A list of Irish surnames beginning with the letters K and L, from Kavanagh to Lyons.
Kavanagh
Variants: Cavanagh, MacMurrough
In Irish: Ó Caomhánach
Found in: Widespread
Origin: Gaelic
Descendants of Diarmuid MacMurrough, a 12th centurt. King of Leinster.
Keane
Variants: Kane, O’Cahan, MacCloskey
In Irish: Ó Cathain, Ó Cahain, Ó Céin
Found in: 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
Found in: Wexford, Kilkenny, Waterford
Found in: Welsh-Norman
The same as the Welsh surname Cethyn
Kelleher
Variants: Keller
In Irish: Ó Céileachair
Found in: Clare, Cork, Kerry
Origin: Gaelic
Derived from the Irish for “loving spouse”.
Kelly
Variants: O’Kelly
In Irish: Ó Ceallaigh
Found in: Galway, Roscommon Widespread
Origin: Gaelic
Derived from Ceallach, who was a 9th century chieftain. Said to mean “war”.
Kennedy
Variants: O’Kennedy
In Irish: Ó Cinneide
Found in: Clare, Kilkenny, Tipperary
Origin: 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
Variants: Kehoe, Hoey, Haughey, MacKehoe
In Irish: Eochaidh, MacEochaidh
Found in: Wexford, widespread.
Origin: Gaelic
English name is a mispronounced Anglicisation of the original Irish.
Killoran
Variants: Cloran, Killoren, Killaurin
In Irish: Mac Giolla Luairinn
Found in: Sligo
Origin: Gaelic
Means “servant of Saint Luairean (Lorcan)”.
Kinsella
In Irish: Ó Cinnsealach
Found in: Wexford, Wicklow
Origin: Gaelic
Kirwan
In Irish: Ó Ciardubháin
Found in: Galway, Louth
Origin: Gaelic
“Dubhain” meand “black” which probably refers to a dark person from Spain. The Kinsellas were one of the tribes of Galway.
Lacy
Variants: Lacey, de Lacy
In Irish: de Léis
Origin: Norman
Originally came from Lascy in Normandy, France.
Lalor
Variants: Lawlor
In Irish: O Leathlobhair
Found in: Laois
Origin: Gaelic
Name literally translates as “half-leper”.
Lee
Variants: Leddy
In Irish: O Laoidhigh Mac an Leagha
Found in: Cork, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary.
Origin: Gaelic
Means “son of the physician”.
Lennon
Variants: Leonard, Lannon, Linnane
In Irish: Ó Leannáin
Found in: Fermanagh, Galway, Mayo
Origin: Gaelic
Loughlin
Variants: O Loughlin, MacLoughlin, MacLaughlin
In Irish: Ó Lochlainn
Found in: Clare, Derry, Kildare
Origin: Norse
From a Norse personal name
Lucey
Found in: Cork
Origin: Norman
From de Lucy
Lynch
In Irish: Ó Loingsigh,
Found in: Clare, Limerick, Sligo. Very widespread.
Origin: 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
Variants: Lehane, Lane, Lyne.
In Irish: O Laighin, Ó Liathain
Found in: Limerick, Galway
Origin: Gaelic, Norman
Two derivations, one Gaelic, the other from the Norman de Lyon
Published: August 13, 2008 | Updated: March 31, 2017 | Image Credits
9 Comments
@ ROLAND YOUNG
I just stumbled across your 7 years old comment here!
Just started my family history research and I just came upon to learn that this very William Peter Young of Limerick seems to be the oldest relative I can find!
But since you were looking for Infos on this family so urgently
I wonder.. we might be related as well? Very far I guess but could be possible? My name is Leonie Merlin Young by the way..
Would be deadly to get in touch..
Where does the name Harvison ( Harvey’s Son ) derive from. Does it have any viking origin?
I believe my great, great paternal grandparents were hugenot & passed through Ireland. Does Luse appear to have a regional association?
“Kilroy” isn’t on this list!
We have an ancestor who was conscripted into the British Army to fight in the French and Indian War (aka, The seven Year War). Most of the regiment was were conscripts from Ireland, but some were Scottish. After the war he remained in the colonies and subsequently fought in the American Revolution as an American Patriot. His given surname was Cockestarls . Over time, he changed it to simply, Cook. He was born in 1727 and lived to the ripe ol’ age of 102. Internet searches show no use of the Cockestarls surname, so it may be it was not correctly spelled or is one of those names having faded in use o’er the years. Anyone out there ever see a surname of this or similar spelling? It would assist us in potentially narrowing down his place of origin. It is quite the brick wall.
Would like to find out the old Gaelic name for Lucid.
Thank you,
Virginia
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.
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 want to know the Irish for the surnames Cooke and Lonergan please? I hope you can help me.