Irish America
Irish America
The O'Reilly family name is derived from the Gaelic "O'Raghailligh," which means descendants of Raghaillach. The O'Reillys were the most powerful sept of the old Gaelic Kingdom of Breffny, and the family is still very numerous in the area which made up this kingdom, i.e., Cavan and the surrounding counties. The name is frequently shortened to Reilly or Riley. Members of the … [Read more...] about Roots: The O’Reillys
The families of McMahon and O’Mahoney are related only by the common derivation of their names from the Irish name Mahon (in Gaelic Mathuna) which was a personal name, meaning a bear. The O’Mahoney or Mahony name is derived from Mathuna, a grandson of Brian Boru. The family were the Eoganacht, the regal dynasty of Munster and were one of the most prominent of West Munster. … [Read more...] about Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan
This month's pair of sound-alike names are Moloney and Malone. As with others that have been featured, they bear no relationship to each other. Moloney is derived from the Gaelic O Maoldhomnaigh meaning a descendant of a servant of the church. The name is also often spelled Maloney but the O'Moloney (or O'Maloney) form of the name is only rarely found. The family was originally … [Read more...] about Roots: Malone and Moloney
The families of McMahon and O'Mahoney are related only by the common derivation of their names from the Irish name Mahon (in Gaelic Mathuna) which was a personal name, meaning a bear. The O'Mahoney or Mahony family are derived from Mathuna, a grandson of Brian Boru. The family were the Eoganacht, the regal dynasty of Munster and were one of the most prominent of West Munster. … [Read more...] about Roots: O’Mahoney, McMahon and Vaughan
The origin of the names Phelan and Whelan is an excellent example of the vagaries of Anglicization of Irish names. Both of these names are derived from the same Gaelic name O'Fáolain. Although Whelan is more common, Phelan is common in areas of Kilkenny and Waterford. The O'Faoláins were Princes of the Decies, a kingdom in the area of the current County Waterford. The Fallons … [Read more...] about Roots: Phelan, Whelan, and Fallon
