Unusual Irish Last Names: A Guide to Unique Family Histories

Are you looking for an unusual Irish last name? Perhaps you're researching your family history or simply want a name with a unique story. Irish surnames are rich with history and meaning, and some are far less common than others. This list explores some of the most unusual Irish last names, providing insights into their origins and meanings. Whether you're searching for a unique name for your character in a story or seeking to uncover your own family's heritage, this list offers a fascinating exploration of the diverse landscape of Irish surnames.
1. **Abbotson:** Meaning "son of the abbot," a religious leader in a monastery.
2. **Aherne:** Meaning "descendant of Aherne," a Gaelic chieftain of the O'Brien clan.
3. **Annat:** Meaning "small river," likely referring to a location near a stream.
4. **Ardagh:** Meaning "high fort," referring to a hilltop settlement.
5. **Athy:** Meaning "the ford," indicating a crossing point over a river.
6. **Babington:** Meaning "son of Babin," a personal name of uncertain origin.
7. **Bally:** Meaning "town," often combined with other elements to form place names.
8. **Barrington:** Meaning "son of Barry," a Gaelic clan name.
9. **Baskin:** Meaning "descendant of Bask," a personal name of uncertain origin.
10. **Behan:** Meaning "son of the fair one," referring to a woman's beauty.
11. **Boland:** Meaning "son of Boland," a personal name of uncertain origin.
12. **Brady:** Meaning "son of the bradaigh," a Gaelic term for "battle-axe."
13. **Byrne:** Meaning "descendant of Bran," a legendary Irish hero.
14. **Callanan:** Meaning "son of Callan," a personal name of uncertain origin.
15. **Carroll:** Meaning "son of Carolan," a personal name of uncertain origin.
16. **Casey:** Meaning "descendant of Casius," a personal name of uncertain origin.
17. **Cavanagh:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Catháin," a Gaelic clan name.
18. **Clancy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cláinche," a Gaelic clan name.
19. **Cleary:** Meaning "son of Cléirigh," a Gaelic term for "clerk" or "scribe."
20. **Coffey:** Meaning "son of Ó Coifeach," a Gaelic clan name.
21. **Coghlan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Colla," a Gaelic clan name.
22. **Colfer:** Meaning "descendant of Colfer," a personal name of uncertain origin.
23. **Collins:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Colla," a Gaelic clan name.
24. **Connolly:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Conchobhair," a Gaelic clan name.
25. **Corcoran:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Corcráin," a Gaelic clan name.
26. **Costello:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Coisteal," a Gaelic clan name.
27. **Cullen:** Meaning "descendant of Cúlan," a Gaelic clan name.
28. **Daly:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Dálaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
29. **Dempsey:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Domhnaill," a Gaelic clan name.
30. **Dillon:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Diolún," a Gaelic clan name.
31. **Donnelly:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Donnchadhaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
32. **Duffy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Dubhthaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
33. **Dunne:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Dún," a Gaelic clan name.
34. **Egan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hEachain," a Gaelic clan name.
35. **Farrell:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Fearghail," a Gaelic clan name.
36. **Finnegan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Fionnágain," a Gaelic clan name.
37. **Fitzgerald:** Meaning "son of Gerald," a Norman name.
38. **Flanagan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Flannagain," a Gaelic clan name.
39. **Flood:** Meaning "descendant of Fludd," a personal name of uncertain origin.
40. **Flynn:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Floinn," a Gaelic clan name.
41. **Fogarty:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Fogairtí," a Gaelic clan name.
42. **Fox:** Meaning "descendant of Fox," an English surname.
43. **Gallagher:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Gallchobhair," a Gaelic clan name.
44. **Gannon:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Gannáin," a Gaelic clan name.
45. **Garry:** Meaning "rough place," referring to a rugged landscape.
46. **Gaughan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Gochán," a Gaelic clan name.
47. **Gibbons:** Meaning "descendant of Gibbons," a personal name of uncertain origin.
48. **Gilroy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Giollruaidh," a Gaelic clan name.
49. **Gleeson:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Glaisín," a Gaelic clan name.
50. **Gorman:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Gormáin," a Gaelic clan name.
