Irish Surnames K-L
A list of Irish surnames beginning with the letters K and L, from Kavanagh to Lyons.
| Name | Variants | In Irish | Location | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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". | ||||
| 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. Presumably he was no looker. |
||||
| 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 | ||||
I want to know the Irish for the surnames Cooke and Lonergan please? I hope you can help me.
Keating – Céitinn (Irish, an Céad Tine, the first fire, from the Cambro-Norman under Dermot Mc Murrough who lit fires on the beaches to lead the Normans in)
I have been looking for Peter Young in Co. Limerick born 1749. His father was born in 1723, William Young. Peter may have been William Peter Young. I was told that Young family used Peter as a middle name.
They lived in Glenosheen Co. Limerick. Peter left there in abt. 1760+- to the US.
I need to find all the info on this family I can. It was said that Peter had to leave Ir. in a hurry? I did findPeter in the St. Marys Church in Limerick City. Bap./Christ.?
Thanks for any Help.
Roland Young, Fresno, Ca.