190+ Gaelic Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)
Gaelic last names have a profound history, ancestry, and identity within the ancient societies of both Ireland and Scotland.
Most Gaelic surnames can be traced back through the ages and indicate ancestry, clan ties, and, in some instances, the land where the family settled.
The use of the prefixes “Mac,” meaning “son of,” and “O’,” meaning “of the lineage of,” is a wonderful representation of the ancient stories of our ancestors being passed along through family lines.
Many of these Gaelic surnames are full of meaning and symbolize courage, strength, nature, and respect.
Many Gaelic surnames come from legendary warriors or chieftains, while others are descriptive of physical characteristics, work descriptions, lifestyle habits, or local geographic conditions.
Gaelic Last Names
O’Brien – descendant of Brian
O’Connor – descendant of a lover of hounds
O’Neill – descendant of Niall
MacDonald – son of Donald
MacGregor – son of Gregor
MacLeod – son of Leod
MacKenzie – son of Kenneth
MacArthur – son of Arthur
MacCarthy – son of Carthach
MacBride – son of a servant of Saint Brigid
O’Reilly – descendant of a courageous one
O’Doherty – descendant of a harmful or obstructive one
O’Sullivan – descendant of the dark-eyed one
O’Flaherty – descendant of a bright ruler
O’Shea – descendant of a hawk-like one
O’Malley – descendant of a chief
O’Donovan – descendant of a dark warrior
O’Carroll – descendant of a fierce warrior
O’Kelly – descendant of a bright-headed one
O’Grady – descendant of a noble one
MacMahon – son of a bear-like one
MacNamara – son of a sea hound
MacDermott – son of a free man
MacInnes – son of Angus
MacIntyre – son of a carpenter
MacMillan – son of a tonsured servant
MacFarlane – son of Bartholomew
MacDougall – son of a dark stranger
MacAlister – son of Alexander
MacKinnon – son of a fair-born one
O’Hara – descendant of a lord
O’Byrne – descendant of a raven
O’Loughlin – descendant of a warrior
O’Callaghan – descendant of a bright-headed one
O’Mahony – descendant of a bear-like one
O’Rourke – descendant of a champion
O’Keeffe – descendant of a gentle one
O’Dwyer – descendant of a dark one
O’Daly – descendant of an assembly leader
O’Quinn – descendant of a wise one
MacAulay – son of Olaf
MacEwan – son of Ewan
MacKay – son of fire
MacRae – son of grace
MacLeish – son of a servant
MacBain – son of fair one
MacCallum – son of a dove
MacPherson – son of a parson
MacQuarrie – son of a proud one
MacTavish – son of Thomas
O’Driscoll – descendant of an interpreter
O’Healy – descendant of a claimant
O’Meara – descendant of a joyful one
O’Shaughnessy – descendant of a learned one
O’Kane – descendant of a warrior
O’Cahill – descendant of a brave one
O’Friel – descendant of a valiant one
O’Boyle – descendant of a pledge maker
O’Dunne – descendant of a brown-haired one
O’Farrell – descendant of a brave warrior
MacGrath – son of grace
MacNab – son of the abbot
MacLaren – son of Lawrence
MacIver – son of Ivar
MacAskill – son of a divine cauldron bearer
MacBean – son of life
MacNeil – son of Neil
MacLennan – son of a lover
MacGowan – son of a smith
MacFadden – son of a little Patrick
O’Gallagher – descendant of a helper
O’Brennan – descendant of a sorrowful one
O’Kearney – descendant of a victorious one
O’Flynn – descendant of a red-haired one
O’Higgins – descendant of a wise one
O’Corcoran – descendant of a ruddy one
O’Bannon – descendant of a white one
O’Molloy – descendant of a noble chief
O’Rafferty – descendant of prosperity
O’Kavanagh – descendant of a handsome one
MacNaughton – son of a pure one
MacAlpin – son of Alpin
MacSweeney – son of a pleasant one
MacLeary – son of a calf keeper
MacRitchie – son of Richard
MacEachern – son of a horse lord
MacCorquodale – son of a red-haired one
MacHardy – son of a brave one
MacKillop – son of a follower of Columba
MacWhirter – son of a craftsman
O’Lennon – descendant of a lover
