Clan Sweaters

Doohey, Dowey, Dowie, Duffey, Duffie, Duhig, O’ Duffy, Ó Dubhthaigh   The name Duffy is an Anglicisation of the Irish Ó Dubhthaigh, from the Gaelic “Dubhthach” meaning ‘the dark one’. There were...

Don, Donn, Donne, Dunn, O’ Doyne, Ó Duinn.   Dunne is a very numerous name and comes from the Gaelic “Donn” meaning ‘brown’. The name was used to describe somebody of swarthy complexion...

Farrely, Frawley, O’ Farrell, O’ Farrely, O’ Ferrall, Ó Fearghaíl.   The modern Farrells, and variations on the name, are descended from the sept of Ó Fearghaíl which was...

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...

Flanaghan, Flannigan, O’ Flanagan, Ó Flannagáin.   The name Ó Flannagáin comes from the Gaelic word “Flann”, a personal name which means red or ruddy. There were several different septs...

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...

Grifin, O’ Griffin, Ó Gríofa.   The name comes from the legendary monster ‘the gryphon’, and was often used to describe someone fierce or dangerous. The name originated in two distinct areas in Ireland...

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...