Clan Sweaters

Mac Gearailt.   The Fitzgerald clan was at one time one of the most powerful clans in Ireland, and arrived with the Anglo Norman conquest in the 12th century. The name means ‘son of,’ “Fitz”, Gerald. The family had two main...

Gilpatrick, Kilpatrick, Mac Giolla, Phádraig.   Fitzpatrick is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Phádraig, and is not Norman despite the ‘Fitz’ commonly seen in other Norman names. The Gaelic name...

This name means inhabitant of Flanders, many of whom emigrated from Flanders to Britain, settling on the Scottish borders, around the year 1200 . The Irish Flemings however were in Ireland approximately four centuries before this. The name is scattered...

Flinn, O’ Flinn, O’ Floin, O’ Flynn, Ó Floinn.   The Flynn name comes from the formerly popular Irish personal name of ‘Flann’ meaning red or ruddy. The popularity of this name dictated that...

Mac Sharry, O’ Foley, Ó Foghladha.   The name Foley comes from the Gaelic “foghlaidh” which means ‘pirate’ or ‘marauder’. The name’s original stronghold was Co. Waterford in the...

Gallagher, Gallaher, O’Gallagher, O’Gallaher, Ó Gallchobhair.   The meaning of the name Ó Gallchobhair comes from the Gaelic “Gall”, meaning ‘foreigner’, and...

Garman, Gorman, Mac Gorman, Ó Gormáin.     Most of the Irish Gormans today are descended from the Mac Gormáin sept, whose territory was Slivemargy in Co. Laois in the midlands.  The name is the...

The surname Hanley or Hanly is the Anglicised form of the Irish name O Hainle – possibly derived from áulinn meaning beautiful. Nowadays the name is principally found in two areas, in Connacht - Counties Roscommon and Galway and in Munster...

Hughes, McAodha, McHugh, O’ Hea, Ó hAodha.   The Hayes are descended from the Gaelic sept of the Ó hAodha, although Hayes is also a common name in England where it derives from places of the same name...

Heally, Heeley, Hely, O’ Healihy, O’ Healy, Ó hÉilidhe.   The Healys in Ireland are descended from two different clans, the Ó hÉilídhe, from the Gaelic...

O hEigceartaigh, O' Hegarty.   The word eigceartach means unjust. The original O’ Hegarty sept were located on the borders of the counties Donegal and Derry. A branch of this family migrated to County Cork, where the name is now most...

ó hAonghasa.   In modern times the prefix O has been entirely dropped from the name Hennessy. The Irish of the name is O hAonghusa, meaning decendant of Aonghus or Aongus. The principal sept were found in County Offaly. Another sept had...

Hickie, Hicky, O’ Hickee, O’ Hickey, Ó hÍceadha.   The name Hickey is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó hIcidhe, from the word “iceadh” meaning ‘healer’. This name was...

O’ Higgins, Ó hUigín.   The vast majority of those bearing the Higgins surname today are descended from the sept of Ó hUigín which was based in the midlands. The name comes from the Gaelic...

Jannings, Jennings, Jennins, Mac Sheóinín.   The Jennings clan is predominantly associated with the western province of Connacht. The name is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Sheóinín, from...

The name Joyce is a true Irish one and is found primarily in Connacht. Although the name is not Gaelic, the first authentic record of the name dates back to 1283, to a Welshman who married an Irish woman O’ Brien and settled with her in County...