M.

_McAdam._ _Mac_, son; Hebrew word _Adam_, a red, or dark-brown man.

_McAdoo._ _Mac_, son; _Ad́aḿ_, pronounced either _Adk-oo_ or _Awoo_, Adam. Son of Adam.

_MacAlister._ _Mac_, son; _Alister_, Alexander. Son of Alexander. MacAllister, of the same parentage.

_Mac Aller._ _Mac_, son; _alla_, a cliff; _er_, a man. Son of a cliff-dweller.

_McAlonan._ _Mac_, son; _aluin_, beautiful; _an_, sign of personal noun. Son of a beautiful person.

_McAlvin._ _Mac_, son; _Alvin_, corruption of _Alban_, genitive case of Alba, Scotland. Son of Scotland.

_McAnally._ _Mac_, son; _anail_, genitive of _anal_, breath; _ać_, an individual. Son of the breath of a person. McNally, only an abbreviated form of the same.

_McAndrew._ _Mac_, son; _Andrew_, a Greek word meaning strong, manly. Son of the strong. MacAndrias is the Irish form, from which are obtainable Anderson and Andrews.

_McArdle._ _Mac_, son; _ard_, high; _le_, contraction of _aille_, genitive of _aill_, a cliff. Son of a high cliff.

_McAran._ _Mac_, son; _arain_, genitive of _aran_, bread. Son of bread.

_McArty._ _Mac_, son; _art_, pronounced _awrt_, a place; _eać_, an individual. Son of a man of the place.

_McAteer._ _Mac_, son; _an_, of the; _tir_, pronounced _teer_, country. Son of the country; a countryman.

_McAva._ _Mac_, son; _Eb́a_, pronounced _Awa_, which is corrupted into _Ava_. Son of Eve.

_McAuley._ _Mac_, son; _caille_, genitive of _caille_, fame; _eać_, an individual. Son of a famous person.

_McBeth._ _Mac_, son; _beith_, genitive of _beth_, a house. Son of the house. Macbeth is another form of the same name.

_McBreen._ _Mac_, son; _braone_, pronounced _breen_, genitive of _braon_, a drop. Son of a drop.

_McBrian._ _Mac_, son; _Brian_, corruption of _Britain_. Son of the country of the Brith, or painted people.

_McBronn._ _Mac_, son; _bronn_, genitive of _bruinn_, a womb. Son of a womb.

_McBryde._ _Mac_, son; Anglo-Saxon _bryd_; Irish genitive _bryde_, of bride. Son of a bride.

_McBurney._ _Mac_, son; _bur_, an inner chamber; _neać_, an individual. Son of the inner chamber of a person.

_MacCabe._ _Mac_, son; _cabe_, genitive of _cab_, a mouth. Son of a mouth.

_MacCalla._ _Mac_, son; _alla_, a cliff, the final _c_ of _mac_ being carried over to _alla_. Son of a cliff.

_McCallan._ _Mac_, son; _calla_, a hood, genitive same; _an_, indicative of personality. Son of the wearer of a hood; son of a nun.

_McCambridge._ _Mac_, son; _cam_, treacherous; Scottish _brig_, a bridge. Son of the keeper of a treacherous bridge.

_McCammon._ _Mac_, son; _camm_ or _cam_, deceitful; _on_ for _an_, denoting a person. Son of a deceitful person.

_McCamy._ _Mac_, son; _cam_, deceitful; _eać_, an individual. Son of a deceitful person.

_McCardle._ _Mac_, son; _ard_, high; _aille_, genitive of _aill_, a cliff. Son of a high cliff.

_McCarne._ _Mac_, son; _carn_, a heap of stones; _neać_, an individual. Son of a heap of stones.

_McCarroll._ _Mac_, son; _carruill_, from _car_, dear, beloved; _uille_, genitive of _uill_ or _aill_, a cliff. Son of the beloved cliff.

_McCaughan._ _Mac_, son; _caiǵ_, genitive of _cat́_, a warrior; _an_, a diminutive. Son of a short warrior.

_McCaull._ _Mac_, son; _caille_, genitive of _caill_, fame. Son of fame. McCaulley, from the same.

_McCaw._ _Mac_, son; _cat́_, pronounced _cah_, corrupted, doubtless, into _caw_, battle. Son of battle.

_McCeever._ _Mac_, son; _caoiḿ_, gentle; _fear_, a man. Son of a gentle man.

_MacClean._ _Mac_, son; _lean_, pronounced _lane_, a marsh. Son of a marsh. MacClaon and MacClane, of similar origin.

_McCleary._ _Mac_, son; _cleireać_, pronounced _clêary_, a superannuated clergyman. Son of a superannuated clergyman.

_McCleil._ _Mac_, son; _lile_, genitive _lil_, a lily. Son of a lily.