51. **Grady:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Grádaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
52. **Graham:** Meaning "descendant of Graham," an English surname.
53. **Grant:** Meaning "descendant of Grant," an English surname.
54. **Griffin:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Gríofa," a Gaelic clan name.
55. **Guinan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Guín," a Gaelic clan name.
56. **Hagan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hAicín," a Gaelic clan name.
57. **Haley:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hAilín," a Gaelic clan name.
58. **Hanrahan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hAnrachain," a Gaelic clan name.
59. **Harrington:** Meaning "son of Harry," a Norman name.
60. **Hayes:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hAodha," a Gaelic clan name.
61. **Healy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hÉalaí," a Gaelic clan name.
62. **Hennessy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hAinnisigh," a Gaelic clan name.
63. **Higgins:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hUiginn," a Gaelic clan name.
64. **Holohan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hUallacháin," a Gaelic clan name.
65. **Hurley:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hUrthaile," a Gaelic clan name.
66. **Igoe:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hÉigeartaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
67. **Irwin:** Meaning "descendant of Irwin," an English surname.
68. **Jackson:** Meaning "son of Jack," an English surname.
69. **James:** Meaning "supplanter," a biblical name.
70. **Jennings:** Meaning "descendant of Jennings," an English surname.
71. **Johnson:** Meaning "son of John," an English surname.
72. **Joyce:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Siochfhradha," a Gaelic clan name.
73. **Kane:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cathan," a Gaelic clan name.
74. **Keane:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cathan," a Gaelic clan name.
75. **Kearney:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Ciardha," a Gaelic clan name.
76. **Keegan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Caoimhín," a Gaelic clan name.
77. **Kelly:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Ceallaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
78. **Kennedy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cinnéide," a Gaelic clan name.
79. **Kenny:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Coinne," a Gaelic clan name.
80. **Keogh:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Caoch," a Gaelic clan name.
81. **Kilroy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cill Ruaidh," a Gaelic clan name.
82. **King:** Meaning "ruler," an English surname.
83. **Kinsella:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cinnsealaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
84. **Kirk:** Meaning "church," an English surname.
85. **Knight:** Meaning "warrior," an English surname.
86. **Lacey:** Meaning "descendant of Lacey," an English surname.
87. **Larkin:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Laircín," a Gaelic clan name.
88. **Lawlor:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Laoighseach," a Gaelic clan name.
89. **Leahy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Laoi," a Gaelic clan name.
90. **Leonard:** Meaning "descendant of Leonard," an English surname.
91. **Lewis:** Meaning "famous warrior," an English surname.
92. **Long:** Meaning "tall," an English surname.
93. **Lynch:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Loingsigh," a Gaelic clan name.
94. **Lyons:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Lionáin," a Gaelic clan name.
95. **MacCarthy:** Meaning "son of McCarthy," a Gaelic clan name.
96. **MacDonald:** Meaning "son of Donald," a Scottish surname.
97. **MacMahon:** Meaning "son of McMahon," a Gaelic clan name.
98. **Mahoney:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Maonaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
99. **Mallory:** Meaning "hammer," an English surname.
100. **Manning:** Meaning "descendant of Mann," a personal name of uncertain origin.
101. **Markey:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Marcaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
102. **Marren:** Meaning "descendant of Marren," a personal name of uncertain origin.
103. **Martin:** Meaning "war god," a Roman name.
104. **Masterson:** Meaning "son of Master," an English surname.
105. **Matthews:** Meaning "gift of God," a biblical name.
106. **May:** Meaning "powerful," an English surname.
107. **McBride:** Meaning "son of Brian," a Gaelic clan name.
108. **McCarthy:** Meaning "son of McCarthy," a Gaelic clan name.
109. **McCormick:** Meaning "son of Cormac," a Gaelic clan name.
110. **McDermott:** Meaning "son of Dermot," a Gaelic clan name.
111. **McDonagh:** Meaning "son of Donagh," a Gaelic clan name.
112. **McDonnell:** Meaning "son of Donnell," a Gaelic clan name.
113. **McEntee:** Meaning "son of Ente," a Gaelic clan name.
114. **McGovern:** Meaning "son of Gover," a Gaelic clan name.
