by Mari Elspeth nic Bryan (Kathleen M. O'Brien)
© 2000-2007 by Kathleen M. O'Brien. All rights reserved.
Version 2.27, updated 26 March 2007
This list is sorted in alphabetical order by Gaelic forms.
Note: Bynames that have a * next to them, are used to refer to at least 10 different people.
Go to descriptive bynames whose substantive element begins with:
A B C D E F G I L M O P R S T U
Bynames used in Reference to Legendary Figures
| Ainsheasccar | [the] Unquiet/Restless | |
| Alann | [the] Comely | |
| Albanach | Scottish | |
| Almaineach | German | |
| Amhreaidh | [the] Quarrelsome/Contentious | |
| na nAmus | [of] the Onsets/Attacks | |
| Anabaidh | [the] Abortive | ("He was so called because he was born before his time.") |
| Ard | [the] Tall (Height) | |
| Ardchend/Ardchenn | [the] High-headed / Lofty-headed | |
| Bacach | [the] Lame | |
| Baclamhach | [the] Lame-handed | |
| Baile Dalad | [of] Baile Dalad | |
| Balbh | [the] Stammerer | |
| Ballach * | [the] Freckled | |
| Bán | [the] White/Fair | |
| Bearnach | [the] Gapped[-Tooth] | (missing front teeth) |
| Becc/Beag * | [the] Small | |
| Bennan | [unknown] | |
| an Bhogáin | [of] the Soft | |
| an Bhothair | [of] the Road | |
| Bocc | [the] Soft | |
| Bocht | [the] Poor | |
| na mBocht | [of] the Poor | (refers to supporting paupers - a measure of piety) |
| Bodhar | [the] Deaf | |
| Boircech | rich in bulls or stags (?) | |
| Boirneach | Burren[-ish] | (a rocky district, now a barony in Co. Clare) |
| Bóroma | either a reference to a placename or "cattle-tribute" | |
| Bradach | [the] Thievish | |
| brathair | [the] Friar | |
| Breathnach | Welsh | |
| Bregh | [of] Bregia | (a territorial and population name roughly co-extensive with Co. Meath and north Co. Dublin) |
| Bregach/Breaghach | Bregia[-n]/Bregia[-ish] | (refers to Bregia - a territorial and population name roughly co-extensive with Co. Meath and north Co. Dublin) |
| Bregmainech | [of] Brawnie | (an ancient territory, now a barony in Co. Westmeath) |
| Breifneach | [the] Breifne[-ian]/Breifne[-ish] | (a district corresponding (roughly) to the counties of Cavan and Leitrim) |
| Buidhe * | Yellow | |
| na Buile | [of] the Madness | |
| na mBuilleadh | [of] the Blows | |
| Cáel / Caol | [the] Slender | |
| na gCailleach | [of] the Nuns/Hags | |
| Cairbreach | Carbery[-ian]/Carbery[-ish] | |
| Caircheach | [the] Hairy/Tufted | |
| na Cairrce | [of] the Rock | |
| Camm/Cam * | [the] Crooked | (refers to posture) |
| Canonach | [the] Canon | (a religious reference) |
| Caoch | [the] Blind (one-eyed) | |
| Caomhánach | [somehow connected, via fostering, etc., with the] Ó Caemhain [family] | |
| Carrach * | [the] Scabbed | |
| Catha an Aonaigh | [of the] Battle of ?? | |
| Catha an Dúna | [of the] Battle of Down | |
| na gCeann | [of] the Heads | (regarding one man, he was "so called from the many heads of enemies which he had cut off") |
| Cearrbhach | [the] Gamester/Gambler | |
| Cendfhota/Cennfhota | [the] Long-head[ed] | |
| Cerr / Cearr | Crooked/Wry/Maimed | |
| Cerrbél | [the] Wry-mouth[ed] | |