_McClow._ _Mac_, son; _cloiće_, pronounced _clokh_, genitive of _cloć_, a stone. Son of a stone.

_McClune._ _Mac_, son; _cluain_, genitive of _cluan_, a retreat. Son of a retreat. McCloon, corruption of same.

_McColey._ _Mac_, son; _col_, kindred; _eać_, an individual. Son of a relative.

_McConkle._ _Mac_, son; _conn_, of heroes; _caille_, genitive of _caill_, fame. Son of heroes of fame.

_McConn._ _Mac_, son; _conn_, of heroes. Son of heroes.

_McConnolly._ _Mac_, son; _conn_, of heroes; _aille_, genitive of _aill_, a cliff. Son of the heroes of a cliff.

_McCool._ _Mac_, son; _cuile_, pronounced _kool_, the genitive of _cul_, the hinder part. Son of the hinder part.

_McCorkle._ _Mac_, son; _Corcaiǵ_, Cork; _aille_, genitive of _aill_, a hill. Son of a hill of Cork.

_McCosh._ _Mac_, son; _coise_, pronounced _coshe_, genitive of _cos_, a foot. Son of a foot.

_McCotis._ _Mac_, son; _cotis_, genitive case of the Latin _cos_, a grindstone. Son of a grindstone.

_McCrea._ _Mac_, son; _cre_, pronounced _cra_, of creed. Son of a creed. From the same roots is derived McCray.

_McCreary._ _Mac_, son; _cre_, of earth; _riǵe_, of king. Son of the King of the earth.

_McCritt._ _Mac_, son; _cruite_, genitive of _cruit_, a hump. Son of a hump.

_McCrossin._ _Mac_, son; _croise_, genitive of _cros_, a cross; _in_, diminutive. Son of a small cross.

_McCrum._ _Mac_, son; _croime_, crookedness, a noun derived from the adjective _crom_. Son of waywardness.

_McCrunn._ _Mac_, son; Scotch _croon_, a groan. Son of a groan.

_McCrystal._ _Mac_, son; _criostail_, genitive of _criostal_, a crystal. Son of a crystal.

_McCully._ _Mac_, son; _cuile_, genitive of _cul_, the hinder part; _eać_, an individual. Son of a person’s hinder part.

_McCullough._ _Mac_, son; _cuile_, genitive of _cul_, the hinder part; _loiće_, genitive of _loć_, a lake. Son of the lake of the hinder part.

_McCummisky._ _Mac_, son; _cuimin_, of valley; _uisge_, genitive of _uisge_, water. Son of the valley of water.

_McCurdy._ _Mac_, son; _coire_, pronounced _kŭrh_, genitive of _coir_, crime, sin; _d_, of; _eać_, individual. Son of the original sin of man; son of Adam’s fall.

_McDavit._ _Mac_, son; _Daib́id́_, pronounced occasionally _Daivit_, but more commonly _Dâvee_, of David. Son of David. McDevitt, from same.

_McDermott._ _Mac_, son; _Diarmuid_, from _Dia_, God, _armuid_, of arms. Son of the God of arms.

_McDiarmuid._ _Mac_, son; _Diarmuid_, God of arms. Son of the God of arms.

_McDill._ _Mac_, son; _dille_, genitive of _dill_, fondness. Son of fondness.

_Mac Donnell._ _Mac Doḿnaill_, in the original, from _mac_, son; _Doḿnaill_, genitive of _Doḿnall_, Donnell. Son of Donnell; Son of the Sunday of Beauty; Son of the Resurrection; Son of God. See Donnell.

_McDonough._ _Mac_, son; _donaiǵ_, genitive of _donać_, an unhappy person. Son of an unhappy person.

_Mac Dowell._ _Mac_, son; _doḿan_, the world, genitive _doḿain_, of the world; _aille_, of beauty. Son of the World of Beauty; Son of Heaven.

_Mac Egan._ _Mac_, son; _Aod́gan_, pronounced _Eeygan_, of Egan, the Irish equivalent of Hugh. The son of Hugh.

_McElway._ _Mac_, son; _Elway_, a corruption of _Gailliḿ_, Galway. Son of Galway, the town of the strangers.

_McEnnery._ _Mac_, son; _Henri_, genitive of _Henri_, Henry. Son of Henry.

_McFadden._ _Mac_, son; _Fadden_ is the same as _Padden_, which is a corruption of _Padruic_, Patrick, a Latin word for patrician. Son of Patrick. Fitzpatrick, so common in the Celtic, has the same signification.

_McFarlan._ _Mac_, son; _fara_, genitive of _fear_, a man; _lain_, of a castle, the nominative singular being _lan_. Son of the man of the castle.

_McFaul._ _Mac_, son; _fâile_, genitive of _fâil_, fate. Son of fate.

