Clan Sweaters

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...

O’ Hogaine, O’ Hogan, O’ Hogane, Ó hÓgáin.   Ó hÓgáin comes from the Gaelic word “óg”, meaning ‘young’. The clan is descended from...

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...

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...

Kane, Kean, Keane, O’ Kane, O’ Keane, Ó Catháin.   Ó Catháin comes from the Gaelic word “cath” which means ‘battle’. The name originated in the Lagan area of...

Cavanagh, Cavanaugh, Kavanaugh, Ó Caomhánaigh.   Ó Caomhánaigh comes from the Gaelic word “Caomhánach”, which means ‘a follower of (St.) Caomhán’. The Kavanaghs are...

Kellaher, O' Ceileachair, Keliher.   The name Kelleher is the English version of the Irish, O’ Ceileachair – meaning "overly fond of ones wife" The original Céileachar or Kelleher who was a nephew of the famous Brian Boru...

Kelley, Kelly, O’ Kelley, O’ Kelly, Ó Ceallaigh.   Kelly is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Ceallaigh, based on the personal name “Ceallach” which can mean either...

O’ Kennedy, Ó Cinnéide.   Kennedy is the Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Cinnéide, meaning ‘ugly-headed’. The clan homeland was near Killaloe in Co. Tipperary, and was part of the Dál gCais...

O’ Kenney, O’ Kenny, O’ Kinney, Ó Cionnaith.   The name Kenny comes from the personal name Cionaodh. It was borne by a high king of Ireland seems to have become popular from the Eighth Century in Ireland...

The two native Gaelic surnames O’ Longáin and O Longaigh have both been anglicised to Long. It is likely that both names derive from the Gaelic word ‘long’ meaning ship, therefore seafarer. The name Long is most commonly...

Linch, Linchey, Lynchehan, Lynchy, O’ Lynch, O’ Lynche, O’ Lynchy, de Lynch, Ó Loingsigh.     Lynch as it exists today in Ireland actually has two completely distinct origins...

Mac Aodh, Mac Gee, Mac Kee, Mc Gee, Mc Kee.   Mac Aodh means ‘son of Aodh’, a popular personal name meaning ‘fire’. The name can be either of Scottish or Irish origin. There were three Irish clans of the...