| Cetharderc | [the] Four-Eyed | |
| Cétadach | [unknown] | |
| an Chairn | [of] the Cairn | |
| an Chaisléin | [of] the Castle | |
| na gChaisléin | [of] the Castles | |
| an Chalaidh | [of] the Shore/Port/Harbor/Haven | |
| an Chinn | [of] the Head | |
| an Chleitigh | [of] the Quill | (refers to a weaver) |
| Chnuic an Madhma | [of] Cnoc an Madhma | (name of a location in Tirconnell) |
| Chnuic Tuagh | [of] Knockdoe | |
| an Chobhlaigh | [of] the Fleet | |
| an Chogaidh | [of] the War | |
| an Chomhaidh | [of] the Coad | (a townland in Co. Clare) |
| an Chomhraic | [of] the Combat/Duel | |
| an Chopain | [of] the Cup | |
| an Chuain | [of] the Harbor | |
| Ciabach | Long-haired | |
| Cíocarach | [the] Greedy/Ravenous | |
| Ciotach | [the] Left-handed | |
| Cisénach | [unknown] | |
| Clannach | Children[-ish] | (meaning: "prolific, having many children") |
| Cléireach | "[the] Cleric/Person in religious orders" also "[the] Scholar/Clerk" | |
| Cluasach | [the] Long-eared | |
| na gCochall gCroicinn | [of] the Leather Cloaks | |
| na gCoilech nOifrinn | [of] the Chalices [of the] Mass | |
| na Coilleadh | [of] the Wood | |
| na Coise Crainn | [of] the Wooden Leg | |
| Colach | [the] Wicked/Criminal/Sinful/Lewd | |
| Conallach | Tirconnell[-ian]/Tirconnell[-ish] | (refers to Co. Tirconnell) |
| Connachtach | Connacht[-ish] | |
| na Conntae | [of] the County | |
| Craibhdheach (Craibhtheach) | [the] Pious | |
| Crobderg/Croibhdearg | [of the] Wine-red Hand | |
| Crom | [the] Stooped | |
| Cruittire | [the] Harper | |
| Cruinn | [the] Thrifty | |
| Cu | [the] Wolf/Hound | |
| Cualann | [unknown - likely refers to a location] | |
| Cuarán | [of the] Sandals | |
| Cúile | [of] Cuil | (now the barony of Coole in Co. Fermanagh) |
| Dall | [the] Blind | |
| an Dana | [of] the Poetry | |
| Dechti | [the] Pure/Genuine | |
| Derg | Wine-red | |
| in Derthaige | [of] the Oratory | (Derthach meaning "Oratory" refers to a particular type of building used for religious purposes, a "prayer-house") |
| Direach | [the] Straight | |
| Docair | [the] Grievous/Troublesome/Difficult | |
| Doibhlénach | [somehow connected, via fostering, etc., with the] Ó Doibhlen [family] | |
| an Doire | [of] the Oak-grove/Oak-wood | |
| Dona | [the] Unfortunate/Unlucky/Wretched | |
| Donn | Brown | |
| Donnghaileach | [somehow connected, via fostering, etc., with the] Ó Donnghaile [family] | |
| Dorcha | Dark | |
| Droichit Atha | [of] Droichead Átha | (Anglicized "Drogheda" - in Co. Louth) |
| Dub/Dubh * | Black | |
| Dubsúilech / Dubhshúileach | [the] Black-eyed | |
| an Dúnaidh | [of] the Fort | |
| éccnaid | [the] Wise | |
| in Eich Gil | [of] the White Horse | |
| Eóghanach | Tyrone[-ian]/Tyrone[-ish] | (refers to Co. Tyrone) |
| an Einigh | the Hospitable | (literally: "[of] the Hospitality") |
| Farranta | [the] Athletic | |
| na bhFeadh | [of] the Faes | (the name of O'Naghtan's country in the barony of Athlone, Co. Roscommon) |
| na Féasóige | [of] the Beard | |
| Feimen | [of] Feimen | (a location) |
| an Fhasaigh | [of] the Wilderness | |