O’Kelleher – descendant of a bright warrior
O’Muldoon – descendant of a servant
O’Beirne – descendant of a spear-like one
O’Meagher – descendant of a kind one
O’Scanlon – descendant of a warrior
O’Riada – descendant of a rider
O’Donoghue – descendant of a dark warrior
O’Houlihan – descendant of a proud one
O’Feeney – descendant of a fair one
O’Broin – descendant of Bran
O’Baoighill – descendant of a rash or bold one
O’Cearbhaill – descendant of a warrior
O’Cuilinn – descendant of holly tree
O’Dea – descendant of a godly one
O’Duibhne – descendant of a dark one
O’Egan – descendant of a learned one
O’Fathaigh – descendant of a giant
O’Gara – descendant of a spear-like one
O’Hehir – descendant of a kind one
MacAirt – son of Art
MacAodha – son of fire
MacSuibhne – son of a pleasant one
MacDara – son of oak
MacGiolla – son of a servant
MacFhionnlaigh – son of a fair warrior
MacRuaidhri – son of a red king
MacGille – son of a follower
MacCionaoith – son of Kenneth
MacFhionnghaile – son of a fair stranger
O’Loingsigh – descendant of a mariner
O’Raghailligh – descendant of a valiant one
O’Murchadha – descendant of a sea warrior
O’Dubhghaill – descendant of a dark foreigner
O’Cathasaigh – descendant of a vigilant one
O’Maolain – descendant of a devotee
O’Faolain – descendant of a wolf
O’Cuinn – descendant of a wise one
O’Floinn – descendant of a red-haired one
O’Braonain – descendant of a noble one
MacEochaidh – son of a horseman
MacGiollain – son of a young servant
MacFhionnain – son of a fair one
MacDhomhnaill – son of Donald
MacCaba – son of a cape wearer
MacFhloinn – son of a red-haired one
MacGiollaMhuire – son of a devotee of Mary
MacEoin – son of John
MacGabhann – son of a smith
MacConmidhe – son of a hound of Meath
O’Cinnsealach – descendant of a proud one
O’Maoileoin – descendant of a devotee
O’Comhraidhe – descendant of a speaker
O’Dorchadha – descendant of a dark one
O’Fionnagáin – descendant of a fair one
O’Gairbhith – descendant of a rough one
O’Heithir – descendant of a peaceful one
O’Longáin – descendant of a tall one
O’Mealláin – descendant of a pleasant one
O’Maoilchiaráin – descendant of a devotee of Ciarán
MacAonghusa – son of Angus
MacConraoi – son of a king’s hound
MacFhearghusa – son of a strong man
MacGiollabháin – son of a fair servant
MacGriogair – son of Gregor
MacIlleathain – son of a servant of John
MacLaomainn – son of a lawman
MacMhaoilriain – son of a devotee of Ryan
MacNeacail – son of Nicholas
MacRaghnaill – son of Ragnall
O’Beolláin – descendant of a loud one
O’Ceallacháin – descendant of a bright one
O’Deoráin – descendant of a wanderer
O’Donnchadha – descendant of a brown warrior
O’Faoláin – descendant of a wolf
O’Gallchobhair – descendant of a foreign helper
O’Laoghaire – descendant of a calf herder
O’Maolmhuaidh – descendant of a noble devotee
O’Muircheartaigh – descendant of a sea ruler
O’Ruairc – descendant of a champion
MacAmhlaoibh – son of Olaf
MacBhride – son of Brigid’s devotee
MacCathmhaoil – son of a battle chief
MacFhionnbhairr – son of a fair-haired one
MacGiollachríost – son of a servant of Christ
MacIomhair – son of Ivar
MacLeoid – son of Leod
MacMhaoláin – son of a devotee
MacNéill – son of Neil
MacUidhir – son of a pale one
O’Baoill – descendant of a strong one
O’Cairealláin – descendant of a warrior
O’Conghaile – descendant of a valiant one
O’Dálaigh – descendant of an assembly leader
O’Fiachra – descendant of a raven
O’Lorcáin – descendant of a fierce one
O’Maoilruanaidh – descendant of a devotee
O’Raghallaigh – descendant of a brave one
O’Seaghdha – descendant of a majestic one
O’Tuathail – descendant of a ruler
MacAnaba – son of the abbot
MacBhain – son of a fair one
MacChoinnich – son of Kenneth
MacDhubhghaill – son of a dark foreigner
MacFhionnlaoich – son of a fair warrior
MacGilleain – son of a servant of John
MacIllEathain – son of a servant
MacMhuirich – son of a mariner
MacPhàrlain – son of Bartholomew
MacUisdean – son of Hugh
