100 most Irish surnames revealed

Meanwhileinireland.com, a website geared towards Irish natives and diaspora, has ranked the 100 most common Irish surnames, while providing us with their Irish equivalent and historical meaning.

While some surnames are inherently Irish with the inclusion of Mc, Mac or O', the heritage of others can be classed as 'Cambro-Norman' and 'Anglo-Irish'.

Where does your name fall on the list? And what's its meaning?

Rank	Name	Irish Equivalent	Meaning
1	Murphy	ó Murchadha	sea-battler
2	Kelly	ó Ceallaigh	bright-headed
3	O’Sullivan	ó Súilleabháin	dark-eyed
4	Walsh	Breathnach	Welshman
5	Smith	Mac Gabhann	son of the smith
6	O’Brien	ó Briain	high, noble
7	Byrne	ó Broin	a raven
8	Ryan	ó Maoilriain	king
9	O’Connor	ó Conchobhair	patron of warriors
10	O’Neill	ó Néill	from Niall of the Nine Hostages
11	O’Reilly	ó Raghallaigh
12	Doyle	ó Dubhghaill	dark foreigner
13	McCarthy	Mac Carthaigh	loving person
14	Gallagher	ó Gallchobhair	lover of foreigners
15	O’Doherty	ó Dochartaigh	hurtful
16	Kennedy	ó Cinnéide	helmet headed
17	Lynch	ó Loinsigh	seafarer, exile
18	Murray	ó Muireadhaigh	lord, master
19	Quinn	ó Cuinn	wisdom, chief
20	Moore	ó Mordha	majestic
21	McLoughlin	Mac Lochlainn	viking
22	O’Carroll	ó Cearbhaill	valorous in battle
23	Connolly	ó Conghaile	fierce as a hound
24	Daly	ó Dálaigh	assembles frequently
25	O’Connell	ó Conaill	strong as a wolf
26	Wilson	Mac Liam	son of William
27	Dunne	ó Duinn	brown
28	Brennan	ó Braonáin	sorrow
29	Burke	de Búrca	from Richard de Burgh
30	Collins	ó Coileáin	young warrior
31	Campbell		crooked mouth
32	Clarke	óCléirigh	clergyman
33	Johnston	Mac Seáin	son of John
34	Hughes	ó hAodha	fire
35	O’Farrell	ó Fearghail	man of valour
36	Fitzgerald	Mac Gearailt	spear rule
37	Brown	Mac an Bhreithiún	son of the brehon (judge)
38	Martin	Mac Giolla Mháirtín	devotee of Saint Martin
39	Maguire	Mag Uidhir	dun-coloured
40	Nolan	ó Nualláin	famous
41	Flynn	ó Floinn	bright red
42	Thompson	Mac Tomáis	son of Thom
43	O’Callaghan	ó Ceallacháin	bright headed
44	O’Donnell	ó Domhnaill	world-mighty
45	Duffy	ó Dufaigh	dark, black
46	O’Mahony	ó Mathúna	bear-calf
47	Boyle	ó Baoill	vain pledge
48	Healy	ó hÉalaighthe	artistic, scientific
49	O’Shea	ó Séaghdha	fine, stately
50	White	Mac Giolla Bháin	of fair complexion
51	Sweeney	Mac Suibhne	pleasant
52	Hayes	ó hAodha	fire
53	Kavanagh	Caomhánach	comely, mild
54	Power	de Paor	the poor man
55	McGrath	Mac Craith	son of grace
56	Moran	ó Móráin	great
57	Brady	Mac Brádaigh	spirited
58	Stewart	Stiobhard	one who superintends
59	Casey	ó Cathasaigh	vigilant in war, watchful
60	Foley	ó Foghladh	a plunderer
61	Fitzpatrick	Mac Giolla Phádraig	devotee of Saint Patrick
62	O’Leary	ó Laoghaire	calf-herd
63	McDonnell	Mac Domhnaill	world-mighty
64	MacMahon	Mac Mathúna	bear-calf
65	Donnelly	ó Donnghaile	brown valour
66	Regan	ó Riagáin	little king
67	Donovan	ó Donnabháin	brown, black
68	Burns		from Scottish Burness
69	Flanagan	ó Flannagáin	red, ruddy
70	Mullan	ó Maoláin	bald
71	Barry	de Barra	Cambro-Norman name
72	Kane	ó Catháin	battler
73	Robinson		son of Robert
74	Cunningham		Scottish name
75	Griffin	ó Gríofa	Welsh: Gruffudd
76	Kenny	ó Cionaoith	fire sprung
77	Sheehan	O’Siodhachain	peaceful
78	Ward	Mac an Bhaird	son of the bard
79	Whelan	ó Faoláin	wolf
80	Lyons	ó Laighin	grey
81	Reid		red haired, ruddy complexion
82	Graham		grey home
83	Higgins	ó hUiginn
84	Cullen	ó Cuilinn	holly
85	Keane	Mac Catháin
86	King	ó Cionga
87	Maher	Meagher	fine, majestic
88	MacKenna	Mac Cionaoith	fire-sprung
89	Bell	Mac Giolla Mhaoil
90	Scott		a Scottish gael
91	Hogan	ó hÓgáin	young
92	O’Keeffe	ó Caoimh	gentle
93	Magee	Mag Aoidh	fire
94	MacNamara	Mac Conmara	hound of the sea
95	MacDonald	Mac Dónaill	world-mighty
96	MacDermott	Mac Diarmada	free from jealousy
97	Molony	ó Maolomhnaigh	servant of the Church
98	O’Rourke	ó Ruairc
99	Buckley	ó Buachalla	cow herd
100	O’Dwyer	ó Dubhuir	black