Irish Surnames A-B
Surnames from Ireland beginning with the letters A and B.
| Name | Variants | In Irish | Location | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aherne | Herne, Hearne, Heron, Aherin | Clare, Cork, Waterford | Gaelic | |
| Common for many centuries. | ||||
| Allen | Donegal, Cork | Scottish, Norman | ||
| Donegal Allens have Scottish ancestry, from the MacAllens who came to Ireland during the 16th Century. The Southern Allens are of Norman origin. | ||||
| Balfe | Kildare, Meath | Viking or Anglo-Norman | ||
| Origin unclear | ||||
| Barrett | Cork, Galway, Mayo | Norman-French | ||
| Barry | Cork | Anglo-Norman | ||
| Beirne | Norse | |||
| Possibly a derivation of Bjorn | ||||
| Belton | de Bhéalatún | Dublin | Anglo-Norman | |
| From de Welton | ||||
| Blake | Galway, Meath | Norman-French | ||
| Derives from the nickname ‘Le Blaca’ (the Black) given to a member of the Caddell family who was called which evolved to Blake. | ||||
| Boland | Norse | |||
| Boyle | Donegal | |||
| Brady | MacBrádaigh | Cavan | Gaelic | |
| Breen | Kerry, Clare, Wexford Fermanagh | Gaelic | ||
| Brennan | O Braonain Mac Branain | Widespread, Kilkenny, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon | Gaelic | |
| The Kilkenny Brennans were were put off their lands at the time of the arrival of the Normans but stayed around and became notorious outlaws. The names is very common there, especially in the Castlecomer area. The Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon Brennans are descendents of Cheiftains in an area around Roscommon. | ||||
| Brody | MacBruaideadha | Clare | ||
| Brown | Antrim, Derry, Down | English | ||
| Not to be confused with Browne. which is of different origin | ||||
| Browne | Galway | Norman-French | ||
| Originally called ‘le Brun’, Lord Oranmore and Browne and the Earls of Altamont are members of this family. | ||||
| Buckley | Ó Buachalla | Cork, Kerry | Gaelic | |
| Irish name simply means “boy”. | ||||
| Burke | Bourke, de Burgh, de Burgo | Widespread | Norman-French | |
| Butler | Widespread, Kilkenny | Norman | ||
| Very important Norman-Irish family, originating with Theobald Fitzwalter who was appointed Chief Butler of Ireland by Henry II in 1177. The Butlers of Ormonde built Kilkenny Castle. | ||||
| Byrne | O’Byrne | Ó Broin | Widespread, Wicklow | Gaelic |
| Byrne, with or without the “O” prefix is a common Irish name. Ó Broin comes from Branach “raven”, a son of Maolmordha, 11th C. King of Leinster. | ||||
Is there a “Q” in the Irish alphabet?? Is Quinlin an Irish surname?
There is no Q in the Irish language, but yes, Quinlin (or more often Quinlan) is an Irish surname.
It is a phonetic translation of the Irish name O’Coinlean. ‘Coin’ in Irish is pronounced like Quin.
THANK YOU FOR A QUICK REPLY!!!
I come from a long line of Loom’s, and as far as we know we are the only family in the world with the surname Loom, that is anyone with the Loom surname is related either by blood or marriage. According to my grandfather it is Irish in origin. But for the life of me I can’t seem to find proof of that fact. Any help?
Just a guess. Might be shortened version of Loomis, and there is a suggestion there of association with cloth manufacture. if it was linen cloth, might just be a Northern Irish name. This is pure speculation, but might provide a lead.
Surname Colfer or Colford–Irish salesman told me of Norman origin? According to book by Frank Delany (fiction, I know) he also said it was a name associated with the Norman invasion of Ireland.
Irish salesman is correct! It is a Norman name, though not a very widespread or common one in Ireland. There are a good few Colfers in Co Wexford, the best known is probably Eoin Colfer, a writer.
I have not been able to find the origins of the surname Harty. It is, I believe prevelant in Tipperary and north Kerry. Any ideas.
I’m the grandson of a Pennsylvania born orphan of Irish parents. At least that’s what family lore maintains. Records from the mid-1880s are sketchy at best, particularly as they pertain to orphans, adoptions, etc. My grandfather, George Thomas Matthews was born about 1884-45 and spent a time in a Pittsburgh orphanage. Of course there’s a possibility his adoptive parents gave him their surname. Is Matthews and Anglo-Irish surname?
Just wondering if Blakemore is an irish surname? I see that ‘Blake’ is.