Irish Ancestors: Welsh surname origins



Bethel Very rare: N.Down. Welsh, 17 cent. It has occurred in Limerick as a Palatine name. SI.
Bevan Quite numerous: E Ulster, Dublin, Cork etc. Welsh (Ap-Evan). More usually Evans.
Binnions fairly rare: South East. Welsh: ap Einion originally ap Eynon.
Bittle fairly rare: Belfast & Down. Possibly Welsh, ap Ithel. See Bethel.
Blevins Quite numerous: N Down. Welsh, ap Bledyn. In Ulster 17 cent.
Blood rare: Dublin, Clare. A family of Welsh origin (ap Lloyd) who settled in Clare in 16 cent in the ancient territory of Uí Bloid and were prominent during ensueing centuries.MIF.
Bowen numerous: Dublin, Cork, Ulster. Ir. Ó Buacháin, but usually of Welsh origin i.e. Ap Owen. In Ireland 16 cent. It may sometimes stand for Bohan(e), q.v. SI.
Branagh Quite numerous: N Down. Ir. Breatnach (a Welsh person). The large Welsh contingent in the Norman invasion were called Breatnaigh by the Irish. Now they are usually Walsh.
Brannick rare: Galway/Mayo. Ir. de Breannóc. Cambro-Normans from Welsh Brecknock, who resided in Tipperary/Kilkenny in 16 cent. Also as Brennock. SGG.
Breatnach fairly numerous: throughout the south. Ir.Lang. a Welsh person.
Brennock rare: South East etc. Ir. Breannóc. Welsh, from placename Brecknock, but used synonymously with Walsh on occasion. See Brannick. SI.
Bridget Very rare: Belfast. From Uprichard (Welsh), 17 cent. SI.
Cadell fairly rare: Belfast, Portadown etc. Welsh Cadwal equivalent to Ir. Cathal (strong in battle). Cambro-Normans, 13 cent. In Galway changed to Blake, q.v. SI.
Cadogan Quite numerous: Cork etc. A Welsh name Cadwgan, but in Ireland usually an anglicisation of Ir. Ó Ceadagáin. Welsh Cadogans were of note in Dublin in 17 cent.
Cadwallader rare: Dublin. A Welsh name, "battle-leader".
Craddock Quite numerous: Dublin and scattered. Ir. Creadóc. Welsh, 13 cent. From the personal name Caradoc. Has always been associated with the Midlands.
David rare: Dublin, Cork, Wexford. English or Welsh. As a first name it became popular from the patron saint of Wales and the Scottish kings. See the various derivatives.
Davies numerous: Belfast area, Dublin and scattered. Welsh and English, though the English version is more usually Davis. The general Irish version would be Mac Dáibhidh.
Davis Very numerous: Dublin, Belfast and all areas. Of English or Welsh origin since 16 cent. The name is used for MacDavid in Wexford. Irish version: Dáibhis. IF.
De Brit rare: Dublin. Anglo-Normans of Breton origin who settled in various parts of the country. More usually Brett, Ir. de Breit. The use of the name by the Anglo-Saxons to describe the Strathclyde Britons and the Welsh is discussed by Reaney. DBS.
Edwards numerous: all provinces. Ir. Mac Éadbhaird. English and Welsh.
Evans numerous: Dublin, E Ulster etc. A well-known Welsh name (Evan = John). In some instances in Munster, it is an anglicisation of Ir. Ó hÉimhín. SI.
Eynon rare: Crossgar (Down). Welsh, from an old personal name Ennion. DBS.
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.
Galbraith numerous: Ulster and scattered. Ir. Mac an Bhreatnaigh (son of the Briton). A Briton (or Welshman) who settled amongst the Gaels in Scotland. They came to Ireland in the Plantation of Ulster c. 1609. SI.
Gethin rare: Sligo. A Welsh name, but possibly a synonym of MacGettigan. SI.
Gethings fairly rare: Wexford. Welsh (as Gethin). A Welsh connection most likely here.
Gittens rare: Kilkenny-Carlow. Appears to derive from Welsh name Gethin (cethin, dark, swarthy). The link with the Ulster MacGettigan seems unlikely. SI & DBS.
Goff Quite numerous: Wexford etc. Ir. Góch, according to Woulfe, from Welsh coch, red. There is also a Welsh word gof = smith. The Welsh connection is well established - they came in 13 cent and settled in Dublin and Waterford. See Gough. MIF.
Gough numerous: E Ulster, Midlands, South-East. Ir. Goch, from Welsh coch = red. In Waterford 13 cent. Now pronounced Goff and so spelled in some cases. This name is also an anglicisation of (1) Ó Cuacháin (Mayo) and (2) Mag Eochadha (Armagh-Monaghan).
Griffin Very numerous: all provinces, particularly Munster. Ir. Ó Gríobhtha, gríofach, fierce. A sept of Dál gCais (Clare), also in Kenmare (Kerry). Some confusion with Welsh Griffiths and Griffin which are common in Britain.