_Mcfee._ _Mac_, son; _faoi_, genitive of _faoi_, faith. Son of faith.

_MacFeeley._ _Mac_, son; _fialaiǵ_, genitive of _fialać_, a generous person. Son of a generous person.

_McFetridge._ _Mac_, son; _Fetter-rice_, from Anglo-Saxon _fetor_, a chain for the feet, and _rice_, dominion. Son of a dominion in chains, or that is in bondage.

_Mac Gahan._ _Mac_, son; _geain_, genitive of _gean_, affection. Son of affection. McGahn, McGhan, are equivalents.

_McGail._ _Mac_, son; _gaille_, genitive of _gail_, steam. Son of steam.

_McGarry._ _Mac_, son; _gearraiǵ_, genitive of _gearrać_, a short person. Son of a short person. McGarey, McGary, McGeary, are of similar origin.

_McGarvey._ _Mac_, son; _garb́eaiǵ_, pronounced _garvey_, genitive of _garb́eać_, a rough person. Son of a rough person.

_McGaver._ _Mac_, son; _gab́air_, of a goat. Son of a goat.

_McGee._ _Mac_, son; _Aod́_, pronounced _eey_, Hugh. Son of Hugh.

_McGill._ _Mac_, son; _giolla_, genitive of _giolla_, a servant. Son of a servant.

_McGlinn._ _Mac_, son; _glinne_, genitive of _glinn_, the bright heavens. Son of the bright heavens. Sometimes spelt McGlynn.

_McGloon._ _Mac_, son; _gluin_, pronounced _gloon_, genitive of _glun_, the knee. Son of the knee. McGlone, McGlune, from the same.

_McGlory._ _Mac_, son; _gloireaiǵ_, pronounced _gloireay_, genitive of _gloireać_, a glorified person, or saint. Son of a glorified person.

_McGowan._ _Mac_, son; _gob́an_, pronounced _gowan_, genitive of _gob́a_, a smith. Son of a smith.

_McGrane._ _Mac_, son; _grain_, genitive of _grân_, a grain. Son of a grain. McGran, McGrann, equivalents.

_MacGrath._ _Mac_, son; _graid́e_, genitive of _grad́_, love. Son of love.

_MacGraw._ _Mac_, son; _graid́e_, pronounced _grath_ or _graw_, love. Son of love.

_McGrenery._ _Mac_, son; _greine_, genitive of _grian_, sun; _riǵ_, pronounced _ry_ or _ree_, king. Son of the sun-king.

_McGuinn._ _Mac_, son; _guine_, genitive of _guin_, a wound, an opening, a circle. Son of an opening.

_McGuinness._ Corruption of MacAnguis, the son of Anguis, Irish for Æneas.

_McGuire._ _Mac_, son; _Maǵ-Muire_, from _maǵ_, plain, _Muire_, of Mary. Son of the plain of Mary.

_McGurk._ _Mac_, son; _gurke_, German for cucumber. Son of a cucumber.

_McHallahan._ _Mac_, son; _T́alla_, genitive, of hall; _leat́an_, wide. Son of a wide hall.

_MacHugh._ _Mac_, son; _Aod́_, Hugh. Son of Hugh. From this name have sprung M’Coy, M’Gee, M’Kay, M’Coy, and Magee. _Ua Aoid́_, descendant of Hugh, has given us Hughson and Hughes.

_MacHulay._ _Mac_, son; _Aoid́_, of Hugh; _lać_, people. Son of Hugh’s people.

_McInnis._ _Mac_, son; _inis_, an island. Son of an island.

_McInteer._ _Mac_, son; _in_ for _an_, of the; _tir_, pronounced _teer_, country. Son of the country. McIntyre, the usual spelling, is from the same roots.

_McKaig._ _Mac_, son; _coige_, genitive of _coig_, war. Son of war.

_McKane._ _Mac_, son; _caine_, genitive of _cain_, the undefiled. Son of the undefiled.

_McKeefy._ _Mac_, son; _caoiḿeaiǵ_, genitive of _caoiḿeać_, a gentle person. Son of a gentle person.

_McKeene._ _Mac_, son; _ciuine_, of silence. Son of silence.

_MacKeever._ _Mac_, son; _caoiḿ_, gentle; _er_ for _fear_, a man. Son of a gentle man.

_MacKiernan._ _Mac_, son; _ciarain_, genitive of _ciaran_, a dusky person. Son of a dusky person.

_McKieman._ _Mac_, son; _caoiḿ_, gentle; _an_, implying person. Son of a gentle person.

_McKim._ _Mac_, son; _caoiḿ_, gentle. Perhaps, a contraction of McKieman.