| an Fheadha | [of] the Wood | |
| an Fhiona | [of] the Wine | |
| na bhFiacal | [of] the Teeth | |
| Finn/Fionn * | Fair | |
| Foltchaín | [of the] Lovely Hair | |
| na Formaoile | [of] the Round-hill | |
| Fota/Fada | [the] Tall (Long) | |
| Gallta/Gallda | [the] Anglicised | (regarding one man, he was "so called because he could speak English, and shewed a predilection for the English laws, manners, and dress") |
| Gall | Foreigner | (nearly always used to mean "English") |
| na nGall | [of] the Foreigners | (nearly always used to mean "English") |
| in Gai Bernaig | [of] the Broken Spear | |
| in Gai Móir | [of] the Large Spear | |
| na nGamhnach | [of] the Milch Cows | |
| na Gaobhcha | [of] the Geevagh | (refers to Geevagh - a well-known mountain on the west side of Lough Allen, on the confines of Co. Sligo, Co. Roscommon, and Co. Leitrim) |
| Garbh * | [the] Rough | |
| Geangcach | [the] Cocked-nose/Snub-nose | |
| Gealbuidhe | Tawny | |
| Gearr | [the] Short | |
| Glai | [of] Tuath-Glae | (a district lying opposite the islands of Aran, in the barony of Corcomroe, Co. Clare) |
| Glas | Green/Grey | |
| an Gleanna | [of] the Glen | |
| Glenna Madair, Glinne Magair | [of] Glenn Magair | (Anglicized "Glanmire" - outside Cork) |
| Glúndubh | Black-knee | |
| Gobha | [the] Smith | |
| Gorm | Blue | |
| Got | [the] Stammering/Lisping | |
| Grant | [the] Grey-haired | |
| Gruamdha | [the] Grim/Surly/Morose/Gloomy | |
| an Iarrainn | [of] the Iron | |
| na hInnsi | [of] the Island | |
| Irruis | [of] Erris | (an extensive and remarkably wild barony in the north-west of the county of Mayo) |
| Ladrach | [the] Crooked-toed/Splay-footed | |
| Laigen | [of] Leinster | |
| na Laimhe | [of] the Hand | (refers to something unusual about his hand; maybe a large hand or a deformed hand) |
| Laimhdhearg | [the] Red-Hand | |
| na Leamhna | [of] the Laune | (Anglicized "Laune" - a river in Co. Kerry) |
| Liath | Gray-haired/Aged | |
| Liathan | [unknown] | |
| Liathanach | "Gray-faced/Gray-haired" | |
| an Locha | [of] the Lake | |
| Lochlandach | Danish | |
| Losc | [the] Lame/Halt/Crippled | |
| Luighneach | Luighne[-ian]/Luighne[-ish] | (Angicized "Leyny") |
| Luimnig | [of] Limerick | |
| Luineach | [somehow connected, via fostering, etc., with the] Ó Luinigh [family] | |
| Luirg | [of] Lurg | (a barony in the north of Co. Fermanagh) |
| na Madhmann | [of] the Defeats | |
| Mainistrech | [of] Mainistir Buithe | (Anglicized "Monasterboice" - a monastery in Co. Louth) |
| Manach | [the] Monk | |
| Manntach | [the] Toothless | |
| Maol | [the] Bald | |
| Maonmaighi | [of] Maonmhagh | (Anglicized "Moinmoy" - a territory in Co. Galway) |
| na Maor | [of] the Stewards | |
| na Mart | [of] the Beeves/Cattle | |
| Meablach | [the] Deceitful/Guileful/Treacherous/Crafty | |
| Mear | [the] Mad | |
| Meairgeach | [the] Freckled/Pock-marked | |
| Meadhónach | Middle[-ish] | (ndicates the middle generation of a family naming pattern when a grandfather, father, and son [all grown men] have the same given name) |