Gwynne fairly rare: mainly E Ulster. Ir. Guin. A Welsh name meaning "fair". In Ireland 16 cent. Now noted as a great scholarly family of Dublin. IF.
Hales fairly numerous: Cork-Waterford, E Ulster etc. Ir. Mac Héil (SGA), Mac Haol (SGG). From Welsh first name Hywel, early settlers in Mayo. Also an English name, known in Cork since 17 cent. Very rarely Hailes and Hayles. SI & SGG.
Holley rare: E Ulster: Ir. Mac Cuilinn, formerly Mac Uighilin from Hugelin, diminutive of Hugh. Usually MacQuillan; a Welsh family who settled in Antrim in 13 cent. A case of mistranslation because cuileann means holly. See also Holly. MIF & SGG.
Hosty fairly rare: Galway-Mayo. Ir. Mac Oiste, from Hodge, dimin. of Roger. Believed to derive from a Welshman who settled in Mayo in 13 cent. SI & SGG.
Howell fairly numerous: Ulster, Cork etc. From a Welsh and Breton first name. One family settled in Mayo and became Mac Haol. See Powell. SI & SGG.
Jevens rare: scattered. Welsh: from first name Ieuan (John). DOS.
Joyce Very numerous: all areas, especially Connacht. Ir. Seoigh(e). A Welshman established the family in Iar-Chonnacht in 13 cent in an area called "Joyces' Country". They also became one of the "Tribes of Galway". The name may originate in the Breton Josse or the Norman Joie. IF & DOS.
Keatings Very numerous: all areas, especially South East. Ir. Céitinn. Anglo-Normans who settled in S E Leinster 12 cent. Perhaps from Welsh first name Cethyn. Seathrún Céitinn was a leading writer of classical modern Irish in 17 cent. SI & SGG.
Kemple rare: Dublin, Mayo etc. Variant of English name Kemble, which may come from the Welsh Cynbel (war-chief). Whence Shakespeare's Cymbeline. DOS.
Kendrick fairly rare: Wexford, Dublin, Ulster. Ir. Mac Eanraic, from a Teutonic first name. See also Kenrick and Mac Kendrick. Also Welsh cynwrig, hero-chief. DBS & SI.
Kenefick Quite numerous: Cork. Ir. Ciniféic. In Ireland since 13 cent. Welsh origin.MIF.
Lewis numerous: all areas but mainly Ulster. Ir. Lobhaois. This name is Welsh, Scottish and English. From Teutonic first name Hlúdwig (loud battle). They first appeared as Anglo-Normans who settled in various places but the name is mainly related to the Plantation of Ulster in 17 cent. SGG & DBS.
Llewellyn fairly rare: Dublin, Cork etc. A famous Welsh first name and a surname in S Wales.
Lloyd numerous: all areas, particularly Dublin, Belfast. Welsh, in Ireland from early times. Welsh llwyd = grey. The Irish is Lóid, Laoide. SGG.
MacBratney Quite numerous: Belfast area etc. Ir. Mac Breatnaigh (son of Welshman). To be distinguished from Breatnach which is simply Welsh, in English, Walsh.
MacGwynne Very rare: Sligo. Ir. Mac Guin, from Welsh gwyn, fair, blond. In Ireland 16 cent, the Gwynns have been distinguished as scholars.
MacHale numerous: Connacht, Donegal etc. Ir. Mac Héil, Mac Haol. MacLysaght mentions Mac Céile, quoting MacFirbis in reference to an ecclesiastical family of Killala (Mayo). Otherwise it derives from the Howells, Welsh people who settled in Mayo after the Invasion. IF.
MacMyler rare: Dublin, Mayo. Ir. Mac Maoilir, from Meyler, a Welsh first name. In Ireland 1200 AD. See also Myler.
Maddocks rare: Belfast etc. Welsh : madog, goodly. There is also an Irish name Mac Mhadóg, associated with the Mac Murroughs of Wexford. SI, SGG & DBS.
Meredith fairly numerous: Laois-Offaly, Down etc. Welsh, from meredydd, magnificent. 16 cent in Ireland.
Merrick Quite numerous: Mayo-Galway, Kildare, Down etc. The Connacht Merricks are of Welsh origin, A(p) Meuric (Maurice) and gaelicised Mac Mibhric 13 cent. Others are English but ultimately of the same derivation, and one of whom, according to Cottle, gave his name to America! MIF & DOS.
Meyler fairly numerous: Wexford etc. Ir. Maoilir, Mac Maoilir. From Welsh Meilyr, a first name. In Ireland 13 cent. See Myler. SI.
Morgan Very numerous: all areas, especially Belfast-Down-Armagh-Monaghan-Cavan-Louth. Ir. Ó Muireagáin, dimin. of muire, a lord. It is also a prominent Welsh name, accounting for many of the Irish Morgans. SI.
