NEWRY SHIPS STEAM TURBINE SAIL

Some FAMILY NAMES THAT APPEAR ON THE EARLY MAPS

MacARDLE, CARDWELL MacÁRDGAIL Louth MEANING: `son of Ardgal'. (The name derived from árd `height' and gal `valour'.) The sept was a branch of the MacMahons.

MacAULEY, MacAWLEY,: MacAMHALGHAIDH, MacAMHLAOIBH : Fermanagh, Westmeath MEANING: there were two unrelated septs. In Westmeath the sept name meant `son of Amhalghaidh' (an old GAELIC name). He was a 12th century descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Four Masters describe them as Chiefs of Calry. The Fermanagh sept name meant `son of Amhlaoibh'. See the next entry.

MacAULIFFE : MacAMHLAOIBH MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `son of Amhlaoibh'. (The name was probably related to OLD NORSE O'leifr, modern Olaf, which derived from ans `god' and leifr `relic'.) The sept was a branch of the MacCarthys and was not related to the MacAuley sept mentioned in the previous entry.

BARNEWELL, BARNEVILLE BARNEVILLE (from a 1300 record) MODERN IRISH NAME: de Bearnabhal MODERN COUNTY: Meath MEANING: Sir Michael de Berneval (or Barneval) took part in Strongbow's 1170 invasion of Ireland. The name derived either from Barnwell (OLD ENGLISH beorn `warrior' welle `stream, spring') in Cambridgeshire, England or that in Northamptonshire, which derived from byrgen `burial mound' and welle `stream, spring'.

BARRETT, BARRATT, MACPADINE Mayo MEANING: there were two separate Anglo-Norman families. The Barratts (not shown on the map) settled in Munster in the late 12th century, the Barretts in Connacht. Both names probably came from OLD FRENCH barat `traffic, commerce', derived from barater `to haggle'. The name, however, may be compared to MIDDLE ENGLISH baret, barat `trouble, deception' and would have been a nick-name meaning `troublesome'.

BARRY : BARRI Cork MEANING: the name may derive from OLD FRENCH barri meaning `rampart' in the referred sense of `dweller in the suburbs outside the ramparts'. Robert de Barri was one of the first three Anglo-Norman lords to land in Ireland in 1169. Some modern Barrys, however, were originally called Ó'Beargha `descendants of Beargh', Beargh being a nick-name meaning `robber'.

BERMINGHAM, CORISH : BERMINGHAM MODERN IRISH NAME: MacFheorais MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: from the place-name Birmingham (OLD ENGLISH "Beornmund's hám `homestead'") in England. (Beorn meant `warrior' and mund meant `world'.) Sir Robert de Bermyngeham was one of Strongbow's companions during his invasion of 1170. Richard de Bermingham, after whom the tower in Dublin castle was named after , won a major victory at Athenry in 1316; his cousin John defeated Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert (the) Bruce of Scotland, at Faugher in 1318. The family later became Barons of Athenry. The Irish name, MacFheorais, meaning `son of Piers', derived from Sir Robert's father, Piers de Bermyngeham.

O'BOYLAN : O'BAOIGHEALLAIN Monaghan MEANING: descendant of Baoighheallán'. (The name possibly derived from baoth `rash', geall `pledge' and the diminutive suffix án.) This once important sept had been dominated by the MacMahons by 1300.

O'BOYLE O'BAOGHAILL Donegal MEANING: `descendant of Baoigheall'. (The name may have derived from boath `rash' and geall `pledge'.) Most County Waterford Boyles descend from an Englishman, Richard Boyle, who arrived in Ireland in 1588.

MacBRADY MacBRADAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Cavan MEANING: `son of Brádach'. (The name is obscure, but may just possibly be related to brad `urging'.)

O'BRENNAN, BRENNAN O'BRAONAIN MODERN COUNTY: Kilkenny MEANING: `descendant of Braonán'. (The name derived from braon `drop, moisture' with the diminutive suffix án and may, by analogy with tears, have meant `sorrow'.) There were four unrelated septs, the most important being recorded in Kilkenny before 1169. The unrelated MacBrannans, sometimes corrupted to Brennan, came from Roscommon.

O'BRIEN O'BHRIAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Briain MODERN COUNTIES: Clare, Tipperary MEANING: the name meant `descendant of Brian Boru'. Briain Boroimhe, 926-1014, (the surname wasn't added until 40 years after his death) was the High King of Ireland who died at his moment of triumph leading the Irish to victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. The spelling Bhriain dates from a record of 1303. (The name related to bre- `hill' and implied authority or distinction.) It was also used in Brittany as a surname and some O'Briens came to Ireland from there via England.

BURKE, BOURKE, De BURGH: De BURGO MODERN IRISH NAME: de Búrca MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: OLD ENGLISH burh meant `fortification, fortified manor' - in this case referring specifically to Burgh in Suffolk, England. William Fitzaldem de Burgo, nicknamed `William the Conqueror' by the Irish, succeeded Strongbow as Chief Governor in 1179 and was granted enormous estates in Connacht.

BUTLER BUTLER MODERN COUNTIES: Tipperary, Kilkenny MEANING: NORMAN FRENCH bouteillier `butler' derived ultimately from LATIN buticular `bottle'. Theobald Fitzwalter was created Chief Butler (overlord) of Ireland in 1177. The family started to use the name Butler at about 1220. The title Earl of Ormond was bestowed on the Butlers in 1328 and the family seat was moved from Gowran to Kilkenny in 1391; the family was later ennobled as the Dukes of Ormond.

