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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