Irish names are famous the world over and many of them have a wonderfully rich history. We take a look at Irish names through the ages.
Here are some interesting facts…
- Ireland was one of the first countries to use surnames
- 916 AD was the first recorded use of surnames in Ireland
- The ‘O’ often found at the start of Irish names means, ‘descendant of’
- Traditional Irish names like, Cian, Fionn and Oisin are some of the most popular names in Ireland
- Jack and Emily are still the most popular baby names in Ireland
- John and Mary are historically the most popular names in Ireland
- There are over 50,000 Murphys in Ireland
- The surname O’Neill was once banned by the Queen of England
Our handy infographic describes 17 fun facts about Irish Names
