Aungier | rare: Dublin. Huguenots from 17 cent. Probably from the town of Angers. Woulfe gives Ir. Dáinséir - a fair representation of the French. |
Ballinger | rare: Clare. English of French origin: boulanger? Ir. Bailinséir. |
Barbour | fairly numerous: mainly E.Ulster. Also an Anglo-French derivation. This form most in use in early times. Many Ulster Barbours are of Scottish origin. MIF. |
Basquille | fairly rare: Mayo etc. Mac Lysacht considers it a variant of Baskwell which itself derives from Baskerville, a French placename. SI. |
Beausang | Quite numerous: Cork etc. A French family who were given the Irish epithet "Franncach" but now go under their fine original name. SGG & SGA. |
Beckett | numerous: E.Ulster, scattered in Leinster. Ir. Beicéid. English, from French bec. |
Blanche | fairly rare: Dublin & S.E. As Blanc in Midlands. Huguenot or later French immigrants. |
Blunt | Very rare: Ulster. Ir. Ó Finn (SGA). Generally Anglo-Norman Blount, q.v. The French "blond" is exactly equivalent to the Irish "fionn", gen. "finn". SI. |
Bonham | rare: Leinster. English, from French "bon homme". DBS. |
Bovaird | rare: Donegal, Derry. French, but not appearing amongst the Huguenots. SI. |
Boyce | numerous: Belfast, N Down, Donegal, Dublin, Limerick. Ir. Ó Buadhaigh in Donegal and the West; otherwise Anglo-Norman from French bois. SI & DBS. |
Brunell | rare: Dublin. English, dim. of French brun. |
Bunce | rare: Kerry, Belfast. As Bone, French bon. |
Burgoyne | rare: Belfast. English/French, "man from Burgundy". |
Chaney | fairly rare: Dublin. Anglo-Norman, from French chênaie, an oak-grove. |
Charters | Quite numerous: Belfast, Down etc. French Huguenots, 17 cent. SI. |
Cheevers | Quite numerous: Dublin, Waterford, N Midlands, Ulster, Galway. Ir. Síbhear. Anglo-Normans since 12 cent. From French chèvre, a goat. Also as Chivers. SI. |
Choiseul | Very rare: Tullamore. Presumably French Huguenot, 17 cent. |
Condy | rare: Tyrone. From the French Condé, of recent immigration. SI. |
Conyers | Very rare: Limerick. English, of French origin, de Coignières. In Ireland 17 cent. Also an anglicisation of O'Connor i.e. Ó Conchúir. MIF. |
Corneille | Very rare. Limerick. Palatine, 18 cent. A common French name - a Huguenot connection, perhaps. SI. |
de Fréins | French: líon beag: Loch Garman, Gaillimh. Ceann de "Threabhanna na Gaillimhe". Is cosúil gur Francach agus ní frêne atá annso. Féach Frínseach, leis. |
De la Coure | Very rare: Cork. French, current in France, also a synonym of Deloughry, q.v. |
Delahay | Very rare: Antrim. French, current in France as Delahaye. |
Despard | rare: Dublin. French. |
Disney | Very rare: Tipperary. English, 17 cent. From French D'Isigny. |
Dorey | Very rare: E Leinster. Possibly the French Doré. |
Dormer | Quite numerous: S E Leinster. MacLysaght says this is an English name of French origin dating from 1590 in Wexford. It may also relate to Ulster Ir. Ó Duibhdhíorma.MIF. |
Dowse | Quite numerous: Dublin etc. English, 14 cent. Probably from French douce, gentle. MIF. |
Dubois | fairly rare: Antrim. French Huguenot, 17 cent. "of the wood". |
Duke | fairly numerous: E Ulster and scattered widely. Usually from French duc, leader. English, 16 cent. It occurs in Irish as Diúic. SI. |
Dupuy | rare: Dublin. French? |
Fant | Very rare: Cork. Ir. Fant. One of the "Tribes of Galway"; also identified with Limerick in 14 cent. From French enfant, child. SGG. |
Faux | rare: Fermanagh etc. French. |
Favier | rare: Kerry. French. |
Ffrench | Quite numerous: Roscommon, Wexford, Meath etc. Anglo-Normans who settled in Wexford and Galway, whence one of the "Tribes of Galway". The Welsh "ff" for normal "f" arose in 16 cent. The name also occurs as French. Ir. Frinseach. |
Finnamore | rare: Midlands. Anglo-Norman, 13 cent. From French fin amour (dear love). The Irish Fionamúr is close to the original. SGG. |
Fitz | Very rare: Dublin. Norman fitz = fils (French) = mac (Irish) = son (English). In this case the "patro" part of the name has been dropped. |
Folliard | rare: Mayo. A French name meaning foolish. |
Foyle | Quite numerous: Midlands, Galway. A English name of French derivation which has been in Ireland since 13 cent. Modern Foyles have gaelicised themselves Ó Foighil. MIF. |
Foynes | rare: Laois-Kilkenny. Ir. Faghan. English of French origin (Fiennes). See Fynes. |