O'BYRNE : O'BROIN MODERN COUNTY: Wicklow MEANING: `descendant of Broen (Bran)'; Broen was King of Leinster and died at Cologne in 1052. The name probably meant `raven'. The sept was driven south east from Meath into Wicklow by Anglo-Norman pressure around 1200, although the family had some notable successes against the invaders.

O'CAHAN, O'KANE, KEANE O'CATHAIN MODERN COUNTY: Londonderry MEANING: the name is recorded in the Annals from 1170 and meant `descendant of Cathán'. (The name derived from cath `battle' and the diminutive suffix án `little'.)

O'CALLAGHAN, KELAGHAN NAME ON MAP: O'CEALLACHAIN MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `descendant of Ceallachán'. He was King of Munster and died in 952. (The name came from ceallach `strife'.) The sept had been driven into County Cork by Anglo-Norman pressure by 1300.

O'CALLAN O'CATHALAIN MODERN COUNTY: Monaghan MEANING: `descendant of Cathalann'. (The name derived from cathgal `battle, mighty' and the diminutive suffix án.)

MacCANN : MacCANA MODERN COUNTY: Armagh MEANING: `son of Cana'. (The name meant `wolf cub'.) Amhlaigh MacCanna, died 1155, was described in The Four Masters as a `pillar of chivalry and vigour'. The sept was last mentioned in the Annals in 1250 and was in decline at the date of this map.

O'CARROLL O'CEARBHAIL Offaly MEANING: `descendant of Cearbhall'. (The name came from cearbh `hacking', hence `fierce warrior'.) Only one out of six early septs of this name, that in Offaly, know as the Ely O'Carrolls, survived the Anglo-Norman invasion intact, although individual O'Carrolls remained in many places.

MacCARTHY : MacCARTHAIGH : Cork MEANING: `descendant of Cárthach', specifically Cárthach, the Lord of Eoghannacht, who was burnt by his enemies in his house in 1045. The Eoghannacht themselves claimed descent from the legendary Eoghan, one of the two sons of Oiloll Olum, reputed King of Munster the 3rd century. (Cárthach meant `loving'.) There were three septs in Kerry: MacCarthys Mór (great), Muskerry (descended from the legendary Carbery Musc, son of King Conary II of Ulster) and Reagh (riabhach `grey').

O'CASEY O'CATHASAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Dublin MEANING: `descendant of Cathasach'. (The name meant `watchful'.) It was a common name with six unrelated septs before 1200; in 1300 the most important was in County Dublin.

O'CASSIDY : O'CAISIDE MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Caiside MODERN COUNTY: Fermanagh MEANING: `descendant of Caiside'. (The name was a nick-name related to cas meaning `curly-headed'.) The O'Cassidys were the hereditary physicians to the Maguires from 1300-1600. The renowned poet Giolla Moduda O'Caiside died in 1143.

CLEAR, CLARE CLERE (from a 1290 record) MODERN IRISH NAME: de Cléir MODERN COUNTY: Waterford MEANING: the name came from the village of Clare in Suffolk, England and ultimately from a BRITISH river name possibly meaning `bright' or `gentle'. Nicholas de Clere was a descendant of Richard Fitzgilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke, nicknamed Strongbow, who led the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1170 and died in 1176.

O'CLERY, CLERK : O'CLEIRIGH MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `descendant of Cleirach'. (The name derived from cléireach `clerk, cleric'.) Cleirach, who was born about 820, was descended from King Guaire the Hospitable of Munster. The sept was one of the first to use a surname. It was dispersed from Co. Galway by about 1250 and settled in Donegal and Derry (where it produced notable poets) and to a lesser extent in Cavan and Kilkenny.

O'COLLINS O'COILEAIN MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `descendant of Coileán'. (The name derived from coileán `puppy, whelp'.) Originally from Limerick, the sept was pushed south into Cork by the Fitzgeralds during the 12th century, settling in an area held by a small unrelated sept called ? Cuilleáin, a name which coincidentally is also anglicized as Collins.

O'CONNELL O'CONAILL MODERN COUNTY: Kerry MEANING: `descendant of Connall'. (The name possibly derived from con, itself derived from cú `hound', and gal `valour'.) The family traditionally descended from the legendary Aengus Tuirmeach, High King of Ireland in about 280 BC. There was a Bishop O'Conaill of Thomond in 927, who may have been one of the first Irishmen to have had a surname.

O'CONNOLLY : O'CONGHALAIGH MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Conghaile MODERN COUNTY: Monaghan MEANING: `descendant of Conghalach'. (The name meant `valiant'.) The sept in modern Monaghan was one of the legendary Tribes of Tara in County Dublin before being driven north by the Anglo-Norman invaders. The O'Connollys in Munster (not shown on the map) derive from a separate sept, called ? Coingheallaigh.

O'CONNOR, O'CONOR : O'CONCHOBHAIR MODERN COUNTIES: Sligo, Roscommon, Kerry MEANING: The O'Connors Don (brown), Rua (red) and Sligo were all descendants of King Conchobhar of Connacht, who died in 971. The O'Connor Kerry sept came from a different Conchobhar. (The name derived from con, itself derived from cú `hound', and cobhar `desiring'.) Toirrdelbach O' Conchobhair (Turlough O'Connor), King of Connacht, 1106-56, was the greatest warrior of his age and became high-king of Ireland. Ruaidhri O'Conchobhair (Rory O'Connor) was high-king at the time of Strongbow's invasion and retired to the abbey of Cong in 1183. (See the entry for MacMurrough).

