Roots Archive
Roots: Phelan, Whelan, and Fallon
The origin of the names Phelan and Whelan is an excellent example of the vagaries…
“No Man Left Behind”
“No Man Left Behind” is so much more than a slogan to me. In a…
Finding Our Roots
For many Irish Americans traveling to the Emerald Isle, the chance to track down family…
More Articles
Manx, Music, Military, Moxie, and a Bit Irish
Roots detective Megan Smolenyak researches Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham’s roots What can’t Hannah Waddingham do? I’m late to the party discovering her talents in her portrayal of team owner, […]
Roots: The “Mul” Names
A large range of Irish names begin with the prefix “Mul.” Examples include Mulcahy, Mulvihill, Mullally, and Mullan. These names have no familiar connections, but like the names beginning with […]
The Undisgraced Ryans
Given its status as one of the ten most numerous surnames in Ireland, the name Ryan is recognizable to most people as a telltale indicator of green in the veins. […]
The Kellys
Kelly is one of the most common Irish names and is found in all parts of the country. The spread and popularity of the name is due to the fact […]
The Finnegan Clan
Finnegan is an Irish surname coming from the Gaelic Ó Fionnagáin, meaning “son of fair-haired.” James Joyce immortalized the name for all time in his 1939 novel Finnegans Wake. But literary […]
Roots: That’s Not an Irish Name!
Names such as Kelly, Murphy, O’Brien, and Ryan are distinctively Irish and are widely known to be. However, there are many other names that are Irish – but far less […]