Frain | rare: Roscommon-Mayo. Ir. de Fréine. Also as Frayne, Freeney. From French frêne, an ashtree. MIF. |
Francis | fairly numerous: Down, Galway etc. Ir. Proinséis. A Norman name: le Franceis, the Frenchman. SI. |
French | numerous: E Ulster, Wexford, Waterford etc. Ir. Frínseach. One of the "Tribes of Galway" and long connected with Roscommon. Scottish & English, denoting French origin. IF. |
Freyne | Quite numerous: Kilkenny, Waterford, Mayo-Galway etc. Ir. de Fréine. An Anglo-Norman family who settled in Kilkenny. Synonyms: Frain, Frayne, Freaney, Freeney. Derivation from the French de frêne, (ashtree). MIF. |
Friery | rare: Meath-W Meath. Ir. Mac a' Phríora (son of the prior). There is some confusion between Friar, an English name from the French frère, and Prior, an Irish name denoting a church official. See Freer, Friers. SI & SGG. |
Frinseach | French: líonmhar: Ulaidh, Oir-dheisceart. Ceann de "Threabhanna na Gaillimhe" agus baint acu le Ros Comáin. Sasanaigh de bhunadh Francach. IF. |
Gabbey | Quite numerous: Down. Gab meant mockery, deceit. There was also the French Gaby, a popular form of Gabriel. |
Gabriel | rare: Cork. English or French. |
Gailliard | rare: Down. French. |
Gammon | Very rare: Down. English, one given to games. MacLysaght found the name in Munster and refers it to French gambon, leg. It is gaelicised Gambún. SI. |
Gaskin | Quite numerous: Louth, Dublin, Belfast. Ir. de Gascún, from French Gascogne (Gascony). The name has been in England and Ireland since 13 cent. SI. |
Gaye | rare: Dublin, Cork etc. Ir. Mac Giolla Dé (servant of God). However present distribution suggests an English origin, which is from French gai, light-hearted. Quite common in England. See also Gildea and Kildea. |
Gervais | rare: Tyrone. French. |
Gifford | rare: Down. Scottish, of Norman origin. The common French name Giffard means "chubby". Dauzat. |
Giles | numerous: Down & Tyrone, Meath-W Meath, Cork etc. Ir. Ó Glaisne; Glaisne was an early first name favoured in Ulster. The surname was associated with Louth. Elsewhere the name may be English, being derived there from a 6 cent French saint. There is a long association with Cork, where the name survives. SI. |
Gillman | fairly rare: Cork and scattered. English, 16 cent. Dimin. of French Guillaume. |
Going | Very rare: Wicklow etc. Ir. Mac Gabhann or French Gouin. The latter were in Tipperary at the end of 17 cent - presumably Huguenots. |
Gowing | fairly rare: Laois, Carlow. Ir. Mac Gabhann. The name, in the form Going, has been in Tipperary since 17 cent and a suggestion of a connection with the French Gouin, meaning blood-relative, has been made by MacLysaght. See Going.MIF & SGG. |
Grainger | fairly numerous: Belfast, Dublin, Cork. Ir. Gráinséir. From French grangier, a farm steward. It has appeared in mediaeval records but came mainly in the settlements of the 17 cent. SI. |
Grant | numerous: Ulster, Dublin, The South-East, Connacht. Ir. Grant, Mag Raighne. A leading Scottish name of Norman origin, cognate with French grand, large, tall. However it has occurred in mediaeval records long before the advent of Scottish settlers in 17 cent. The name has been used for MacGranny, Granny (Mag Raighne) in Ulster. MIF. |
Gueret | rare: Dublin. French. Dauzat. |
Guidon | rare: Dublin. French. Dauzat. |
Guy | numerous: Ulster generally. Ir. Guidh. From a French presonal name. In Ulster since 17 cent. SI. |
Huet | fairly rare: Dublin etc. French, common in Normandy. |
Jarvis | fairly rare: Ulster generally. English from first name Gervais, of French origin. SI. |
L'Estrange | mod.nos.: W Meath etc. Ir. Mac Conchoigcríche (hound from abroad). This was an ancient first name associated with the O'Clerys and Mageoghans. It has been anglicised Peregrine meaning foreign, so telling only half the story. Coincidentally, an English family L'Estrange settled in the same area in 16 cent, so only a genealogical investigation could sort them out. The modern French name is Létrange (foreigner). SI. |
Laffan | fairly numerous: South East, N Munster etc. Ir. Lafán. Anglo-Normans in 14 cent. Derivation: French: l'enfant (child) or La Font (place-name). SI, SGG and Dauzat. |
Large | Quite numerous: Belfast, Armagh, Dublin etc. Anglo-Norman, 13 cent. French large = generous. SI. |