Ougan Very rare: Navan (Meath). Ir. Úgán, from Welsh gwg, a frown. See Wogan
Parry fairly rare: N Down etc. Welsh: ap Harry, son of Harry.
Pembroke rare: Dublin etc. A Welsh toponymic associated with Kilkenny and Kerry, 17 cent.
Peters fairly numerous: Kilkenny-Tipperary-Cork, Down etc. Ir. Mac Pheadair. English or Welsh, and associated with Cornwall.
Pinion rare: Down. Welsh, ap Einion (son of Einion).
Powell numerous: all areas: evenly distributed. Ir. Paol. From Welsh ap Howell, son of Howell. It may, occasionally, stand for Guilfoyle, q.v.
Preece rare: Down-Belfast etc. Welsh, ap Rhys (son of Rhys); or from English place-name. See also Rice. DBS.
Price numerous: all areas, mainly Ulster and Dublin. Ir. Prís. Welsh, 14 cent. ap Rhys, son of Rhys. See Preece and Rice.
Pritchard fairly numerous: mainly in Ulster. Welsh, ap Richard, son of Richard. See also Uprichard and Prichard.
Prosser rare: Dublin, Down etc. Welsh, ap Rosser. DOS.
Pugh Quite numerous: Dublin, Sligo etc. Welsh: ap Hugh, son of Hugh.
Reece rare: Dublin etc. Welsh, Rhys, more usual as ap Rhys, Preece, Price.
Reese Quite numerous: scattered. Welsh, Rhys. See Price.
Rice Very numerous: all areas, E Ulster, Midlands, South East etc. In the south, it is of Welsh origin, Rhys, gaelicised Rís. In the north, it stands for Ó Maolchraoibhe, craobh, a branch, may be a place-name in this case. See also Mulgrew. IF.
Roice rare: Wexford. Possibly Welsh, Rhys, but see also Royce.
Sampson Quite numerous: Belfast, Limerick, Derry etc. Ir. Samsún. From a Welsh saint or the biblical character. English, 14 cent. Prominent in Limerick 17 cent. SI.
Sansome rare: Belfast area etc. Probably as Sampson though Cottle refers to a Welsh saint who was venerated in Brittany. DOS.
Taaffe numerous: E.Midlands, Cavan,Galway-Mayo-Sligo etc. Ir. Táth. (Welsh, David). Settling in 13 cent, they became established in Louth and Sligo. IF.
Timlin Quite numerous: Galway-Mayo, Donegal-Tyrone. Ir. Mac Toimilín, dimin. of Thomas. A family of Welsh origin who became gaelicised in Mayo. MIF.
Uprichard numerous: Belfast area, Armagh etc. Welsh, ap Richard; associated with Armagh. See also Pritchard.
Vaddock Ir. Mac Mhadóc. From Welsh first name Madoc, goodly. A branch of Mac Murrough of Leinster. The Welsh name Maddock is current in Wexford. The name does not appear in current telephone directories, but has been previously recorded. SGG.
Vaughan numerous: all areas, especially Munster. Ir. Ó Mocháin, Ó Macháin. A sept of S Galway, sometimes called Mahon. Vaughan is also a common Welsh name, and no doubt occurs to some extent in Ireland. Ballyvaughan should be Baile Uí Mhacháin. SI
Voyles Very rare: Dublin. Welsh, foel, bald. DOS.
Wales rare: Ballymoney (Antrim). English name meaning "foreign". The Welsh, for instance!
Wallace Very numerous: all areas, particularly E Ulster. Ir. de Bhailís. Le Waleis was the Norman term for British Celts, both Welsh and Strathclyde Britons. The name is mainly Scottish, hence the strong presence in Ulster. In the south, they may be Cambro-Normans and synonymous with Walsh. See Wallis. SI & DBS.
Walshe Very numerous: (4th most common) all areas, especially South East. Ir. Breatnach, Welsh. A name common amongst the Norman invaders, many of whom came from Wales. It was not attached to any particular sept. Also as Welch & Welsh. IF.
Welshman rare: Down etc. See Welsh.
Williams Very numerous: all areas. MacLysaght describes it as Welsh, but it is common all over Britain. A Norman first name, adopted from Teutonic Willihelm "resolve-helmet". It has produced many variants. See Mac Williams. Ir. Mac Liam. DBS & DOS.
Wogan Quite numerous: Meath-Louth etc. Ir. Úgán, from Welsh Gwgan, frowning. In Ireland since 14 cent and notable in public affairs in early times. MIF.
Wynn all areas except Cork and especially Connacht and Midlands. The name is of Welsh origin (gwyn = white, fair) and represents 17 cent immigrants in Connacht. It may also stand for Ó Gaoithín & Ó Maolghaoithe which are also anglicised Geehan & Magee.

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