O CORRAN, CORR, O'CORRY,SOME CURRYS O'CORRA.O.CORRIAN, CURINI, CURIN IN MASTERS A BISHOP, CARLIN , CUREEN CURRANE, MEANING: `descendant of Corra'. (The name derived from cor `spear, pointed object'.) O CORRIAN,CURRAN, RELATED TO IN 4 MASTERS 750, The most important sept was in south west Tyrone, although many Ulster O'Corrys descend from a Gilla Corra in eastern Tyrone who appears in the Annals of Ulster in 1186. The modern surname Curry may also derive from ? Comrhraidhe and in many cases from later Scottish immigrants from Dumfries.

O'COSGRAVE, COSGROVE O'COSCRAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Wicklow MEANING: `descendant of Coscrach'. (The name, meaning `victorious, triumphant', derived from coscu `victory'.) There were two unrelated less important septs in Galway and Ulster (not shown).

MacCOSTELLO NAME ON MAP: MacOISDEALBH (from an 1193 record) MODERN IRISH NAME: MacOisdealbhaigh MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: `son of Oisdealbhach'; (the name derived from os `fawn' and dealbhadh `in the form of'). He was the son of an Anglo-Norman, Gilbert de Nangle, from Angle in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Nangle was a corruption of OLD ENGLISH atten angle, a descriptive phrase related to NORSE ongul `fishing hook', meaning `at a bend'. It was the first Anglo-Norman family to adopt a `Mac' name.

MacCOYLE, MacCOOL Mac GIOLLA CHOMHGAILL MODERN IRISH NAME: Mac Giolla Chomhgail MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `son of a follower of St Comhgal'. There were two separate septs in Donegal, the MacCools holding land to the south of the MacCoyles.

CRUISE De CRUYS (from a 13th century record) MODERN IRISH NAME: de Crúis MODERN COUNTY: Dublin MEANING: this was an Anglo-Norman name derived from MIDDLE ENGLISH crus `bold, fierce'.

O'CULLEN O'CUILINN : Kildare, Wicklow MEANING: `descendant of Cuileann'. (The name meant `holly'.) A powerful early sept on the eastern borders of County Kildare, its power had been largely eclipsed by the O'Tooles and the O'Byrnes by about 1300.

O'DALY, O'DALLY : O'DALAIGH : Westmeath MEANING: `descendant of Dálach'. (Dál meant `assembly'; the modern Irish word, of course, is dáil.) It was a literary family: Cuconnacht ? Dálaigh was a 12th century poet in Meath; Donagh O'Dálaigh, known as `the Irish Ovid', died in County Clare in 1244; and Muireadhach Albanach O'Dálaigh is remembered for his spirited poetic defence of his action in killing of a tax collector.

O'DEMPSEY O'DIOMASAIGH MODERN COUNTIES: Leix, Offaly MEANING: `descendant of Díomasach'. (The name meant `proud.') He was one of the few Irish chieftains to better Strongbow on the field of battle.

MacDERMOT, KERMODE MacDIARMADA MODERN COUNTY: Roscommom MEANING: `son of Diarmaid'. (The name meant `envy free'). There were three separate septs, the most important in Roscommon being descended from Tadhg O'Connor, King of Munster before the Anglo-Norman invasion.

O'DEVLIN : O'DOIBHILIN MODERN COUNTY: Tyrone MEANING: `descendant of Dobh(a)iléin'. (The name possibly derived from dobhail `unlucky'.) There was a Bishop O'Doibhilin of Kells in 1211. An early sept in Sligo had died out by 1300.

DILLON NAME: DYLON MODERN IRISH NAME: Dillon MODERN COUNTY: Westmeath MEANING: Sir Henry de Leon, from Brittany, accompanied the Earl of Morton, later King John of England, to Ireland in 1185 and was granted large estates in West Meath. His son adopted the name Dylon and the family's land became known as Dillon's Country.

O'DOHERTY, MACDEVITT NAME : O'DOCHARTAIGH MODERN IRISH NAME: O' Dochartaigh, MacDaibhaid MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `descendants of Dochartach'. (The name meant `obstructive, unlucky'.) The MacDevitt (`son of David') sept came from the same stock, being descended from a David O`Doherty, who was killed in 1208.

MacDONAGH : MacDONNACHADHA MODERN COUNTY: Sligo MEANING: `son of Donnchadh (Donagh)'. (The name derived from don `brown' and cath `battle'.) The sept was a branch of the Connacht MacDermots.

MacDONLEVY, DUNLEAVY, LEAVY MacDUINNSHLÉIBHE MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `son of Duinnshléibh'. (The name derived from donn `brown' and sliabh `mountain'.) Originally the Royal family of Down and South Antrim, the sept migrated to Donegal after being defeated by the Anglo-Norman John de Courcy in 1177. They became the hereditary physicians to the MacDonnells. See the entry for MacNulty.

MacDONNELL P: MacDOMHNAILL MODERN COUNTY: Antrim MEANING: `son of Domhnall (Donal)'. (The name derived from dubno `world' and val- `might, rule'.) The most important sept came from Argyll, Scotland, as galloglasses (gall `foreign' óglách `servant, warrior', ie. mercenaries) and were established in the Glens of Antrim by the 14th century. There were two smaller Irish septs in Connacht. (The name Argyle `territory of the Gaels', incidentally, derived from the Irish colonization of Scotland centuries before. See the entry for Carrickfergus.)

O'DONNELL O'DOMHNAILL MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `descendant of Domhnall (Donal)'. Domhnall, died 901, claimed direct descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages. The sept was dominant in the territory of Tyrconnell (modern County Donegal) at the time of this map. See the previous entry.

O'DONNELLY O'DONNGHAILE MODERN COUNTY: Tyrone MEANING: `descendant of Donnghal'. Donnghal O'Néill was 17th in descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages. (The name derived from donn `brown' and gal `valour.) The sept moved from Donegal to Tyrone before 1300.