Larmour | numerous: Belfast etc. French, 17 cent in Ulster. Occupational: armourer. SI. |
Le Gros | Very rare: Dublin etc. A common French name. |
Lemass | fairly rare: Dublin. Thought to be French Le Maistre, 18 cent, an archaic form of the modern Lemaître, current in France. The name existed amongst the Huguenots. MIF. |
Lomasney | rare: Cork-Limerick. Ir. Ó Lomasna, "bare rib". The name originated in S Tipperary. See Lemasney, incorrectly thought to be French. SI. |
Lovett | Quite numerous: all areas, but mainly Kerry. Ir. Luibhéid, Mac Lomhaid (Scots). In Kerry it may be the French name Louvet (wolf-cub). |
Machin | Very rare: Belfast area. English, from Norman-French "mason". |
MacShane | numerous: Ulster generally, Louth-Meath etc. Ir. Mac Seáin, the first name Seán is a gaelicisation of Norman-French Jean. A branch of the O'Neills of Tyrone. SI. |
Major | Quite numerous: Belfast area, Tyrone etc. English, 17 cent in Ulster. Derived from Norman- French mauger, from Teutonic "council-spear". DOS. |
Mallory | Very rare: Belfast. English, derived from French malheuré, unlucky. DBS. |
Manscier | Very rare: Dublin. Possibly from French mansier, tenant of a manse (small farm). |
Mansell | fairly rare: Ulster etc. Ir. Móinséil. Scottish, perhaps from Norman-French le Manceau, but also English, settled in Kilkenny in mediaeval times and later connected with Limerick. SGG & SS. |
Mercer | numerous: E Ulster, Dublin. English, from French, mercier, merchant. In Ireland since mediaeval times. SI. |
Meyers | fairly rare: Dublin, Belfast, Kerry-Clare etc. Various origins: English, French and German, but in the west it is native Ó Meidhir. See Meers & Myers. |
Mockler | Quite numerous: Kilkenny-Tipperary etc. Ir. Móicléir, from French Mauclerc, bad cleric. They were Normans, in Tipperary 13 cent. This rather uncomplimentary name survives in France. MIF. |
Molyneaux | Quite numerous: Belfast area, N Kerry, Dublin. Norman French, so of long standing in Ireland. However, it also represents Ó Maolmhuaidh in Kerry and Ó Maolagáin in Ulster. See Molloy and Mulligan. The name still exists in France. |
Mordaunt | Quite numerous: Wicklow and South East. Anglo-Norman nick-name from French, mordant, biting, sarcastic". DBS. |
Moreau | rare: Dublin. French, synonym of Morell which was of Huguenot origin. "Moorish". |
Mortell | Quite numerous: Limerick-Clare, Cork. Ir. Mairtéil. Anglo-Normans, 13 cent. Probably derived from French martel, hammer.MIF. |
Mouncey | rare: Belfast area. Scottish & English, from a French place-name, Monceaux. |
Mountford | rare: Belfast area. English, variant of Montfort, a French place-name. |
Moynes | rare: Donegal-Derry, Down etc. Ir. Ó Muín (SGA). Also as Mines. A similar English name exists, derived from French moine, a monk. May be represented here. |
Napier | fairly numerous: Down-Antrim, Meath etc. English, 17 cent. From French napier, keeper of table linen |
Neville | numerous: Limerick-Cork, Clare-Kerry, South East, Armagh etc. Ir. Ó Niadh (champion), in Munster. Those of east and north are probably of English origin, deriving from French place-name Neuville. |
Noel | rare: Belfast, Dublin, Cork. English and French from French first name Noël (Christmas) |
Norse | Very rare: Wicklow. Anglo-Norman, from French nourrice (nurse) or variant of Norris. |
Oliver | numerous: Ulster, especially Belfast. Ir. Oilibhéar. From first name of French origin, in Ireland 14 cent. SI. |
Page | fairly numerous: mainly Dublin; Belfast etc. English, from French: boy, attendant. |
Paine | rare: Dublin, Ulster. English or Scottish. A name derived from Latin paganus (rustic) via French. See Payne. |
Pardy | fairly rare: scattered. English, from Old French Par Dieu, by God. |
Passmore | rare: Belfast area, Dublin. English from French passe mer, cross the sea. |
Payne | numerous: all areas, especially Dublin, N Down, Derry. Ir. Paghan. English, 14 cent onwards. From Latin paganus, countryman, rustic; the French is Payen. DOS. |
Pedlow | Quite numerous: N Armagh etc. An English name of French origin, pied de loup, wolf's foot. SI. |
Peelo | fairly rare: Dublin. Possibly French pel de loup, wolf's skin. |
Pelly | rare: Dublin. English, from French, "bald". |
Pentony | Quite numerous: Louth, Down etc. Ir. Mac Antaine (SGA). Anglo-Normans, originally Repenteny (French toponymic), in 12 cent. Later Penteny, associated with E Leinster. |