| Meith | [the] Fat/Gross/Corpulent | |
| Mer | [the] Swift | |
| an Mhachaire | [of] the Plain | |
| an Mhagha | [of] the Plain | |
| Micuran | [unknown] | |
| Midech/Midheach | Meath[-ish] | |
| Modach | [unknown] | |
| Modardha, Modartha | [the] Surly | |
| na Moichéirghe | [of] the Early-Rising | (refers to getting up early in the morning) |
| na Moinge, na Muinge | [of] the Long-hair | |
| Mór * | [the] Big/Great | |
| Muillinn | [of the] Mill | |
| Muimhneach | Munster[-ish]/Momonian | |
| Muinderg | [the] Red-necked | |
| Musccraighe | [of] Muskerry | (now Muskerry, in the county of Cork) |
| Óc/Óg * | Young | |
| Odhar | Pale/Wan | |
| na nOrdóg | [of] the Thumbs | |
| Puirt Láirce | [of] Waterford | |
| na Raithnighe | [of] the Fern/Bracken | |
| Reamhar | [the] Fat/Gross | |
| Riabhach * | [the] Swarthy | |
| Riaganach | Hy-Regan[-ian]/Hy-Regan[-ish] | (refers to Hy-Regan which was the tribe-name of the O'Dunnes, in the barony of Tinahinch, Queen's County) |
| Ruadh * | Red | |
| Sacart | [the] Priest | |
| Saxanach | English | |
| in Scéith Girr | [of] the Short Shield | |
| an Screcain | [of] the Stony Place? | |
| na Scuab | [of] the Sweeping Excursions | |
| Seanchaidh | [the] Historian | |
| na Seoltadh | [of] the Sails | (regarding one person, he was "so called from the number of sails which he had manufactured, and perhaps from his skill in sailing.") |
| an tSeomra | [of] the Chamber | |
| Sinnach / Sionnach | [the] Fox | |
| an tSléibhe | [of] the Mountain | |
| Sotal | [the] Proud/Arrogant/Overbearing | |
| Spáineach | Spanish | |
| Sreamach | [the] Blear-eyed | |
| na Sróna | [of] the Nose | |
| an tSuasáin | [of] the Long, Uncombed Hair | |
| Sucach | [the] Merry | |
| na Taoiseach | [of] the Chieftains | |
| an Tearmainn | [of] the Sanctuary | (Tearmann, meaning "Sanctuary" refers to a church) |
| na Tengad | [of] the Tongue | (refers to a linguist) |
| na Traga | [of] the Strand | |
| na Trí Tor | [of] the Three Towers | |
| an Triubhais | [of] the Trowse/Pantaloons | |
| na Tuaighe | [of] the Axe/Battle-Axe/Hatchet | |
| na Túaithe | [of] the People/Laity/Country | (as opposed to the city) |
| an Tuir | [of] the Tower | |
| Tuirtrech | Hy-Tuirtre[-ian]/Hy-Tuirtre[-ish] | (a territory in the south of Co. Antrim) |
| Uaine | Green | |
| Uaithneach | Owny[-ish] | (refers to Uaithne, now Owny, which forms two baronies, one in Co. Limerick and the other in Co. Tipperary) |
| Ultac/Ultach | Ulster[-ish]/Ulidian | |
| Umaill | [of] Umall | (North and South Umall; encompasses the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk) |
| At this time, these bynames have only been found in reference to early Irish (pre-500), mainly legendary, figures. | |
| Cernach | (probably:) victorious, triumphant |
| Frossach, Frassach | [of the] Showers |
Go to the overview page for the Masculine Descriptive Bynames section.
Go to the overview page for the Masculine Given Names section.
Go to the main page of the complete Index of Names in Irish Annals article.
Published by the Academy of Saint Gabriel.