O'DONOGHUE, DONOHOE O'DONNHACHADHA MODERN COUNTY: Cavan MEANING: `descendant of Donnchadh (Donagh)'. See the entry for MacDonagh.

O'DONOVAN O'DONNABHAIN : Cork MEANING: `descendant of Donndubhán'. (The name came from donn `brown', dubh `black' and the suffix án.) The largest sept was pushed from Limerick into Cork by Anglo-Norman pressure.

O'DOWD, DOODY, DUDDY O'DUBHDA MODERN COUNTY: Sligo MEANING: `descendant of Dubhda'. (The name came from dubh `black'). The sept descended from Fiachra, brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages.

O'DOYLE O'DUBHGHAILL MODERN COUNTY: Wexford MEANING: `descendant of Dubhghall'. (The name derived from dubh `dark' and ghall `foreigner'.) The earliest record of the name is as far back as 978; this, plus the fact that the name had a coastal distribution, makes it probable that the `dark foreigner' was a Viking.

O'DRISCOLL O'hEIDERSCEOIL MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Drisceoil MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: The original name was O'hEidersceoil: `the descendant of Eidhersceoil'. (The name meant `messenger.') He was a 10th century descendant of Lughaidh Laidhe. The sept had moved from Co. Kerry to Co. Cork by 1300.

O'DUFFY, DOWEY : O'DUBHTHAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Roscommon MEANING: `descendant of Dubhthach'. (The name derived from dubh `black'.) There were septs in Co. Donegal and Co. Monaghan, but in the 14th century the most important was in Roscommon. Muiredagh and Cele O' Dubhthaigh were both Archbishops of Tuam during the 12th century.

O'DUNN P: O'DUINN (in a 12th century record) MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Doinn, O'Duinn MODERN COUNTY: Leix MEANING: `the descendant of Donn'. (The name meant `brown, dark'). Gillananaomh O'Duinn, 1102-1160, was a renowned poet and historian.

MacEGAN, EAGAN, occasionally HIGGINS : MacAODHAGAIN MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: `son of Aodhagán'. (The name was a double diminutive of the word aodh `fire'.)

O'FARRELL : O'FEARGHAILL MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Fearghail MODERN COUNTY: Longford MEANING: `descendant of Fearghal'. (The name derived from fear `man' and gal `valour'.) The sept's stronghold, Longphuirt Ui Fhearghaill, seat of the chief, the Lord of Annaly, gave its name to County Longford.

FITZGERALD FITZGERALD MODERN IRISH NAME: MacGearailt MODERN COUNTY: Limerick MEANING: `son of Gerald'. The sept descended from Maurice, son of Gerald, Constable of Pembroke Castle in Wales, and Nesta, Princess of Wales. Maurice came to Ireland with Strongbow in 1170. Fitz (from OLD FRENCH fils) meant `son`; the sense `illegitimate son' did not appear until a much later date when it was applied to royal bastards. Gerald derived from OLD GERMAN `spear' and `ruler'. Branches of the Geraldines, as the family became known, were later ennobled as the Earls of Desmond and of Kildare and as the Dukes of Leinster.

FITZMAURICE, MORRIS : FITZMAURICE MODERN IRISH NAME: MacMuiris MODERN COUNTY: Kerry MEANING: `son of Maurice'. (The Anglo-Norman name came from LATIN mauritius `Moorish, dark-skinned'). It was a branch of the Fitzgerald family (see previous entry).

O'FLAHERTY : O'FLAITHBHEARTHAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: `descendant of Flaithbhearthach'. (The name derived from flaith `prince' and beartach `behaving' and meant `generous, hospitable'.) The sept moved from the east side of Loch Corrib to the west side under Anglo-Norman pressure.

O'FLANAGAN : O'FLANNAGAIN MODERN COUNTY: Roscommon MEANING: `descendant of Flannagán'. (The name came from flann `reddish, ruddy'.) Flannagán was the hereditary steward to the King of Connacht.

O'FLYNN, O'LYNN : O'FLOINN MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: `the descendant of Floinn'. (The name derived from flann `reddish, ruddy'). There were several unrelated septs. Fiacha ? Floinn, Archbishop of Tuam, visited England in 1255.

O'FOGARTY O'FOGARTAIGH Tipperary MEANING: `descendant of Fógartach', possibly from King Fógartach of Ely, who appears in the Annals of Ulster in 1072. (The name may have meant `excited', compare modern Irish fógartha `outlawed').

O'FOLEY, FOLEY O'FOGHLADHA Waterford MEANING: `descendant of Foghladha'. (The name meant `pirate, plunderer'.) Originally from Waterford, the sept spread west into Cork and Kerry.

O'GALLAGHER O'GALLCHOBHAIR MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `descendant of Gallchobhar'. There was a king of Ireland of this name who ruled from 642-654. (The name derived from gall `foreigner' and cabhair `help, support'.)

O'GARA, GEARY O'GADHRA MODERN COUNTY: Sligo MEANING: `descendant of Gadhra'. (The name derived from gadhar `hound, mastiff'.) He was the 10th century nephew of Eadhra from whom the O'Haras get their name. See the entry for O'Hara.

O'GARVEY, GARVIN O'GAIRBHIN MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: `descendant of Gairbhín'. (The name derived from garbh `rough, cruel'.) The sept migrated from Meath to Mayo after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170.

GERNON, GARLAND GERNON MODERN COUNTY: Monaghan MEANING: the Anglo-Norman Roger de Gernon came to Ireland with Strongbow in 1170. (The name derived from OLD FRENCH grenon `moustached', an unusual attribute for a Norman: indeed, the Normans in the Bayeux Tapestry can be distinguished from the Saxons by their clean-shaven faces.)