_McKinney._ _Mac_, son; _Kinney_, from _cionn_, pronounced _kin_, affection, esteem; _eać_, an individual. Son of Kinney.

_McKnight._ _Mac_, son; _cnioćta_, genitive of _cnioćt_, a knight. Son of a knight.

_MacKeon._ _Mac_, son; _Eoin_, genitive of _Eon_, Owen or Eugene. Son of Owen or Eugene. MacKoun, Keon, Coyne, Owens, and Owenson, are all from the same roots.

_McLain._ _Mac_, son; _leune_, pronounced _laine_, genitive of _leun_, misfortune, misery. Son of misfortune.

_McLuth._ _Mac_, son; _luait́_, genitive of _luat́_, swiftness. Son of swiftness.

_McMain._ _Mac_, son; _miain_, genitive of _mian_, desire. Son of desire.

_McMam._ _Mac_, son; _maim_, genitive of _mam_, a mother. Son of a mother.

_McMillin._ _Mac_, son; _muillin_, of a mill. Son of a mill. McMullin, from the same.

_McMinn._ _Mac_, son; _min_, genitive of _min_, pronounced _mĭn_, meal. Son of meal.

_McMurrich._ _Mac_, son; _murraiǵ_, genitive of _murrać_, a man of the sea. Son of a seafaring man.

_McNarr._ _Mac_, son; _nairr_, Irish genitive of the German _narr_, a fool. Son of a fool.

_McNamara._ _Mac_, son; _na_, of the; _mara_, genitive of _muir_, the sea. Son of the sea.

_McNamee._ _Mac_, son; _anaim_, genitive of _anam_, a soul; _ee_ for _eać_, an individual. Son of a person of soul; a generous person.

_McPadruic._ _Mac_, son; _Padruic_, Patrick. Son of Patrick. Fitzpatrick has the same significance, _fitz_ being the Scotch for son.

_McPayne._ _Mac_, son; _payne_, from old English _payne_, pain. Son of pain.

_McPhail._ _Mac_, son; _fâile_, genitive of _fâil_, fate. Son of fate.

_McQuade._ _Mac_, son; Dutch _kwade_, genitive _kwaide_, evil. Son of evil.

_MacQueen._ _Mac_, son; Anglo-Saxon _quean_, a woman, allied to Irish _gein_, an offspring. Son of the Queen.

_McQuigan._ _Mac_, son; _caoi_, pronounced _kwee_, wailing; _gan_, offspring. Son of lamentation.

_McQuillan._ _Mac_, son; _cuilleain_, genitive of _cuillean_, a cur. Son of a cur. Quillen, Quillan and Quilkin, of like derivation.

_McRae._ _Mac_, son; _rae_, pronounced like _ray_, genitive of _rae_, the moon. Son of the moon; one influenced by the moon; a lunatic.

_McShain._ _Mac_, son; _Seaǵâin_, pronounced _Shawn_, genitive of _Seaǵan_, John. Son of John. McShane, McShawn, McShaughn, of like significance.

_McShimon._ _Mac_, son; _Shimoin_, Simon. Son of Simon. Fitzsimon, a kindred form.

_McSorley._ _Mac_, son; _Soḿairle_, of Sorley, or Charles. Son of Charles.

_McSwain._ _Mac_, son; Scotch _swayn_, genitive _swayne_, a lover. Son of a lover.

_McSweegan._ _Mac_, son; _saoi_, pronounced _swee_, a sage, a philosopher; _gan_, offspring. Son of the descendant of a philosopher.

_McTague._ _Mac_, son; _Tad́g_, pronounced _Taig_, genitive _Taid́g_, of Thaig. Son of Thaig.

_McTamanney._ _Mac_, son; _tam_, still, sluggish, placid; _neac_, an individual; originally, doubtless, _tamnać_, genitive _tamnaiǵ_. Son of a quiet person. Tamany, Tamney, slightly modified forms of the same.

_McTaney._ _Mac_, son; _Taney_, from _teann_, pronounced _tāne_, stiff, straight, independent, stubborn, hopeful, strong, reliant; _ey_ for _eać_, an individual. Son of Taney; son of an independent person.

_McTask._ _Mac_, son; _taisg_, genitive of _tasg_, task, labor. Son of labor.

_McTeer._ _Mac_, son; _tir_, pronounced _teer_, country. Son of the country. Corruption of McIntire.

_McThomas._ _Mac_, son; _Tomais_, genitive of _Tomas_, Thomas. Son of Thomas. Thompson, from the same, is an analogous, but inverted, form.

_McTighe._ _Mac_, son; _tiǵe_, pronounced _tighe_, genitive of _teać_, a house. Son of a house.

_McTurk._ _Mac_, son; _tuirc_, genitive of _torc_, a boar, a hog. Son of a boar.