Percival | Quite numerous: Ulster, Leinster, Mayo. English of French origin; more recently in Ireland. DBS. |
Perdue | rare: Tipperary-Limerick etc. A Huguenot name in Youghal, 18 cent. A French nick-name, perdu, lost. Perhaps a child lost and, thankfully, found. |
Petticrew | Quite numerous: Down-Armagh etc. Huguenots in 17 cent in Ulster, according to MacLysaght, but the name has been in Scotland since 13 cent and may well account for many of the. Derivation: French petit cru, small growth. SI & SS. |
Pettit | Quite numerous: English, from French petit, little. In Ireland since Middle Ages. |
Picard | rare: Dublin and Ulster. French and English, native of Picardy. |
Pierpoint | rare: Belfast area etc. English, from French pierre-pont, stone bridge. |
Piggott | numerous: all areas, especially Munster. Ir. Piogóid. English derived from French pic (woodpecker) plus diminutive ot. Picot is extant in France. Dauzat. |
Plunkett | numerous: Dublin, Midlands etc. Ir. Pluincéid. French Blanquet, a reference to fairness of complexion. Anglo-Normans who settled in Meath. It is now the notable name of a distinguished family who have been associated with Meath for seven centuries. |
Pomeroy | fairly rare: Down, Dublin, Cork etc. English, 17 cent. From French pommeraie apple orchard. The town in Tyrone seems to have come from the surname. |
Pullen | fairly rare: Dublin, Belfast, Down etc. English, from Old French poulain, a colt, perhaps a lively person. DBS. |
Purcell | Very numerous: all areas, especially South East. Ir. Puirséil. From French pourcel, piglet. A notable Anglo-Norman family of Ormonde (Tipperary etc). IF. |
Reville | Quite numerous: Wexford-Waterford etc. English, 17 cent in Wexford. Variant of Revels or a French toponymic. Dauzat. |
Riddell | fairly numerous: Ulster generally. English, from French ridel, small hill. DBS. |
Roche | Very numerous: Munster and South East etc. Ir. de Róiste, from French roche, a rock. Normans who became established in Wexford and Munster after the Invasion. The area round Fermoy was known as Críoch Róisteach (Roches' Country). IF. |
Ruby | rare: Cork. French, de Roubaix, 17 cent. SI. |
Russell | Very numerous: all areas, especially Ulster. Ir. Ruiséil. Scottish and English but introduced by the Normans: French roussel, red-haired. Although recorded at the Invasion, most Russells came in 16 and 17 cents. IF. |
Saul | fairly rare: Dublin, Meath, Down. Ir. de Sál. Probably from French salle (hall) as they were Normans, arriving in 13 cent and associated with Waterford and Tipperary.MIF. |
Saurin | rare: Drogheda (Louth) etc. Huguenot, 18 cent. French de Sauvergne. It may occasionally stand for Soraghan, q.v. |
Seymour | fairly numerous: Belfast area, N Tipperary, Cork etc. English, 17 cent. Derived from French place-name St Maur. SI & DOS. |
Sommerville | numerous: mainly E Ulster; the family was also associated with Cork. It is English, probably derived from a French place-name. See Summerville. SI. |
Stuart | numerous: all areas, mainly Ulster. Ir. Stíobhard. A French version of Stewart used by Mary, Queen of Scots, who was brought up in France. Subsequently the royal house of Scotland and England. See Stewart. |
Thuillier | rare: Cork, Dublin. A notable family of Kinsale since 17 cent, they were distinguished as boat-builders. The family tradition is that they were French Protestants though not appearing on lists of Huguenots (Appendix C). |
Turney | rare: Down etc. English, from French place-name; so of Norman origin. |
Uzell | rare: Dublin. English, of Norman origin from Old French oisel, bird. DBS. |
Veitch | Quite numerous: Fermanagh, Down etc. A Scottish name derived from French vache, so of Norman origin. In Fermanagh and Cavan 17 cent. SI. |
Villiers | rare: Armagh, Cork etc. English from French place-name. Associated with Limerick. |
Warr | Very rare: Down. English, from the French de la Guerre, (Norman werre). Presumably a military man. Whence also the U.S. state of Delaware. |
Warren | numerous: E Ulster, South East, Cork etc. Ir. Bharain generally but Ó Murnáin in S W Munster. Derivation of English name may be de la Varenne (French place-name). |
John Grenham | | Sitemap | | Login | | Subscribe | | Contact | | Research | | FAQs | | What's new?| | Privacy policy