O'GORMLEY, GREHAM, GRIMES O'GAIRMLEADHAIGH MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Goirmleadhaigh, O'Gormshuil MODERN COUNTY: Tyrone MEANING: the spelling shown on the map in Ulster was that used by The Four Masters. The alternative spelling, O'Gormshuil, from which O'Gormley is now generally derived was probably that of an unconnected sept in Roscommon; the name meant `descendant of Gormsuil' (a name derived from gorm `noble' and gal `valour'). The O'Gormleys were driven out of Donegal across the river into Tyrone by the O'Donnells around 1300.

MacGOVERN, MAGAURAN MacSHAMHRAIN MODERN COUNTY: Cavan MEANING: `son of Samhradhan'; he was a local chieftain who was alive in the year 1100. (The name was a diminutive of samhradh `summer'.)

MacGRATH, MAGRATH, MacGRAW, MAGRAW NAME ON MAP: MacCRAITH MODERN COUNTIES: Donegal, Fermanagh MEANING: `Son of Craith (not Raith)'.There were two main septs: one in County Clare (not shown on the map) provided poets for the O'Briens; that on the borders of Donegal and Fermanagh was a `co-arb' family. Comharba `heir' denoted a situation where an abbot of a religious foundation, `the heir of the founder', had become a lay-lord and his family held the property from father to son. The co-arb usually provided a priest for the abbey.

MacGUINNESS, MAGENNIS P: MAGAONGHUIS MODERN COUNTY: Down MEANING: `son of Aonghus (Angus)'. (The name meant `unique choice'.) See the entry for O'Hennessy.

MacGUIRE, MAGUIRE MAGUIDHIR MODERN COUNTY: Fermanagh MEANING: `son of Odhar (Odran)'. (It was a common name meaning `dun-coloured, sallow'.) St Odhar, St Patrick's chariot-driver, reputedly saved his master's life by taking his place when his life was sought by pagans in about 452. The sept appears in the Annals in 956, but only came to prominence around 1300.

MacGURK : MacOIRC MODERN COUNTY: Londonderry MEANING: `son of Orc'. (The name may derive from orc `pig'.)

O'HALLORAN : O'hALLMHURAIN MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: `descendant of Allmhurán'. (The name, deriving from all `beyond' and muir `the sea', meant `foreigner, stranger'.)

O'HANLON : O'hANLUAIN MODERN COUNTY: Armagh MEANING: `descendant of Anluan'. (The name came from `an', an intensive prefix akin to `very, great', and `luan' which meant `light, radiance' and also `a champion'.) The Munster sept sprang up after the date of this map.

O'HANRAHAN, HOURIHANE O'hANRADHAIN : Clare MEANING: `descendant of Anradhán'. (The name derived from anradh `champion, hero' and the diminutive suffix án.)

O'HARA O'hEAGHRA MODERN COUNTY: Sligo MEANING: `descendant of Eaghra'. Eaghra (the meaning of the name is uncertain) was of the family of the legendary King Olioll Olun of Munster. After 1350 the sept split into two as O'Hara Boy (buide `tawny') and O'Hara Reagh (riadhach `grizzled') and a branch settled in Antrim.

O'HEA, HAYES, HUGHES (in Ulster) : O'hAODHA : Cork MEANING: `descendant of Aodh'. (The name meant `fire'.) There were a dozen unrelated septs. A Murrough O'Hea was Bishop of Cork in 1205.

O'HEALY O'hÉALAIGH, COUNTIES: Cork, Sligo MEANING: `descendant of Éaladhach'. (The name possibly derived from éaladhach `ingenious'.) A less important sept in Sligo (not shown on the map), also giving the modern O'Healy, was called ? hÉlidhe (`descendant of Éilidhe'), a name deriving from Élidhe `claimant'. A Dermot ? hÉlidhe was described as a `princely farmer, the best of his age' in 1308.

O'HENNESSY, HENCHY: O'hAONGHUSA MODERN COUNTY: Offaly MEANING: `descendant of Aonghus (Angus)'. Richard Hennessy, born 1720, was exiled to France, to the great benefit of the brandy industry. See the entry for MacGuinness.

O'HIGGINS O'hUIG?NN MODERN IRISH NAME: ? hUigín MODERN COUNTY: Sligo MEANING: `descendant of Uigínn'. (The name in OLD IRISH was akin to NORSE Víkingr `sea rover'.) The sept had moved from central Ireland to Sligo by 1330. The poet Tadhg Mór ? hUigínn died in 1315.

O'HOGAN : O'hO'GAIN Tipperary MEANING: `descendant of O' gán'. O'gán was himself descended from the nephew of Brian Boru. (The name derived from óg `young' and the iminutive suffix án.) See the entry for O'Brien.

JOYCE De JOISE MODERN IRISH NAME: Seoighe MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: the name derived from BRETON Iodoc, a personal name which was a diminutive of iudh `lord'. Thomas de Joise (or Joyce) was a Welshman who married the daughter of O'Brien, Prince of Thomond, in 1283 and sailed with her to Galway. Initially subject to the O'Flahertys the sept rapidly grew in importance.

KAVANAGH, CAVANAGH : CAOMHANACH MODERN COUNTY: Wexford MEANING: `follower of St Caomhán'. (Caomh meant `gentle'.) Domhnall (Donald) Caomhánach, son of Dermot MacMurrough, was fostered by a successor to the saint. See the entries for Kinsella and MacMurrough.

O'KELLY O'CEALLAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: `descendant of Ceallach'. (The name, deriving from ceallach `strife', possibly meant `troublesome' although it may have meant `bright headed'.)

