Irish Name Resources for Donegal

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The idea behind this page is to provide some information on Irish names you may come across during your family research in Donegal

This is not meant to be an authority on the Irish names/place names found in Donegal - I have compiled these from my own research and information found on the internet

If you have anything to contribute to this page, or corrections you can make (thankyou Proinsias!) please Email Me

The Main Sources I used were -

Placenames Database of Ireland

Wikipedia

First Names

English/Anglicized Version	Irish	Latin	Meaning

Agnes	Úna
Anthony	Antoine	Antonius
Bernard		Bernardus
Brigid / Bride	Bríghid		High Godess
Charles	Cathal	Carolus	Strong in battle
Chonnacht	Cú	Constantine
Connell	Conall		Strong Wolf
Conor	Concubhair/Cruthair
Conor	Conchobhar		Lover of Hounds
Cormac	Cormac		Son of defilement
Daniel	Domhnall / Dónall		World Mighty
David	Dáithí
Dennis	Donnchadh	Dionysius
Dudley / Doalty	Dubhaltach	Dudley	Dark-limbed, black-jointed
Edward	Éamon(n)	Edwardus	Wealthy guardian
Ellen	Eiléan	Helena
Eva	Aoibhe
Eve	Aoife
Ferdinand	Fearganainm
Fergal	Fearghal		Manly, valorous
Francis/Frances	Proinsias/Proinseas	Fraciscus/Francesca
Grace, Griselda	Gráinne	Gratia	Inspiring terror; grain
Hugh	Aodh	Hugo	Fire
James	Séamus	Jacobus
John	Seán	Joannes
Joseph		Josephus
Lauren/Lawrence	Lorcan/Lorcán/Lorccan	Laurentius
Madge	Mabia
Malachy	Maoileachlainn
Margaret		Margarita
Marjorie	Meadhbh		She who intoxicates
Mary	Mór	Maria	Great
Maurice	Muircheartach	Mauritius	Sea Battler
Myles	Maol / Mhuire		Servant or devotee of St. Mary
Neal / Neil / Nicholas / Nigel	Niall		Cloud or passionate; vehement
Owen	Eoghan		Born of the yew
Patrick	Pádraig	Patricius
Paul		Paulus
Penny / Penelope	Fionnuala / Nuala		White Shoulder
Peter		Petrus
Phillip / Felim	Feidhlim	Philippus
Richard	Risteard	Ricardus
Roderick / Roger / Rory	Ruaidhrí		Red haired
Sarah / Sally	Sorcha / Saoirse		Bright, radiant
Terence	Toirdhealbhach
Teresa/Theresa	Treasa
Thomas	Tomaltchach
Timothy	Tadhg	Timotheus	Poet
Tully / Toal	Tuathal		Ruler of the people
William		Gulielmus
Winifred / Una / Unity	Úna

