COUNTY DONEGAL SURNAMES

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DONEGAL SURNAMES


COMMON SURNAMES OF COUNTY DONEGAL

By the 10th century Irish surnames, almost all of which derive from forenames, were being used such as O'Neill (O'Neill-'descendant of Niall') and O'Donnell (O'Domhnaill-'descendant of Domhnaill'). The O'Neills and O'Donnells became powerful clans in alliance with other clans, exerting an influence well beyond Tir Connell and Ulster in the early medieval period.

An O'Donnell sept was based in Kilmacrenan and were erenaghs in Fahan. The majority of County Donegal surnames are Gaelic in origin and some surnames are said to be typical of County Donegal, e.g. Friel and McGonigle. The following list cites some surnames long associated with County Donegal.

NAME ORIGIN BANACH BARR............................ From the placename Barr in Ayeshire Came to Donegal after Ulster Plantation BARRON.....Gael McBaruin........ Small landowners from England or Scotland BLAKE BODKIN BONNER.......................... Part of the O'Craimhsighe sept and noted in Ireland in 1095 BOYLE......Gael O'Baoighill..... Irish name since medieval period and Scots name since Plantation BRADLEY....Gael O'Brolachain ... Both indigenous Irish and west of Scotland septs BRESLIN....Gael O'Breaslain..... Long associated with lands in Iniskeel parish. Sometimes anlicised to Brice BROWNE CANNON CARLIN.....Gael O'Caireallain... Erenaghs in Clonleigh parish COLL.......Gael MacColla........ Gallowglass family from Argyllshire who arrived in Ulster in 16th century CONAGHAN...Gael O'Cinneachain... Believed to derive from Cunningham COYLE......Gael MacGiolla....... Lands in Meeragh, Kilmacrenan barony Chomhghaill CURRAN CROWE DIVER......Gael O'Duibhidhir.... Sept renowned in mediaeval Tirconnell DOHERTY....Gael O'Dochartaigh... Descended from Nial Noigiallach and overlords of Inishowen until 1609 DONEGAN DUFFY......Gael O'Dubhthaigh.... Erenaghs of both Templecrone and Culdaff parishes for 800 years DUVAN FRIEL......Gael O'Firghil....... Descended from Eoghan son of Niall Noigiallach. Erenaghs of Conwal parish GALLAGHER..Gael O'Gallchobhair.. Powerful sept allied to O'Donnells and based in Ballybeit and Ballyneglack GILLAN.....Gael O'Giollain...... Descended from Eoghan son of Niall GILLESPIE..Gael O'MacGiolla..... Erenaghs of Kilrean and Kilcar parish in medieval period GORMLEY....Gael O'Goirmleadhaigh Rulers of Raphoe until driven out by O'Donnells in 14th century GRANT......Norm Fr. 'great'..... Norman family who came to Scotland and later Ulster HARKIN.....Gael O'hEarcain...... Erenaghs of Clonca parish, Inishowen HEGARTY....Gael O'hEighceartaigh Descended from Eoghan son of Niall. Settled in Inishowen HERRON.....Gael O'hEarain....... Probably from Scotland arriving in pre-Plantation times KERR.......Gael MacIlhair-...... Scots/Irish/Viking origins Norse 'Kjarr' LOGUE......Gael O'Maolmhaodhog.. Sept came from Galway to Donegal MACAULEY...Gael MacAmhlaibh-.... Scots/Irish/Viking origins Norse 'Olafr' Mac-SEE ALL Mac'S LISTED BELOW MAGEE......Gael Mhaoil Ghaoithe. Erenaghs of Clandahorkey parish McATEER....Gael Mac an tSaoir... Variant of McIntyre and of Scot/Irish origin McBRIDE....Gael MacGiolla....... Erenaghs of Raymunterdoney parish and Bhrighde later of Gweedore McCAFFERTY.Gael MacEachmharcaigh Branch of the O'Donnells McDAID.....Gael MacDaighidh..... Branch of the O'Dochartaighs McFADDEN...Gael Phaidin......... Scot/Irish/origins. Medieval era McFALL.....Gael MacPhail........ Ancestral home at Carrickabraghy in Inishowen McGONIGLE..Gael MacConghail..... Erenaghs of Killybegs parish and ecclesiastics in Raphoe McGOWAN....Gael MacGabhann...... Erenaghs of Inishmacsaint parish McLAUGHLIN.Gael McLochlainn..... Erenaghs of Grellagh and Moville parish McNULTY....Gael Mac an Ultaigh.. Sept associated with the O'Donnells MORRISON...Gael Muirgheasain.... Erenaghs of Clonmany parish and holder of St. Colmcille's relic the 'Miosach' MULLIGAN...Gael O'Maolagain..... Sept and lords or Tir MacCartan in Boylagh and Raphoe baronies O'S-SEE ALL O'S LISTED BELOW PATTEN.....Gael O'Peatain....... Irish sept of Ballybofey and English Pattons of Clondahorkey QUIGLEY....Gael O'Coigligh...... Sept based in Inishowen SHIELS.....Gael O'Siadhail...... Sept based in Insihowen descended from Niall Noigiallach SWEENEY....Gael MacSuibhne...... Gallowglass family from Argyll who settled at Fanad TYE WARD.......Gael Mac an Bhaird... Hereditary bards to the O'Donnells, based at Lettermacaward MacBRIDE MacCLEAN MacCLOSKEY MacCROSS MacDEVITT MacDANNETT MacdUVAN MacFADDEN MacGETTIGAN MacGILBRIDE MacGOWAN MacGINTY MacHUGH MacINTYRE MacLOGHLIN MacNULTY MacSWEENEY MacTIEGH MacWARD O'BEGLEY O'BOYLE O'BRADLEY O'BRESLIN O'BRIEN O'BRODER O'CANAAN O'CANNAHAN O'CLARY O'CONNOR O'CORGLEY O'CORMLEY O'COYLE O'DARNUN O'DONNELL O'DORRIAN O'DOYLE O'DUFFY O'FARRANAN O'FREEL O'GALLGHER O'GORMLEY O'HAGERTY O'HOGERTY O'HUGH O'KERNAN O'KERRAGNAN O'KENNY O'LARLY O'LAVERTY O'LEANY O'LYNCHY O'MORRISON O'MULDORRY O'MULGEE O'MULVANY O'MURRAY O'NIELL O'QUINN O'RAFFERTY O'RODDY O'SHERRAN O'TARCERT

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