O'KENNEDY O'CINNÉIDE MODERN COUNTY: Tipperary MEANING: `descendant of Cinnéidigh'. Cinnéidigh was a nephew of Brian Boru. (The name derived from ceann `head' and éidigh `armoured', although the latter word could mean `mishapen, ugly' as a nickname and probably did so in this case.) The O'Kennedys were Lords of Ormond from the 11th to the 16th centuries; three branches: Don `brown', Fionn `fair' and Rua `red' are recorded. See the entry for O'Brien.

KINSELLA CINNSEALACH MODERN IRISH NAME: Cinnsealach, O'Cinnsealaigh MODERN COUNTIES: Carlow, Wexford MEANING: Enna Cinnsealach was one of the sons of Dermot MacMurrough. (The name meant `proud, haughty'.) See the entries for Kavanagh and MacMurrough.

O'LEARY: O'LAOGHAIRE MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `descendant of Laoghaire (Leary)'. (The name, deriving from laogh `calf', meant `keeper of the calves' and was a common one.) The port of Dún (`fort of') Laoghaire was named after a 5th century King of Ireland.

O'LINCHY, LYNCH NAME O'LOINGSIGH MODERN COUNTY: Clare MEANING: `descendant of Loingseach'. (The name meant `seafarer'; compare modern Irish loingeos `shipping'. The later Galway sept, one of the Tribes of Galway, did not move west from Meath until the 15th century and like many other Lynchs was in fact descended from the Anglo-Norman de Lench family.

MacLOUGHLIN MacLOCHLAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: MacLouchlain Donegal MEANING: `son of Lochlain (an Old Norse forename.) The sept was the senior branch of the Ui Neills and was ascendant in Ulster before 1241.

O'LYNAM O'LAIGHEANAIN MODERN COUNTY: Wexford MEANING: laighean means `spear', but the name refers to Leinster (see entry). The sept was originally closely associated with the town of Ferns and Bishop O'Laigheaná founded St Peter's Church there in 1055. In later times they moved north-west to the Offaly area. The names Lynam and Lynagh (Laighneach `Leinsterman') have often been used as alternatives to one another, although the latter sept came from Connacht.

O'MADDEN, MADIGAN, MacAVADDY O'MADADHAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Madáin MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: `descendant of Mhadaigh'. (The name probably derived from mhadaigh `of a hound'.)

MacMAHON, MOHAN, VAUGHAN NAMES : MacMATHGHAMHA, MacMAHONA MODERN IRISH NAME: MacMahúna MODERN COUNTIES: Clare, Monaghan MEANING: there were two unrelated septs: that in Co. Clare meant `son of Mathghamha', of whom nothing is known. (The name meant `bear'.) The sept in Co. Monaghan claimed descent from Mahon, son of Murtagh Mór O'Brien, High-King of Ireland, who died in 1119.

O'MAHONY : O'MATHGHAMHA MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Mathghamba MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `descendant of Mathghamha'. He was a grandson of Brian Boru and was killed with Brian at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. See the entries for O'Brien and MacMahon.

O'MALLEY, MAILEY O'MAILLE : Mayo MEANING: `descendant of Máille'. (The name derived from mál- `prince' and meant `nobleman'.) The family gained a great reputation as seafarers.

O'MALONE O'MAOILEOIN Offaly MEANING: `descendant of Maoleoin'. (The name, deriving from maol `bald, tonsured', meant `devotee or follower of Eion `St John''.) The sept was a branch of the Connacht O'Connors and as befits its name provided many abbots and bishops of Clonmacnoise.

MacMANUS NAME : MacMAGHNUIS MODERN COUNTIES: Fermanagh, Roscommon MEANING: `son of Maghnus'. The Roscommon sept claimed descent from Maghnus, who died in 1181 and was the son of Turlogh O`Connor, King of Ireland. The Fermanagh sept was unrelated. Magnus (LATIN `great') was much used as a royal name in Norway and Denmark. King Magnus I of Norway, died 1047, was actually so-christened by mistake: his father much admired Charlemagne the Great, styled in Latin Carolus Magnus, and his advisers took the adjective Magnus to be a proper name.

O'MEAGHER : O'MEACHAIR MODERN COUNTIES: Tipperary, Offaly MEANING: `descendant of Meachar'. (The name meant `hospitable'.)

O'MEEHAN O'MIACHACHAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: ? Miadhacháin MODERN COUNTY: Leitrim MEANING: `descendant of Miadhachán'. (The name derived from miadhach `honourable' and the diminutive suffix án.) Denis O'Miadhacháin was recorded as Bishop of Achonry in 1285. Originally from Desmond (South Munster) and of the same stock as the MacCarthys, the sept had moved north to Co. Leitrim by the end of the 11th century.

O'MOLLOY, MULLOY O'MAOLMHUAIDH MODERN COUNTY: Offaly MEANING: `descendant of Maolmhuadh'. (The name derived from maol `chieftain' and muadh `proud'.) Albin O'Molloy, died 1223, was one of the bishops who officiated at the coronation of King Richard the Lionheart in England in 1189. A less important O'Molloy sept derived its name from O'Maoil Aoidh `descendant of a follower of St Aedh'; compare the entry for O'Malone.

O'MORAN : O'MORAIN MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: `descendant of Moran'. (The name derived from mór `big'.) The name of an unrelated sept in Galway, O'Moghráin, is also anglicized to Moran.

O'MORE, MOORE MORA MODERN COUNTY: Leix MEANING: The majority of O'Mores and Moores derive their name from the Anglo-Norman de Móra family who settled in Ireland soon after the 1170 invasion. (The name came from OLD ENGLISH mor `fen'.) Some O'Mores, however, are really of the O'Mórdha `descendant of Mórdha' sept. (The name meant `proud, noble'.) Mórdha was believed to be 21st in descent from the legendary Conal Cearnach of the Red Branch.

