Alphabetical List of Irish Names: K-L
Irish Surnames | A-B | C | D | E-G | H-J | K-L | Mac | M-N | O | P-R | S-W
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| Name | Variants | In Irish | Location | Origin | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kavanagh | Cavanagh, MacMurrough | Ó Caomhánach | Widespread | Gaelic | Descendants of Diarmuid MacMurrough, a 12th centurt. King of Leinster. . |
| Keane | Kane, O'Cahan, MacCloskey | Ó Cathain, Ó Cahain, Ó Céin | Munster, Ulster, West Clare | Derives from the personal name Cian. The different Irish versions are different families - "Cathain" from West Clare, "Céin" from Munster and "Cahain" from Ulster. | |
| Keating | Wexford, Kilkenny, Waterford | Welsh-Norman | The same as the Welsh surname Cethyn | ||
| Kelleher | Keller | Ó Céileachair | Clare, Cork, Kerry | Gaelic | Derived from the Irish for "loving spouse". . . |
| Kelly | O'Kelly | Ó Ceallaigh | Galway, Roscommon Widespread | Gaelic | Derived from Ceallach, who was a 9th century chieftain. Said to mean "war". Kelly. |
| Kennedy | O'Kennedy | Ó Cinneide | Clare, Kilkenny, Tipperary | Gaelic | "Cinn" means "head" and "Éidig" means "ugly" - do the name literally means "ugly head". Said to be descendents of Dunchad, who was Brian Boru's brother. |
| Keogh | Kehoe, Hoey, Haughey, MacKehoe | Eochaidh, MacEochaidh | Wexford, widespread. | Gaelic | English name is a mispronounced Anglicisation of the original Irish. |
| Killoran | Cloran, Killoren, Killaurin | Mac Giolla Luairinn | Sligo | Gaelic | Means "servant of Saint Luairean (Lorcan)". |
| Kinsella | Ó Cinnsealach | Wexford, Wicklow | Gaelic | ||
| Kirwan | Ó Ciardubháin | Galway, Louth | Gaelic | "Dubhain" meand "black" which probably refers to a dark person from Spain. The Kinsellas were one of the tribes of Galway. | |
| Lacy | Lacey, de Lacy | de Léis | Norman | Originally came from Lascy in Normandy, France. | |
| Lalor | Lawlor | O Leathlobhair | Laois | Gaelic | Name literally translates as "half-leper". |
| Lee | Leddy | O Laoidhigh Mac an Leagha | Cork, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary. | Gaelic | Means "son of the physician". |
| Lennon | Leonard, Lannon, Linnane | Ó Leannáin | Fermanagh, Galway, Mayo | Gaelic | |
| Loughlin | O Loughlin, MacLoughlin, MacLaughlin | Ó Lochlainn | Clare, Derry, Kildare | Norse | From a Norse personal name |
| Lucey | Cork | Norman | From de Lucy | ||
| Lynch | Ó Loingsigh, | Clare, Limerick, Sligo. Very widespread. | Norman | Two main families.1. de Lynch, of Norman origin; 2. Longseach (meaning "mariner"), was an early King of Ireland. One of the 14 Tribes of Galway. | |
| Lyons | Lehane, Lane, Lyne. | O Laighin, Ó Liathain | Limerick, Galway | Gaelic Norman | Two derivations, one Gaelic, the other from the Norman de Lyon |
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