_McVan._ _Mac-a-b́ean_, from _mac_, son; _a_, of his; _b́ean_, pronounced _van_, woman. Son of his woman.

_Mackin._ _Mac_, son; _cionn_, of fondness. Son of fondness.

_Macoun._ _Mac Eoin_, from _mac_, son; _Eoin_, of Owen. Son of Owen. Mackuen, of similar origin.

_Magagal._ _Maǵ-a-geall_, from _maǵ_, plain; _a_, of the; _gall_, stranger. The plain of the stranger.

_Magher._ _Maǵ_, pronounced _mâgh_, a plain, genitive _maiǵ_, of plain; _er_, a man. A man of the plain.

_Maguire._ _Maǵ_, a plain; _uire_, contraction of _Muire_, of Mary. The plain of Mary.

_Main._ _Mein_, mind.

_Malone._ _Maǵ_, plain; _luain_, genitive of _luan_, pronounced _loon_, the moon. The plain, or face of the moon.

_Maloney._ _Maǵ_, plain; _luain_, of the moon; _neać_, individual. The man in the face of the moon.

_Martin._ _Martan_, from _mart_, an ox; _an_, denoting diminutiveness. A young ox.

_Marvin._ _Marb́_, pronounced _marv_, dead; _in_, implying personality. A dead person.

_Maury._ _Mâiri_, of the Mauri; _riǵ_, king. The king of the Mauri.

_Moyall._ _Maǵ_, pronounced, occasionally, _moy_, a plain, a level country; _aille_, of the cliff. The plain of the cliff. Sometimes written Moyal.

_Meehan._ _Mian_, pronounced _mee-an_, desire, the _h_ being ornamental rather than useful.

_Meenan._ _Mion_, pronounced _meen_, small; _an_, suffix expressive of littleness. A small person.

_Menough._ _Maon_, pronounced _meen_, wealth; _eać_, an individual. A person of wealth.

_Milnamow._ _Muillin-na-maǵ_, from _muillin_, a mill; _na_, of the; _maǵ_, pronounced _mow_, plain. The mill of the plain.

_Mishney._ _Misneac_, pronounced _mish-neay_, or _mishneach_, courage.

_Miskey._ _Meisge_, pronounced _misge_, or _miske_, drunkenness.

_Moll._ _Mol_, active verb imperative, signifying “praise thou,”

_Molloy._ _Mol-ad́_, pronounced _moloo_, “let him praise.”

_Morgan._ _Muir_, the sea, genitive _mara_, of the sea; _gan_, offspring. A descendant of the sea; a mariner.

_Mowbray._ _Maǵ_, pronounced _mow_, a plain, a level country; _braiǵ_, pronounced _bragh_, or _bray_, genitive of _brać_, malt. The level country of the malt.

_Mowrey._ _Maǵ_, plain; _riǵ_, of king. The plain of the king. Mowry, the same.

_Moy._ _Maǵ_, sometimes pronounced _moy_, a level country.

_Moyer._ _Maǵ_, the level country; _er_ for _fear_, a man. A man of the level country.

_Muir._ _Muir_, the sea. Other forms, Muire, Muhr, Moor, Moore, Murr.

_Muirhead._ _Muir_, the sea; Anglo-Saxon _head_. Head of the sea.

_Muirney._ _Muir_, the sea; _neać_, an individual. One that follows the sea; a mariner. Murney, from the same roots.

_Mulcahey._ Originally _Mulcat́aiǵ_, genitive of _Mulcat́eać_, from _mul_, mound, _cat́aiǵ_, of warrior. Mound of a warrior. Mulcahy, another form of spelling.

_Mulcrone._ _Mul_, axle; _cruine_, pronounced _croon_, of the world. The axle of the world.

_Muldoon._ _Mul_, a mound, a knoll; _dun_, stronghold, castle. The mound on which the castle stands.

_Mullin._ _Muillin_, a mill. Mullen betrays like origin.

_Mullock._ _Muillin_, a mill; _loiće_, genitive of _loć_, lake. The mill of the lake.

_Murdock._ _Muir_, the sea; Gothic _dok_, an inlet, a gulf. Sea-harbor.

_Murlin._ _Muir_, the sea; _linn_, a marsh. A marsh by the sea.

_Murray._ _Murrać_, Murragh, from _muir_, the sea, and _ać_, an individual. A navigator; a sailor.

_Murtagh._ _Muir_, the sea; _teać_, sometimes incorrectly pronounced _teagh_, a house. A house by the sea; a light-house. Murtagh, Murtaugh, indicate their kinship.

N.

_Neachtan._ _Neać_, a man; _tain_, of the country. A man of the country; a countryman; a farmer. Naughten, corrupted form of the name.

_Nee._ _Ni_, or _niǵ_, pronounced _nee_, _neegh_, _neey_, a daughter.