O'MORIARTY O'MUIRCHEARTAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Kerry MEANING: `descendant of Muircheartach'. (The name derived from muir `sea' and ceardach `skilled'.) In spite of one of their chiefs marrying a Fitzgerald in 1210, the sept's influence declined steadily after the Anglo-Norman invasion.

O'MULDOON O'MAOLDAIN MODERN COUNTY: Fermanagh MEANING: `descendant of Maoldún'. (The name meant maol `chief' dún `fortress'.) The most important sept were styled in The Annals of Loch Cé as Kings of Lurg before being dominated by the MacGuires.

O'MULLIGAN O'MAOLAGAIN MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: descendant of Maolán'. (The name was probably a diminutive of maol `bald' meaning `a tonsured, devout person'.) The sept was later displaced from Donegal to Mayo and Monaghan during the Ulster Plantations in the 17th century.

O'MULRIAN, RYAN O'MAOILRIAGHAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Maolriain MODERN COUNTY: Tipperary MEANING: `descendant of Maolríaghain'. (The name, deriving from maol `bald, tonsured', meant `devotee or follower of St Riághan'.)

MacMURRAY Mac GIOLLA MHUIRE MODERN COUNTY: Down MEANING: `son of servant of the Virgin Mary'. One sept of this name was recorded in County Down by the 14th century. The majority of modern Murrays, however, descend from Scottish Murrays who came to Ireland in the 17th century.

MacMURROUGH, MURPHY : MacMURCHADHA MODERN IRISH NAME: ? Murchadha or MacMurchadha MODERN COUNTY: Wexford, Tyrone/Armagh MEANING: `son of Murchadha'. (The name derived from muir `sea' and cadh `warrior'.) The Wexford Murphys descend from Dermot MacMurrough (1110-71), himself was the grandson of a King Murchadha.

MacNAMARA MacCONMARA Clare MEANING: `son of Conmara'. (The name derived from cu `hound' and na mara `of the sea'.)

MacNEILL Antrim MEANING: `son of Neill'. (The name may have mean `champion'.) Although many Scottish MacNeills came to Ireland with the 17th century plantation of Ulster, one sept, originally galloglasses, was established in Antrim 300 years earlier. See the entry for MacDonnell.

O'NEILL O'NÉIL Tyrone, Antrim MEANING: `descendant of Niall'. This is possibly the oldest European surname. The main Ulster sept traced its direct ancestry from Donell O'Néill grandson of Niall, King of Ireland, who was killed in battle by the Vikings in 919. The tribal name Ui Néill, however, was far older, being that of a branch of the royal house of Tara claiming descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages in about 360. The tribe held Tir Eoghan (modern Tyrone with some of Derry and Donegal) and for many centuries claimed to be High Kings of Ireland, although it is extremely doubtful that their writ ever extended over Munster. The O'Neill Clann Aodha Buidhe (Clannaboy) sept, taking its name from Aoch Buidhe (Hugh Boy), killed 1283, moved east to Antrim about 1300. (The name Niall may mean `champion', although `cloud' and `passionate' also have their advocates.')

O'NOLAN NAME O'NUALLAIN MODERN COUNTY: Carlow MEANING: `descendant of Nuallán'. (The name is possibly related to modern Irish noallan `cry'.)

NUGENT NAME : NUGENT MODERN COUNTY: Meath MEANING: an Anglo-Norman name. Hugh de Nugent, died 1213, came to Ireland in 1172. His great-grandfather Fulke de Bellesme, Lord of Nogent (in Normandy) had come to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. The place-name Nogent was a corruption of LATIN Novientum `new settlement'.

MacNULTY NAME : Mac an ULTAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `son of the Ulsterman'. One of this name was killed in the Battle of Desertcreagh in 1281. The sept was closely connected to the MacDonlevys, whose chief often appears in the Annals under the name of Ultach.

O'PHELAN, WHELAN NAME : O'FAOLAIN Waterford MEANING: `descendant of Faolán'. (The name was a diminutive of faol `wolf'.)

PLUNKETT NAME PLUNKETT : Meath MEANING: an Anglo-Norman name which derived either from Plouquenet in Normandy or was a diminutive of OLD FRENCH blanc `white'.

POWER : POER MODERN IRISH NAME: de Paor MODERN COUNTY: Waterford MEANING: an Anglo-Norman name derived from a le Poer came to Ireland with Strongbow in 1170. (The name probably derived from OLD FRENCH povre `poor', thus `one who had taken a vow of poverty'.)

PRESTON PRESTON MODERN COUNTY: Meath MEANING: from OLD ENGLISH `priest's manor' (probably in Lancashire). The Anglo-Norman name appeared in Ireland before 1300.

QUIN, QUINN O'CUINN Y: Longford, Tyrone MEANING: `descendant of Cuinn'. (The name derived from a personal name Conn meaning `chief leader'.) There were four unrelated septs, the largest being in Tyrone.

MacRANNALL, REYNOLDS, GRANNELL : MacRAGNAILL Leitrim MEANING: `son of Ragnall'. (The name was the Gaelic version of a Germanic name derived from ragin `counsel' and wald `rule'. It was possibly introduced to Ireland by the Vikings in the OLD NORSE form of Rögnvaldr.) The sept name appears in a 14th century poem.

O'REGAN, REAGAN O'RIAGAIN MODERN COUNTIES: Leix, Cork MEANING: `descendant of Riagán'. (The meaning is uncertain; it was possibly related to ríodhgach `impulsive'.) The sept was driven out of Meath and County Dublin into Laois by Anglo-Norman pressure before 1300, but only after valiant opposition as one of the Tribes of Tara. The unrelated Cork sept claimed descent from a nephew of Brian Boru.