Surnames

Anglicized Form	Irish	Meaning

Bonner, Kneafsey, Crampsey, Cramshy	Ó/Mac Cnáimhsí
Boyle, O'Boyle	Ó Baoill / Ó Baoighill	Vain Pledge
Brennan	Ó Braonáin/Mac Braonáin	Sorrow
Breslin	Ó Breislein
Brown	Mac an Bhreithiún	Son of the brehon (judge)
Byrne, Byrnes, Burns	Ó Broin	A Raven
Cahill	Ó Cathal	Battle rule
Cannon	Ó Canannain
Carbery, Carberry	Ó Cairbre	Charioteer
Carolan	Ó Cairealláin
Carr	Ó Cairre
Cleary	Ó Cléirigh
Connolly/Conneely/Kennelly	Ó Conghaile/Mac Conghaile/Ó Cionnfhaolaidh	Fierce as a Hound
Coyle	Mac Giolla Chomhgaill
Cunningham	Ó Cuinneagáin/Ó Cuinneacháin/Ó Connacháin/Ó Connagáin
Daly/O'Daly/Daley/Daily/Daeley	Ó Dálaigh	Assembles frequently
Devine, Divine	Ó Daimhín
Doherty	Ó Dochartaigh/Ó Dubhartaigh	Hurtful
Doohan	Ó Duacháin
Duffy/O'Duffy	Ó Dubhthaigh	Dark, black
Duggan	Ó Dubhagáin
Evans	Ó hÉimhín
Ferry	Ó Fearadhaigh
Friel	Ó Firghil
Gallagher	Ó Gallchobhair	Lover of Foreigners
Gallery, Gilrea, Kilrea	Mac Giolla Riabhaigh
Gill, McGill, Magill	Mac Giolla
Gillespie	Mac Giolla Easpaig
GilMartin, KilMartin, Martin, Martyn	Mac Gilla Mhartain/Ó Mael Mairthin/Ó Mhairtin/Mac Mairtin
Gilroy, Kilroy, McIlroy, McElroy	Mac Giolla Rua
Green	Mac Glaisin and Mac Giolla Ghlais
Green	Mac Grianra / McGrenera / Mac Grianna
Hanlon, O'Hanlon	Annlúin / O hAnnlúinn
Harkin / Harken	Ó hEarcáin
Hegarty	Ó hEigceartaigh
Hughes, Hayes, McGee, Magee, McHugh, Mackey	Mac Aodha	Fire
Kearney/Carney/Carnie	Ó Cearnaigh
Kelly	Ó Ceallaigh	Bright headed
Kennedy	Ó Cinnéide / Mac Cinnéide	Helmet Headed / of the ugly head
Larkin, Lawrence	Ó Lorcáin
Laverty, Lafferty	Ó fLaithbheartaigh
Lynch, Lynchy, Lynskey, Lindsay	Ó Loingsigh/Mac Loinsigh
MacAteer	Mac an tSaoir
MacIlrea, Kilrea	Mac Giolla Riabhaigh
MacLoughlin	Mac Lochlainn/Mac Loughlin/Ó Mael Sechlainn/Ó Mael Sechnaill	Seafarer, exile
MacTaggart	Mac antSagart	Son of the Priest
Magee	Mag Aoidh	Fire
Maguire/McGuire	Mac Uidhir/Mag Uidhir	Viking
Martin	Mac Giolla Mháirtín	Devotee of Saint Martin
McAuley, McAwley, McCauley, McGauley	Mac Amhlaidh	Dun-colourd
McBride	Mac Giolla Bhríde
McCool	Mac Giolla Chomhgaill
McCormack	Mac Cormaic
McDermott	Mac Diarmada
McDonough, McDonogh, McDonagh	Mac Donnchadha	Free from Jealousy
McGarry, McCarry, Ferry, Farry	Mac Fhearraigh/Mag Fhearraigh
McGarvey	Mac Gairbhín
McGeogheghan	Mag Eochagáin
McGill	Mac An Ghaill	Descendent of the foreigner
McGinley	Mag Fhionnghaile - see The McGinley Clan Website	Son of the fair haired valorous one
McGlynn	Mag Fhloinn
McGonigle	Mac Congail
McGrath, Magrath	Mac Craith
McGuinness	Mag Aonghusa
McHugh	Mac Aodha
McIlwaine	Mac Giolla Bháin
McKee	Mac Aoidh	Son of Grace
McKeever	Mac Iomháir
McManus	Mac Maghnus
McMenamin	MacMeanman
McNulty	Mac An Ultaigh	Son of Ulster
McSweeney, MacSweeney, MacSwiney etc	Mac Suibhne	Pleasant
McVeigh	Mac an Bheatha
Milligan, Mulligan	Ó Maolagáin
Molly / Mulloy	Ó Maolmhuaidh / Ó Maoil Aodha
Moloney, Maloney, Muldowney	Ó Maoldomhnaigh
Mooney, Meaney	Ó Maonaigh
Mullins, Mullin, Mullen, Moylan, Mullane	Ó Maoláin	Bald
Murphy	Ó Murchadha	Sea-battler
Murray	Mac Muireadhaigh / Ó Muireadhaigh	Lord, Master
Murray, Gilmore, Kilmurray	Mac Giolla Mhuire	Lord, Master
Naughtan	Ó Neachtain
O'Brien	Ó Briain	High, noble
O'Callaghan	Ó Ceallacháin	Bright headed
O'Connell	Ó Conaill	Strong as a Wolf
O'Connor, Connors	Ó Conchobhair/Ó Conchúir	Patron of Warriors
O'Donnell	Ó Dónaill	World Mighty
O'Dunne/Dunne/Dunn	Ó Doinn
O'Gara, Geary	Ó Gadhra
O'Gorman, Gorman	Ó/Mac Gormáin
O'Hara	Ó hEadhra
O'Kane, Kane, McCain, Keane, Kean, Cain	Ó Catháin / Ó Cahan
O'Neill, O'Neil, O'Neal	Ó Néill	From Niall of the Nine Hostages
Quigley	Ó Coigligh
Quinn	Ó Cuinn / Mac Cuinn	Wisdom, Chief
Redehan, Redican, Rodahan, Redington, Reddington, Reddan	Ó Roideacháin
Smith	Mac Gabhann	Son of the Smith
Tolan	Ó Tuathailán
Tuohy,Twohig,Touhy,Towey,Toohy,Toohey	Ó Tuathaigh
Walsh	Breathnach	Welshman
Ward, MacAward, McWard, MacEward, MacEvard, Macanward, M'Ward	Mac an Bháird	Son of the Bard

