There are numerous Irish surnames you’ll hear in America – just one reason why it has such a rich Irish heritage.
Over four million Irish immigrants moved to the UnitedStates between 1820 and 1930 during the great plight of the mid-19thcentury, reducing the population of Ireland by around 25%.
As a result, today we see an enormous amount of Americansclaiming Irish heritage – at least 33 million, especially in the historicenclaves of the United States’ northeast where Irish heritage is abundant.
It was once custom for the Irish in America to have a tell-tale “O” before their surnames – this translates as “descendant of” in Gaelic – but this has since mostly disappeared except for a handful of existing popular surnames.
Here are our top 10 Irish surnames you’ll hear in America.
10. Doyle – the dark stranger
Pronounced: “Doil”
Doyle’s roots come from the south-east of Ireland – it issaid to be most common in County Carlow, Wexford, and Wicklow. It is derivedfrom the old Irish phrase “Dhubh-ghall”, which translates to “dark stranger”.
This has since led to the traditional belief that the nameDoyle was born out of the settlers in Ireland a millennium ago – eitherAnglo-Saxon settlers from Britain or Danish Norsem*n.
9. Fitzgerald – son of Gerald
Pronounced: “Fits-gerald”
This name is of Anglo-Norman French origin, and Fitzgeraldtranslates as “son of Gerald.” The Gaelic version is MacGearailt.
It is said that this name originally came from Maurice, son of Gerald, who came to Ireland with powerful archers during the Norman invasions. For his valiant efforts he was awarded land, and his family hence became powerful in County Kildare, although Fitzgerald families were also strong in what is today County Kerry and Limerick.
8. O’Connor – the hound of desire
Pronounced: “O-Conn-or”
The O’Connor name has numerous variations and spellings,meaning it’s difficult to point out where exactly it derived from. We know thatit originated prominently in five areas of Ireland: Connacht, Kerry, Derry,Offaly, and Clare.
The name was initially spelt O’Conchobhar – a name which goesback to Conchobhar, a 10th-century ruler of Connaught (a kingdom in the west ofIreland).
It once meant something along the lines of “hound of desire”in Gaelic. Unusually for Irish names, the “O” prefix has remained, with moreO’Connors than Connors in both Ireland and America.
7. O’Reilly – descendants of Raghaillach
Pronounced: “O-Ri-ley”
Another Irish name which has kept its “O” – this name hasits roots in the old Gaelic kingdom of Breffny, where the O’Reilly family wasknown as one of the most powerful septs.
Today, this area is known as County Cavan.
The family name is derived from the Irish “O’Raghailligh,”meaning “descendants of Raghaillach”. Raghaillah is said to be born out ofcompounds ragh (race) and ceallach (sociable).
Reilly, or the shortened Riley, is also a popular first nameacross the United States.
6. O’Brien – eminent person
Pronounced: “O-bri-en”
This Irish surname you’ll hear in America comes from the O’Briandynasty, led by Brian Boru who was High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He broughtMunster together in times of great unrest and fought for control over thesouthern half of the Emerald Isle.
Boru’s descendants, the O’Briens, became one of the country’s most important dynasties and have since poured out across the world and into the U.S. becoming one of the most stereotypically Irish surnames worldwide.
5. Ryan – little king
Pronounced: “Ry-an”
The meaning of the Irish name Ryan comes from the old Gaelicword “righ” and the old Irish diminutive of “an,” which together roughlytranslate as “little king” in English.
The O’Riains were most famous in Counties Carlow and Wexfordfor their authoritative power, and even today continue to frequent the southernhalf of Ireland more than in the north.
4. Kennedy – fierce head
Pronounced: “Kenn-edy”
Known best around the globe as the surname of the U.S.President John F. Kennedy, this ancient Gaelic name was originally spelt “Ceannéidigh”,translating roughly as “fierce head”.
JFK’s family originated from County Wexford, but the name isheld most strongly in County Tipperary where the medieval O’Kennedys once inhabited.
Although it is both an Irish and Scottish name, it is theIrish Kennedys who more vehemently flocked to the United States.