O'REILLY, RILEY O'RAGHAILLAIGH MODERN COUNTIES: Cavan, Meath MEANING: `descendant of Raghaillach'. (The meaning of the name is uncertain.) The chief of the sept was known as Breffny O'Reilly. Throughout history the size of their territory ebbed and flowed depending on the relative power of their rivals the O'Rourkes.

O'RIORDAN, REARDEN NAME : O'RIOGHBHARDAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Ríordáin MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `descendant of Ríoghbhárdán'. (The early name derived from riogh `royal' and bhard `bard' with the diminutive suffix án.) The sept moved from Tipperary to Cork before 1300.

ROCHE : De ROCHE MODERN IRISH NAME: de Róiste MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: an Anglo-Norman family which settled soon in Cork after the invasion, it was later ennobled as the Barons of Fermoy. (The OLD FRENCH name meant `of the rock'.)

O'ROONEY N: O'RUANAIDH MODERN COUNTY: Down MEANING: `descendant of Ruanaidh'. (The name meant `champion'.) Ceallach O'Ruanaidh, died 1079, was chief poet of Ireland and Eoin O'Ruanaidh chief poet to the chief of the MacGuinness sept in the 14th century.

O'ROURKE O'RUAIRC Leitrim, Fermanagh MEANING: `descendant of Ruarc'. (The name possibly derived from ruarc `squall, rain shower'.) They were known as the Lords of Breffny (but see the entry for O'Reilly). Tiernan O'Ruairc, Prince of Breffny, killed 1172, had his wife carried off by Dermot MacMurrough (see the entry for MacMurrough).

O'SHAUGHNESSY O'SEACHNASAIGH Galway MEANING: `descendant of Seachnasach'. (The name possibly derived from seachnach `elusive'.) He was a descendant of King Daithi, the last pagan king of Ireland.

O'SHALLEY, SHELLY O'SEALBHAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: from sealbhach `having possessions'. The sept boasted five Bishops of Cork and one of Waterford in the early middle ages.

MacSHARRY, MacSHERRY MacSEIRIDH (in Armagh), MACSEFFRAIGH (in Cork) MODERN IRISH NAME: Mac or O'Searraigh MODERN COUNTIES: Armagh, Cork MEANING: the modern name appears to derive from searrach `foal', but most modern MacSha(e)rrys descend from the O'Seiridh or MacSeiridh sept in ancient Oriel (south-east Ulster); this is the name shown on the map. Giolla Pádraig Mac Seiridh was King of Dal Buinne in 1130. The Cork name means `son of Geoffrey' (as does the unrelated name MacShera). He was of the Hodnet Anglo-Norman family. (Hodnet in Shropshire meant `pleasant valley' in WELSH.) See the entries for Courtmacsherry and O'Foley.

O'SHEA, O'SHEe O'SÉAGHDHA MODERN COUNTY: Kerry MEANING: `descendant of Séaghdha'. (The name meant `fine, fortunate'.)

O'SULLIVAN O'SUILEABHAIN MODERN COUNTIES: Kerry, Cork MEANING: `descendant of Súileabhán'. (The name probably derived from súil `eye', dubh `black' and the diminutive suffix án.) The sept claimed descent from the legendary Eoghan (Owen) Mór, father of King Olioll Olum of Munster. The sept was forced west from Tipperary to Cork before 1300, becoming prominent by this date and very powerful after 1400.

MacSWEENEY , MacSUIBHNE Donegal MEANING: `son of Suibhne'. (The name meant `pleasant'.) The Annals of 1267 record a Murrough MacSweeney who was the grandson of Suibhne O'Neill, a chieftain in Argyle, Scotland. He had been the first of the galloglasses to be brought across to Ireland. His descendants naturalized and three septs were established in Donegal by the 14th century, moving south to Cork after 1500. See the entry for MacDonnell.

O'TOOLE , O'TUATHAIL MODERN COUNTY: Wicklow MEANING: `descendant of Tuathal'. (The name contained elements meaning `tribe' and `rule'.) In 1171 Lorcán O'Tuathail (Laurence O'Toole), Archbishop of Dublin, strongly resisted the Anglo-Norman invaders; indeed his sept was particularly successful in its opposition, aided in large part by the mountain terrain which it inhabited.

TYRELL NAME TIRELL MODERN IRISH NAME: Tirial MODERN COUNTY: Westmeath MEANING: an Anglo-Norman name which possibly meant `stubborn', deriving from OLD FRENCH tirel `one that pulls against the reins'. The family settled in Ireland soon after 1170. Hugh Tirrell was Seneschal of Ulster in 1224.

WALSH, BRANNAGH : WALSH MODERN IRISH NAME: Breathnach MODERN COUNTY: Wexford MEANING: `Welshman'. There were many unconnected families with this name, but the main sept originated from the family of Haylen Brenach alias Walsh alias `son of Philip the Welshman', who came to Ireland with Henry II. (The name ultimately derived from ANGLO-SAXON walas `foreigners', which came to mean `Welsh, Welsh-speakers'.) Brenach has been modernised as Brannagh.

MacWARD : Mac an BHAIRD MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `son of the bard'. The majority of Irish Wards are native MacWards. There were several septs: that in Donegal provided the hereditary bards to the O'Donnells, that in Galway bards to the O'Kellys.

WOGAN : UGAN MODERN COUNTY: Kildare MEANING: this Welsh family name was first recorded in Ireland in 1195; it derived from WELSH gwgan, gwgon the diminutive of gwg `scowl' and meant `the little scowler'.

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