Sources for Some Names

Viking Surnames

Doyle	Dubh Gall, Ó Dúill, Ó Dubhghaill
Finley	Fionn Ghall, Ó Fionnghaille
MacAuliffe/Auley/Cauley	Olsson, Mac Amhlaoibh
MacManus	Magnusson, Mac Mánuis
Wood	Wode, meaning mad; described Beserkers, Mac Giolla Choille

Norman Surnames

Brown	de Brun, de Brún
Burke	de Burgh, de Búrca
Butler	de Buitléir
FitzGerald	fils de (son of) Gerald, Mac Gearailt
FitzHenry	fils de (son of) Henri, Mac Einrí
FitzMaurice	fils de (son of) Maurice, Mac Muiris
Lynch	de Lench, Ó Loingsigh
Martyn	fitz Martin
Moore	de Mórdha
Morris	de Marisco, de Muiris, Mac Muiris, Ó Muiris
Power	le Poer, de Paor
White/Whyte	de Witt, de Faoite, Mac Giolla Bháin

Dutch Surnames

Fleming	vlaming, Pleiminn

Welsh Surnames

Barrett	Bairéid, Barόid
Griffin	ap Gruffydd, Ó Gríofa
Walsh	Breathnach

Anglo-Saxon Surnames

Sherlock	Scurlóg
Williams	MacLiam
Whyte	Fwyte

Gallowglass Surnames

MacAllister
MacDonnell
MacSweeney
MacCaillein	Campbell
MacInnes

Normanised Gaelic Surnames

Fitzpatrick	Mac Giolla Phádraig

Gaelicised Norman-era Surnames

Mac Giobúin	son of Gilbert de Burgh
	anglicised as Gibbons

Donegal Parishes

English Form	Irish Form

Aghanunshin	Achadh nUinseann
Allsaints
Burt	An Bheart
Killybegs Lower	Na Cealla Beaga Íochtaracha
Killybegs Upper	Na Cealla Beaga Uachtaracha
Kilbarron	Cill Bharrainn
Kilcar	Cill Charthaigh
Killea	Cill Fhéich
Killygarvan	Cill Gharbháin
Killaghtee	Cill Leacht Aodha
Kilmacrenan	Cill Mhic Réanáin
Killymard	Cill Ó mBaird
Kilteevoge	Cill Taobhóg
Clonca	Cluain Catha
Clondahorky	Cluain Dá Chorcach
Clondavaddog	Cluain Dabhaodóg
Clonleigh	Cluain Lao
Clonmany	Cluain Maine
Conwal	Conbháil
Convoy	Conmhaigh
Culdaff	Cúil Dabhcha
Desertegny	Díseart Eignigh
Donaghmore	Domhnach Mór
Donagh	Domhnach
Drumhome	Droim Thuama
Donegal	Dún na nGall
Aughnish	Eachinis
Fahan Lower	Fathain Íochtarach
Fahan Upper	Fathain Uachtarach
Gartan	Gartán
Glencolumbkille	Gleann Cholm Cille
Inver	Inbhear
Inishkeel	Inis Caoil
Inishmacsaint	Inis Maí Samh
Inch	Inis
Leck	An Leac
Lettermacaward	Leitir Mhic an Bhaird
Muff	Magh
Moville Lower	Maigh Bhile Íochtarach
Moville Upper	Maigh Bhile Uachtarach
Mintiaghs or Barr of Inch	Na Mínte
Mevagh	Míobhaigh
Raymunterdoney	Ráith
Raphoe	Ráth Bhoth
Raymoghy
Stranorlar	Srath an Urláir
Taughboyne	Teach Baoithín
Templecarn	Teampall Carna
Templecrone	Teampall Cróine
Tullaghobegly	Tulacha Beigile
Tullyfern	Tulaigh Fhearna
Urney	An Urnaí