_Neeley._ _Niall_, Neill, genitive _Neill_, of Neill; _y_ for _neać_, an individual. Child of Neill. Sometimes written Neely.

_Neilan._ _Neill_, of Neill; _an_, denoting personality. One of the family of Neill. Neelan and Neelen are the same. Neelans, the son of Neelan, the final _s_ being a contraction of _sun_, Anglo-Saxon of son.

_Neill._ _Niall_, from _ni_, a daughter; _aille_, genitive of _aill_, a cliff. Daughter of the cliff. Neill, Neille, Niell, Nille, Neal, Neel, Newill, Nihill, a few of the many forms of the name.

_Neilson._ _Neill_, of Neill; Anglo-Saxon _sun_, son. The son of Neill. Nelson, of like derivation and import.

_Nesbit._ _Nees_, son of Nee; _bit́_, life. Life of Nees; life of the son of Nee; life of the son of a daughter. Sometimes written Nesbitt.

_Ney._ _Neać_, pronounced _neay_, a man. More probably from _niǵ_, a daughter.

_Nicoll._ _Neać_, occasionally pronounced _neach_, a man; _aille_, genitive of _all_, a cliff. The man of the cliff. Nicol is similarly derived.

_Noell._ _Neul_, pronounced _na-il_, a cloud. Noel, Nowel, Newell, cognate forms.

_Nolan._ _Noell_, from _neul_, a cloud, and _an_, implying person. Son of Noell; son of the cloud. Nolen, a less common form of the name.

_Noon._ _Noin_, pronounced like _oi_ in _toil_, noon. Noone, Nune, are forms of the same.

_Noonan._ _Noinean_, a daisy, from _noin_, day, noon. Like the Saxon term daisy—day’s eye—derived from day.

O.

_O’Beirne._ _O_, for _ua_, a grandson, a descendant; _beirne_, genitive of _beirn_, a child. Grandson of a child.

_O’Brien._ _O_, descendant; _Brien_, corruption of _Britain_. Grandson of a Briton. O’Bryan, of similar signification.

_O’Connell._ _Ua Connaill_, from _ua_, grandson; _Connaill_ from _conn_, of heroes, and _aille_, of a cliff. Descendant of Connell; grandson of heroes of the cliff.

_O’Connor._ _O_, descendant; _Connor_, from _conn_, of heroes, _cub́ar_, fond of. Grandson of Connor; descendant of those fond of heroes. O’Conner, slightly modified form.

_O’Daley._ _O_, grandson; _dalaiǵ_, genitive of _dalać_, a blind fellow. Descendant of a blind man.

_O’Dare._ _O_, descendant; _dara_, genitive of _dair_, the oak. Grandson of Dare.

_O’Dea._ _O_, descendant; _Dea_, of God. Descendant of God. O’Day, an obscure form of the name.

_O’Donovan._ _O’Don-a-b́ean_, from _o_, grandson; _dona_, unfortunate; _a_, of; _b́ean_, woman. Descendant of an unfortunate woman. O’Donovan, of like significance.

_O’Donnell._ _Ua Doḿnaill_, from _ua_, descendant; _Doḿnaill_, of Donnell. Grandson of Donnell; a descendant of Christ. O’Donal, an abbreviated form of the name. See McDonnell.

_O’Farra._ _O_, descendant; _fara_, genitive of _fear_, a man. Grandson of man.

_O’Farrell._ _O_, grandson; _fara_, of man; _aille_, of cliff. A descendant of the man of the cliff.

_O’Gara._ _O_, descendant; _gara_, genitive of _gearr_, a noun derived from an adjective of the same name, meaning shortness. Grandson of a short person.

_O’Gorman._ _O_, grandson; _Gorman_, a blue-eyed person. Descendant of a blue-eyed person.

_O’Grady._ _O_, descendant; _graid́e_, genitive of _grad́_, affection; _y_ for _eać_, an individual. Grandson of Grady; descendant of an affectionate person.

_O’Hara._ _O_, grandson; _hara_, Irish genitive of the Anglo-Saxon noun _hara_, a hare. Descendant of a hare.

_O’Kee._ _O_, descendant; _Kee_, corruption of _Mac Aoid́_, pronounced _Mac Eey_, son of Hugh. Grandson of the son of Hugh.

_O’Keef._ _O_, offspring; _caoiḿ_, gentle. Descendant of the gentle. O’Keef, O’Keeffe, analogous words.

_O’Kelley._ _O_, descendant; _Kelley_, from _caillaiǵ_, genitive of _cailleać_, an old woman, a hag. Grandson of an old woman.

_O’Leary._ _O_, grandson; Anglo-Saxon _lǽr_, learning; Irish _y_ for _eać_, an individual. Descendant of an educated person.

