Clan Sweaters

O’ Shea is the Anglicisation of the original Gaelic Ó Séaghada, which comes from the personal name meaning ‘hawk-like’ or ‘fortunate’. The sept was located in the Barony of Iveragh in Co. Kerry, where they were...

Ó Súilleabháin comes from the Gaelic “Súil”, meaning ‘eye’, and can mean ‘Black-eyed’ or ‘Hawk-eyed’. The O’ Sullivan sept was part of the Eoghanacht tribal grouping, and...

Power is originally a Norman name. The first settlers in Ireland were located in Co. Waterford in the southern province of Munster, where they owned large estates. The name they were originally known by, le Poer, actually means ‘poor’,...

The name Quinn can have two distinct origins. In the areas of counties Clare, Longford and Antrim, the name originated as the personal name Conn, meaning ‘chief’ or ‘leader’. The name is also came from Co. Tyrone, in the northern...

Ó Riagáin comes from the Gaelic word “ríodhgach”, possibly meaning ‘impulsive’ or ‘angry’. The name originated in at least three distinct areas of the country ; Meath / Dublin, where they were one...

The Ryan name originated as Ó Maoilriaghain, meaning ‘descendant of a devotee of St. Riaghan’. The name was originally Anglicised as Mulryan, and has today been shortened to Ryan. The name first appeared in the barony of Owney, on the...

Ó Síodhacháin comes from the Gaelic word “siodhach” which means ‘peaceful’. The Ó Síodhacháin sept originated in the barony of Lower Connello in Co. Limerick, and was part of the...

This surname is famous for being ordinary. It is the fifth most common name in Ireland. The name in Irish is Mac gabhainn meaning ‘son of the smith’. The name is most deeply rooted in County Cavan, where the MacGowan sept originated (find out...

Mac Suibhne comes from the Gaelic word “suibhne” meaning ‘pleasant’, and Sweeney is the Anglicisation of this name. The original Suibhne from whom Sweeneys claim descent was a Scottish chief. The Sweeneys arrived in Ireland from...

The Ó Tuama sept was located in Co. Cork in the southern province of Munster. Twomey, and its variations, are the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Tuama. The name is common in Ireland today, although it is not one of the 100 most numerous. It...

The Gaelic name Breathnach means ‘British’ or ‘Welsh’, and the name Walsh is a semi-translation of this meaning. The name arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Norman invasion at the end of the 12th century, and was established in a...

Wards in Ireland can be of English or Gaelic origin. The English version of the name alludes to the occupation of ‘weard’ or guardsman, and was brought here by English settlers. In Gaelic the name means ‘son of the poet / bard’...

Ó Faoláin comes from the Gaelic word “faol” meaning ‘wolf’. The clan came originally from the ancient kingdom of Decies, part of the modern Co. Waterford, and they ruled that part of the country up until the Norman...

This name originates in England. However in Ireland the name White was used locally for many Irish people who had the elements ‘ban’ –white or ‘fionn’ – fair. The Whites settled in Ireland, in all provinces, throughout...