Irish Family Names B
BARNEWELL, BARNEVILLE
NAME ON MAP: BARNEVILLE (from a 1300 record) MODERN IRISH NAME: de Bearnabhal MODERN COUNTY: Meath MEANING: Sir Michael de Berneval (or Barneval) took part in Strongbow's 1170 invasion of Ireland. The name derived either from Barnwell (OLD ENGLISH beorn `warrior' welle `stream, spring') in Cambridgeshire, England or that in Northamptonshire, which derived from byrgen `burial mound' and welle `stream, spring'.
BARRETT, BARRATT, MACPADINE
NAME ON MAP: BARRETT MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: there were two separate Anglo-Norman families. The Barratts (not shown on the map) settled in Munster in the late 12th century, the Barretts in Connacht. Both names probably came from OLD FRENCH barat `traffic, commerce', derived from barater `to haggle'. The name, however, may be compared to MIDDLE ENGLISH baret, barat `trouble, deception' and would have been a nick-name meaning `troublesome'.
BARRY
NAME ON MAP: BARRI MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: the name may derive from OLD FRENCH barri meaning `rampart' in the referred sense of `dweller in the suburbs outside the ramparts'. Robert de Barri was one of the first three Anglo-Norman lords to land in Ireland in 1169. Some modern Barrys, however, were originally called Ó'Beargha `descendants of Beargh', Beargh being a nick-name meaning `robber'.
BERMINGHAM, CORISH
NAME ON MAP: BERMINGHAM MODERN IRISH NAME: MacFheorais MODERN COUNTY: Galway MEANING: from the place-name Birmingham (OLD ENGLISH "Beornmund's hám `homestead'") in England. (Beorn meant `warrior' and mund meant `world'.) Sir Robert de Bermyngeham was one of Strongbow's companions during his invasion of 1170. Richard de Bermingham, after whom the tower in Dublin castle was named, won a major victory at Athenry in 1316; his cousin John defeated Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert (the) Bruce of Scotland, at Faugher in 1318. The family later became Barons of Athenry. The Irish name, MacFheorais, meaning `son of Piers', derived from Sir Robert's father, Piers de Bermyngeham.
O'BOYLAN
NAME ON MAP: O'BAOIGHEALLAIN MODERN COUNTY: Monaghan MEANING: descendant of Baoighheallán'. (The name possibly derived from baoth `rash', geall `pledge' and the diminutive suffix án.) This once important sept had been dominated by the MacMahons by 1300.
O'BOYLE
NAME ON MAP: O'BAOGHAILL MODERN COUNTY: Donegal MEANING: `descendant of Baoigheall'. (The name may have derived from boath `rash' and geall `pledge'.) Most County Waterford Boyles descend from an Englishman, Richard Boyle, who arrived in Ireland in 1588.
MacBRADY
NAME ON MAP: MacBRADAIGH MODERN COUNTY: Cavan MEANING: `son of Brádach'. (The name is obscure, but may just possibly be related to brad `urging'.)
O'BRENNAN, BRENNAN
NAME ON MAP: O'BRAONAIN MODERN COUNTY: Kilkenny MEANING: `descendant of Braonán'. (The name derived from braon `drop, moisture' with the diminutive suffix án and may, by analogy with tears, have meant `sorrow'.) There were four unrelated septs, the most important being recorded in Kilkenny before 1169. The unrelated MacBrannans, sometimes corrupted to Brennan, came from Roscommon.
O'BRIEN
NAME ON MAP: O'BHRIAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Briain MODERN COUNTIES: Clare, Tipperary MEANING: the name meant `descendant of Brian Boru'. Briain Boroimhe, 926-1014, (the surname wasn't added until 40 years after his death) was the High King of Ireland who died at his moment of triumph leading the Irish to victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf. The spelling Bhriain dates from a record of 1303. (The name related to bre- `hill' and implied authority or distinction.) It was also used in Brittany as a surname and some O'Briens came to Ireland from there via England.
BURKE, BOURKE, De BURGH
NAME ON MAP: De BURGO MODERN IRISH NAME: de Búrca MODERN COUNTY: Mayo MEANING: OLD ENGLISH burh meant `fortification, fortified manor' - in this case referring specifically to Burgh in Suffolk, England. William Fitzaldem de Burgo, nicknamed `William the Conqueror' by the Irish, succeeded Strongbow as Chief Governor in 1179 and was granted enormous estates in Connacht.
BUTLER
NAME ON MAP: BUTLER MODERN COUNTIES: Tipperary, Kilkenny MEANING: NORMAN FRENCH bouteillier `butler' derived ultimately from LATIN buticular `bottle'. Theobald Fitzwalter was created Chief Butler (overlord) of Ireland in 1177. The family started to use the name Butler at about 1220. The title Earl of Ormond was bestowed on the Butlers in 1328 and the family seat was moved from Gowran to Kilkenny in 1391; the family was later ennobled as the Dukes of Ormond.
O'BYRNE
NAME ON MAP: O'BROIN MODERN COUNTY: Wicklow MEANING: `descendant of Broen (Bran)'; Broen was King of Leinster and died at Cologne in 1052. The name probably meant `raven'. The sept was driven south east from Meath into Wicklow by Anglo-Norman pressure around 1200, although the family had some notable successes against the invaders.