_O’Lone._ _O_, descendant; _luain_, genitive of _luan_, a warrior. Grandson of a warrior.

_O’Lochlin._ _O_, grandson; _loiće_, genitive of _loć_, pronounced _loch_, a lake; _linn_, a swamp. Descendant of Lochlin. O’Loughlin, O’Laughlin, cognate terms.

_O’Malachlyn._ _O’McLochlin_, from _o_, descendant; _McLochlin_, son of Lochlin. Descendant of McLochlin.

_O’Mara._ _O_, descendant; _mara_, genitive of _muir_, the sea. Offspring of the sea. O’Meara, most generally in use.

_O’Millin._ _O_, offspring; _muillin_, of the mill. Descendant of the mill. O’Mullen, O’Mullane, derivable from the same roots.

_O’Neill._ _Ua Neill_, from _ua_, grandson; _Neill_, genitive of _Niall_, Neill. Descendant of Neill. O’Neil, O’Neal, quite commonly occur, and are similarly derived.

_Oram._ _Or_, gold; _am_, time. Time is gold; precious opportunity.

_Ord._ _Ord_, order, arrangement.

_O’Regan._ _O_, descendant; _Regan_, from _riǵ_, a king; _an_ for _tan_, place, region. Descendant of Regan.

_O’Reilly._ _Ua Raǵallać_, from _ua_, grandson, _riaǵail_, a rule; _ać_, an individual. Descendant of a ruler; grandson of a king.

_O’Rourk._ _Ua Ruarcać_, from _ua_, descendant; _rad́arc_, pronounced in Connaught _rooarc_, sight, and _ać_, an individual. Grandson of Rourk; descendant of a man of judgment. O’Rourke, O’Rorke, kindred names.

_Orr._ _Or_, gold, wealth, riches. In a secondary sense, precious, valuable.

_O’Shaughnessy._ _O_, descendant; _Seaǵan_, pronounced _Shaughn_, or _Shawn_, genitive _Seaǵain_, John; _nees_, _ni_, daughter, and Anglo-Saxon _s_ for _sun_, son; _y_ for _eać_, an individual. Grandson of a person belonging to the son of the daughter of John. O’Shannessy, of like derivation.

_O’Shanter._ _O_, descendant; _Seaǵain_, John’s; _ter_, from _tir_, country. A descendant of John’s country.

_Ossian._ _Osna_, a sigh; _n_ for _an_, denoting a personal noun. One who sighs; a mourner.

_O’Sullivan._ _O_, descendant; _suile_, pronounced _soo-il_, genitive of _suil_, the eye; _i_ for _a_, his; _b́ean_, woman.

_O’Toole._ _O_, descendant; genitive _tuile_, pronounced _too-il_, of flood. Descendant of a flood.

_Owen._ _Eon_, perhaps from _uan_, pronounced _oo-an_, a lamb. From _Mac Eoin_, son of Owen, have arisen MacKeon, Keon, Coyne, Owens, and Owenson.

_Owenson._ _Owen_, and _sun_, the Anglo-Saxon of son. Son of Owen. Owens is the same name curtailed of the last two letters.

_O’Weir._ _O_, descendant; Anglo-Saxon _wér_, a man, Irish genitive _weir_. Descendant of man.

P.

_Padden_, corruption of _Padruic_, Irish for Patrick. A patrician; a nobleman. Paddin is another spelling of the name.

_Pearson._ _Pearsan_, genitive of _pearsa_. A person.

_Pollard._ _Poll_, a hole, a pit; _ard_, high, chief, supreme. A high hole; a deep pit.

Q.

_Quillin._ _Cuillean_, a cur. Quillen, a slightly changed, and Quill, a largely abbreviated form of the same word.

_Quin._ _Caoin_, pronounced _kween_, weeping, wailing. Quinn, of like derivation.

_Quinlivan._ _Caoin_, weeping; _luib́_, pronounced _liv_, genitive _luib́e_, grass, weed; _an_ for _tan_, garden. A garden of weeping grass.

_Quinney._ _Caoin_, weeping; _ney_ from _neać_, an individual. A mourner.

R.

_Rainear._ _Rainn_, genitive of _rann_, song, poem, stanza; _ear_ for _fear_, a man. A singer; a minstrel; a poet. Rainier, a name farthest removed from the primitive form, but the one that is most generally used.

_Rainey._ _Rainn_, genitive of _rann_, song, poem; _eać_, an individual. A writer of songs; a poet. Raney, Reaney, cognate names.

_Redfearn._ Anglo-Saxon _read_, red; Irish _fearn_, pronounced _fārn_, alder-tree. The red alder-tree.

_Regan._ _Riǵ_, king; _an_ for _tan_, possessions, country. A kingdom. Reagan, Ragan, and, perhaps, Rogan, of like import.

