The Irish were among the first in Europe to establish a system of fixed hereditary surnames. The oldest Irish surnames seem to be those that include the prefix ‘Ó’ (formerly ‘Ua’), signifying ‘grandson’. An entry in the Annals of the Four Masters records the death of Tigherneach Ua Cléirigh, lord of Aidhne in south Galway in AD 916. This is believed to be the oldest recorded surname in the whole of Europe.
Thanks to Irish Origenes, visitors can use this database to trace the origins of your Irish surname and discover the locations of related castles and placenames. Simply enter one to four surnames to discover where your ancestors originated.
Hint: If your name includes ‘O’ or ‘Mac’, experiment with different spellings (for example, Carroll, O’Carroll, MacCarroll, and McCarroll).
All the Irish maps are free to browse online.