3. O’Sullivan – hawkeyed/one-eyed
Pronounced: “O-Sull-i-van”
In Irish, O’Sullivan is spelt O’Suilleabhin. It is widelyaccepted that this word derives from súl (eye), though whether it is to be translatedas “one-eyed” or “hawkeyed” is still in dispute among scholars.
Originally lords in the area of Cahir, County Tipperary, inthe 12th century, the O’Sullivans migrated to what is now West Cork and SouthKerry, and have since travelled further afield to populate the United States.
2. Kelly – warlike
Pronounced: “Kell-y”
Kelly, the second most popular Irish surname in the States,is the anglicised form of Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, or “descendant of Ceallach.” Thisis an ancient personal name that loosely translates as “bright-headed” or“warlike.”
The name originates from around ten unrelated families andsepts across Ireland. These include O’Kelly septs from Meath, Derry, Antrim,Laois, Sligo, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway, and Roscommon.
Although seen more commonly as a surname, it is also aparticularly popular first name for women in the United States.
1. Murphy – the sea warrior
Pronounced: “Mur-fy”
The most common of all Irish surnames you’ll hear in America is Murphy.
This highly popular surname means “sea warrior”, a personalname that was once particularly popular in County Tyrone. In Irish ittranslates as MacMurchadh, a derivation of the first name of Murchadh orMurragh.
O’Murchadh families were known to live in County Wexford,Roscommon, and Cork – where it is now most common, with the MacMurchadhs of theCounty Sligo and Tyrone areas responsible for most of the Murphys in modern-dayUlster.
The name became anglicised first to MacMurphy and then shorteneddown to Murphy in the early 19th century.
Recognise a lot of these names? The Irish have a hugehistory of migrating to the United States and make up one of its biggesthistorical migrant demographics. Since then, Irish Americans have gone on toshape American culture and even changethe world.
Check out a list of other Irish surnames you’ll hear in America and elsewhere using our guide.
Read about Irish surnames…
The 10 most popular Irish surnames worldwide
The Top 20 Irish Surnames and Meanings
Top 10 Irish surnames you’ll hear in America
The top 20 most common surnames in Dublin
Things you didn’t know about Irish surnames…
The 10 Hardest to Pronounce Irish Surnames
10 Irish surnames that are always mispronounced in America
Top 10 facts you never knew about Irish surnames
5 common myths about Irish surnames, debunked
Find Your Dream Hotel in Ireland
On the hunt for the ultimate hotel for your Irish adventure? Explore a curated selection ranging from the charming heritage of boutique accommodations in Dublin's vibrant heart to the tranquil luxury of rural retreats and the captivating coastal vistas. Start your search below to find the perfect stay with our trusted hotel partner.
10 actual surnames that would be unfortunate in Ireland
Read about Irish first names
100 popular Irish first names and their meanings: an A-Z list
Top 20 Gaelic Irish boys names
Top 20 Gaelic Irish girl names
20 Most Popular Irish Gaelic Baby Names Today
Top 20 HOTTEST Irish Girl Names Right Now
Most popular Irish baby names – boys and girls
Things you didn’t know about Irish First Names…
Top 10 unusual Irish girl names
The 10 hardest to pronounce Irish first names, Ranked
10 Irish girl names nobody can pronounce
Top 10 Irish boy names that nobody can pronounce
10 Irish First Names You Rarely Hear Anymore
Top 20 Irish Baby Boy Names That’ll Never Go Out of Style
How Irish are you?
How DNA kits can tell you how Irish you are
Find Your Dream Hotel in Ireland
On the hunt for the ultimate hotel for your Irish adventure? Explore a curated selection ranging from the charming heritage of boutique accommodations in Dublin's vibrant heart to the tranquil luxury of rural retreats and the captivating coastal vistas. Start your search below to find the perfect stay with our trusted hotel partner.
Get featured on Ireland Before You Die
Do you want to get your Irish business more online exposure? Especially to those interested in travelling the best places in Ireland? Then why not get a dedicated feature on Ireland Before You Die. Find out morehere.
