• Menu
  • Menu

Irish History & Family Archives

Kavanagh: family name history

The Kavanagh surname is of Irish origin, deeply rooted in the island’s history. It stems from the Mac Murchadha Caomhánach family, an ancient royal dynasty in Ireland. Their most famous ancestor, Diarmait Mac Murchadha, was the King of Leinster, a historic province in Ireland. Etymology and Meaning The Kavanagh surname descends from the Gaelic...

Duffy: family name history

Duffy is an ancient and noble Irish surname. Its Irish Gaelic form, Ó Dubhthaigh, belongs to one of the oldest and most prominent Gaelic families in Ireland. Originating in the north-central region of the country, the family has played a significant role in Ireland’s history. Etymology and Meaning The Duffy surname originates from the Gaelic name Ó Dubhthaigh...

McGrath: family name history

McGrath is a surname of Irish origin, one deeply rooted in the historic landscape of the Emerald Isle. Its genesis can be traced back to early medieval Ireland, where the Gaelic form of the name, Mac Craith, was first used among Gaelic families. Etymology and Meaning The surname McGrath comes from the Gaelic Mac Craith, derived from the elements “Mac,”...

Burke: family name history

Origin of the Surname The Burke surname is deeply rooted in the history of Ireland, originating from the Norman invasion of the country in the 12th century. The name is associated with the Hiberno-Norman de Burgh family, which played a significant role in Irish politics and society. Etymology and Meaning The surname Burke is an anglicized form of the Old French...

White: family name history

The surname White is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it emerged in the British Isles during the early Middle Ages. However, in the context of Irish history, the surname, often written as ‘de Faoite’ in Irish Gaelic, has been present on the Emerald Isle for centuries and carries its distinct narrative. Etymology and Meaning The surname White primarily derives...

O’Donoghue: family name history

The O’Donoghue surname holds a deep-rooted connection with the vibrant history of Ireland. As an ancient Gaelic surname, it originates from the personal name Donnchadh, and its genesis lies within the era of patronymic surnames. Etymology and Meaning The surname O’Donoghue comes from the Irish Gaelic “Ó Donnchadha”, with ‘Ó’...

Connolly: family name history

In the historical chronicles of Ireland, the surname Connolly carries significant weight. Its origins spring from the Irish Gaelic surname O’ Conghalaigh, harking back to the island’s far reaches of history when family names were often patronymic and denoted clan associations. Etymology and Meaning The Connolly surname derives its roots from the Gaelic...

O’Donnell: family name history

The surname O’Donnell has a long and distinguished history, originating in the green hills of Ireland. The name is an Anglicized version of the original Gaelic ‘Ó Dónaill’ or ‘Ó Domhnaill,’ which were patronymic labels derived from personal names in ancient Ireland. Etymology and Meaning The name O’Donnell is derived from the...

Nolan: family name history

The Nolan surname, a stalwart identifier of Irish heritage, traces its lineage back to the misty annals of Ireland’s ancient past. It emerged from a time when people in Ireland were known by a single name, eventually developing into a distinguishable clan identifier under the appellation of O’Nuallain. The noble lineage of this clan name endures today...

Maguire: family name history

The surname Maguire, originating in Ireland, is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic name “Mag Uidhir”. It holds its roots deep in Irish Gaelic history and is associated with the prominent Maguire clan that held significant power in the region of Fermanagh for hundreds of years. Etymology and Meaning The Maguire name comes from the Gaelic “Mag...