115. **McGrath:** Meaning "son of Grádaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
116. **McGuire:** Meaning "son of Guire," a Gaelic clan name.
117. **McMahon:** Meaning "son of McMahon," a Gaelic clan name.
118. **McManus:** Meaning "son of Manus," a Gaelic clan name.
119. **McNeill:** Meaning "son of Neill," a Gaelic clan name.
120. **Moore:** Meaning "moor," an English surname.
121. **Moran:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Murchadha," a Gaelic clan name.
122. **Morgan:** Meaning "sea defender," a Welsh name.
123. **Morrissey:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Muircheartaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
124. **Murphy:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Murchadha," a Gaelic clan name.
125. **Murray:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Muirí," a Gaelic clan name.
126. **Nolan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Nualláin," a Gaelic clan name.
127. **O'Brien:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Briain," a Gaelic clan name.
128. **O'Connell:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Conchobhair," a Gaelic clan name.
129. **O'Connor:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Conchobhair," a Gaelic clan name.
130. **O'Donnell:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Domhnaill," a Gaelic clan name.
131. **O'Hanlon:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hAnluain," a Gaelic clan name.
132. **O'Hara:** Meaning "descendant of Ó hEára," a Gaelic clan name.
133. **O'Neill:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Néill," a Gaelic clan name.
134. **O'Reilly:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Raghallaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
135. **O'Rourke:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Ruairc," a Gaelic clan name.
136. **Parker:** Meaning "park keeper," an English surname.
137. **Patterson:** Meaning "son of Patrick," an English surname.
138. **Paul:** Meaning "small," a biblical name.
139. **Payne:** Meaning "baker," an English surname.
140. **Pearce:** Meaning "stone," an English surname.
141. **Phelan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Faoláin," a Gaelic clan name.
142. **Phillips:** Meaning "lover of horses," an English surname.
143. **Quinn:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Cuinn," a Gaelic clan name.
144. **Reilly:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Raghallaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
145. **Reynolds:** Meaning "descendant of Reynolds," an English surname.
146. **Rice:** Meaning "powerful ruler," an English surname.
147. **Riley:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Ríoghaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
148. **Robbins:** Meaning "son of Robin," an English surname.
149. **Roberts:** Meaning "son of Robert," an English surname.
150. **Robinson:** Meaning "son of Robin," an English surname.
151. **Rogers:** Meaning "son of Roger," an English surname.
152. **Rooney:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Rúnaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
153. **Ryan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Riain," a Gaelic clan name.
154. **Scanlon:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Scannláin," a Gaelic clan name.
155. **Shea:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Síthigh," a Gaelic clan name.
156. **Sheehan:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Séaghdha," a Gaelic clan name.
157. **Sherlock:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Seirfhléigh," a Gaelic clan name.
158. **Short:** Meaning "short," an English surname.
159. **Simpson:** Meaning "son of Simon," an English surname.
160. **Smith:** Meaning "blacksmith," an English surname.
161. **Smyth:** Meaning "blacksmith," an English surname.
162. **Smyth:** Meaning "blacksmith," an English surname.
163. **Snow:** Meaning "snow," an English surname.
164. **Sweeney:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Suibhne," a Gaelic clan name.
165. **Swift:** Meaning "quick," an English surname.
166. **Taylor:** Meaning "tailor," an English surname.
167. **Tierney:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Tighearnaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
168. **Tobin:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Tuathail," a Gaelic clan name.
169. **Tracey:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Treasaigh," a Gaelic clan name.
170. **Walsh:** Meaning "descendant of Ó Faolain," a Gaelic clan name.
171. **Ward:** Meaning "guard," an English surname.
172. **Watkins:** Meaning "son of Watkin," an English surname.
173. **Watson:** Meaning "son of Wat," an English surname.
174. **Weaver:** Meaning "one who weaves," an English surname.
175. **West:** Meaning "west," an English surname.
176. **White:** Meaning "white," an English surname.
177. **Williams:** Meaning "son of William," an English surname.
178. **Wilson:** Meaning "son of Will," an English surname.
179. **Woods:** Meaning "woods," an English surname.
180. **Wright:** Meaning "wright," an English surname.
181. **Young:** Meaning "young," an English surname.