. **Hayes:** Meaning "descendant of Aodh," a Gaelic personal name meaning "fire."
83. **Healy:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ó hÉalaí," meaning "descendant of Ealaí."
84. **Henry:** A name of German origin, meaning "ruler of the house."
85. **Hickey:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Hickey," meaning "son of Hugh."
86. **Higgins:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Hugh."
87. **Hogan:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Ó hÓgain."
88. **Holland:** A surname of English origin, meaning "dweller by the hollow land."
89. **Holohan:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ó hÓlaighín," meaning "descendant of Ólaighín."
90. **Horan:** A surname of Gaelic origin, meaning "descendant of Ó hÓráin."
91. **Hughes:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Hugh."
92. **Hurley:** Derived from the Gaelic word "Ó hUirthile," meaning "descendant of Uirthile."
93. **Hyland:** Meaning "descendant of Aodh," a Gaelic personal name meaning "fire."
94. **Ingram:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Ingmar."
95. **Irwin:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "iron."
96. **Jackson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Jack."
97. **James:** A name of Hebrew origin, meaning "supplanter."
98. **Jennings:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Jenkin."
99. **Johnson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of John."
100. **Jones:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of John."