_Reilly._ _Raǵallać_, from _riaǵail_, a rule; _ać_, an agent. A ruler; a king. Reilley, Reily, Rielly, Riley, cognate forms.

_Richardson._ _Mac Risdeard_, son of Richard. Richards, Dicson, Dixon, have the same signification, Richard, in Old German, meaning rich-hearted, powerful.

_Rock._ _Roć_, pronounced _rokh_, rock, a large stone.

_Rourk._ _Ruarcać_, from _rad́arc_, pronounced _rooarc_, sight, and _ać_, an individual. An observant person; a man of judgment. Rourke, Rorke, Rork, Riark, referable to the same roots.

_Rox._ _Rocks_, from _roć_, a rock, and Anglo-Saxon _sun_, son. Son of Rock.

_Ruan._ _Run_, pronounced _roon_, secret, dear, beloved. Ruane, Ruene, analogous words.

_Runey._ _Run_, secret, beloved; _ney_ for _neać_, an individual, an agent. One that is beloved. Rooney, Roney, common spellings of the name.

_Ryan._ _Riǵin_, pronounced _ry-an_, slow.

S.

_Searle._ _Soḿairle_, pronounced _Sowarley_, Sorley, or Charles. Shorley is from the same root, only the initial consonant has its characteristic force before the slender vowel _e_.

_Sewell._ _Suil_, pronounced _soo-ill_, the eye. Sewall, a slightly modified form of the name.

_Shane._ _Sean_, pronounced _shane_, old. Shan, Shean, Sheain, Sheahan, Sheehan, of similar derivation.

_Shannon._ _Sean_, old; _aḿan_, pronounced _awan_, river. An ancient river.

_Shaughney._ _Seaǵain_, pronounced _Shawn_, genitive of _Seaǵan_, John; _neać_, an individual, an agent. The helpmeet of John.

_Sheely._ _Sile_, pronounced _Shee-le_, Celia.

_Shinn._ _Sinn_, pronounced _shinn_, we, us. _Sinn_, the same, only the _s_ has not taken its accustomed sound of _sh_ before the slender vowel _i_.

_Sinnott._ _Sinn_, we, us; _aid́_, or _aoid́_, a person. One who uses the pronoun _we_; an editor; a reviewer; a governor. Sinett, Synott, Shenett, Sennett, equivalent names.

_Smiggins._ _Smiggin_, from _smigin_, the chin; _s_, contraction of _sun_, Anglo-Saxon for son. Son of Smiggin; son of the chin.

_Stephenson._ _Mac Steṕain_, from _mac_, son, and _Steṕain_, genitive of _Steṕan_, Stephen. Son of Stephen. Fitzstephen has the same signification.

_Sullivan._ _Sul-a-b́ean_, from _sul_, the eye; _a_, of; _b́ean_, woman. The eye of woman.

_Sully._ _Sul_, the eye; genitive _suile_, pronounced _soo-il-le_, belonging to the eye.

_Sweegan._ _Saoi_, pronounced _swee_, a philosopher, a man of letters; _gan_, descendant. The offspring of a philosopher.

_Sweeney._ _Saoi_, a gentleman, a hero; _neać_, an individual, an agent. A valet; an aid-de-camp.

T.

_Taine._ _Teine_, pronounced _tain_, fire. Toyne, greatly modified form of the original.

_Tammaney._ _Tam_, still, sluggish, placid; _neać_, an individual, an agent. A cool, calm, deliberate person.

_Taney._ _Teine_, fire; _neać_, an agent, an individual. An ardent, zealous man.

_Tenney._ _Teann_, pronounced _tane_, straight, independent, stubborn, hopeful, strong, reliant; _eać_ for _neać_, an individual. A strong, hopeful, reliant person. Tenny, Teeney, Teeny, of similar import.

_Terrell._ _Tir_, pronounced _teer_, a country; _ell_ for _aill_, a cliff. The cliff-country. Tirrill, Tyrell, familiar forms of the same name.

_Terry._ _Tir_, country; _riǵ_, the king. The king’s country.

_Thoreau._ _Torad́_, pronounced _thoroo_, produce, fruit, fruitfulness.

_Tierney._ _Tir_, country; _neać_, an individual. A countryman; a farmer.

_Tighe._ _Tiǵe_, pronounced _tighe_, genitive of _teać_, a house. Belonging to a house.

_Toole._ _Tuile_, pronounced _too-il-e_, a flood. Tool, Tull, Tully, cognate names.

_Torrey._ _Torać_, pronounced _torach_, thunder.

_Trall._ _Traill_, pronounced _trawll_, a slave, a bastard.

_Trombar._ _Trom_, heavy; _barr_, top, summit. Top-heavy. Trumbar, similarly derived.