Anglicised variations: Kelly, Kelley, O’Kelly, Kealy, Keely, Keily, Kehelly, Kehilly, Coakley.

Kelly is the second most common surname in Ireland and originates from at least seven different and unrelated ancient clans or septs. These include O’Kelly septs [...]]]> Gaelic variations:
Ceallaigh, Ceallach, Ó Ceallaigh, Ó Caollaidhe, Ó Caollaighe, Ó Cadhla, Mac Caochlaoich: “war or contention”.

Anglicised variations:
Kelly, Kelley, O’Kelly, Kealy, Keely, Keily, Kehelly, Kehilly, Coakley.

Kelly is the second most common surname in Ireland and originates from at least seven different and unrelated ancient clans or septs. These include O’Kelly septs from Meath, Derry, Antrim, Laois, Sligo, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway and Roscommon, and the McKelly sept from East Connaught.

One of the major septs is the O’Kellys of Ui Maine, or Hy Many, a territory in East Galway and South Roscommon. O’Kelly derives from the Gaelic O Ceallaigh, meaning “descended from Ceallach.” Ceallach was the son of Finnachta, a chief of the Hy Many people around A.D. 874.

Here’s a list of various clan websites:

Kelly Clan Association – Muintir Uí Cheallaigh

Kelly Clan Association – Kelly Places and People

The Kelly Clan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Kelly may also mean ‘bright-haired’ or ‘troublesome’ – you choose!

Anglicised variations: O’Murchoe, Murphy.

Although Murphy is the most numerous name in Ireland today (and interestingly the 59th most popular surname in the US), not all Murphys share the same ancestry. There were several significant Murphy septs in each of [...]]]> Gaelic variation:
Ó Murchadha, Ó Murchú, Mac Murchaidh: “sea warrior” or “strong or superior”.

Anglicised variations:
O’Murchoe, Murphy.

Although Murphy is the most numerous name in Ireland today (and interestingly the 59th most popular surname in the US), not all Murphys share the same ancestry. There were several significant Murphy septs in each of the four Irish provinces, Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Connacht.

Munster Murphys are the largest group, and can trace their origins to the Múscraighe tribe who inhabited the large area of western Cork, later to be known as the barony of Muskerry.

Ulster Murphys can claim a line back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, the 5th century High King best known for bringing Saint Patrick to Ireland as a slave in 432.

Leinster Murphys are descended from a long line of provincial kings and chieftains, and can claim a line back to the ancient tribe of the Laighin, who gave the province its name.

Connacht Murphys are less common and have been referred to as “of a family of the Uí Fiachrach who were chiefs of a district on the southern shore of Sligo Bay, now comprised of the parishes of Skreen and Templeboy but were dispossessed and dispersed in the 13th century.”

It’s a rough guess, but there are possibly one million Murphy’s around the world. If you’re one of them you should join the diaspora and we’ll see if we can find ye all!

You can read more about the Murphy name at Dennis Murphys website and, when it’s back off vacation! there should hopefully be some intereting stuff at the Murphy Clan website as well.

Anglicised variations: O’Sullivan.

The O’Sullivan clan is an ancient family that emerged as the ruling class of a small, wandering tribe of warrior Celts now called the ‘Gaels’. It is thought that the tribe originated in the Fertile Crescent, immigrated to the steppes of the Caucasus Mountains, fought [...]]]> Gaelic variation:
O’Suilleabhain: “one-eyed” or “hawk-eyed”.

Anglicised variations:
O’Sullivan.

The O’Sullivan clan is an ancient family that emerged as the ruling class of a small, wandering tribe of warrior Celts now called the ‘Gaels’. It is thought that the tribe originated in the Fertile Crescent, immigrated to the steppes of the Caucasus Mountains, fought and pillaged its way across southern Europe, and finally settled in its own ‘promised land’, the island of Eire.

It is also generally understood that the O’Sullivan clan represents the most senior bloodline of the Gaelic families. The senior tribe, and royal family, of the Gaelic Celts in Ireland was known as the Eoghanacht, the descendants of Eoghan, and the most senior branch of the Eoghanacht was in fact the O’Sullivan clan.

You can find out more at the Official International O’Sullivan Clan Website, at Castletown Press, and on Wikipedia.

Ó hEachthighearna: “lord of the horse”.

Anglicised variations: Ahern(e), Ahearn(e), Hearn(e), O’Hearn(e).

The family are said to be descended from Echtigern who was a brother of the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. Being of the Dalcassians, they were an important sept [...]]]> Gaelic variations:
Ó hEachthigheirn, Ó hEachthigherna, Ó hEichthigheirn, Ó hEachthighearna, Ó hEachiairn.

Ó hEachthighearna: “lord of the horse”.

Anglicised variations:
Ahern(e), Ahearn(e), Hearn(e), O’Hearn(e).

The family are said to be descended from Echtigern who was a brother of the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. Being of the Dalcassians, they were an important sept in the area between Limerick and Sixmilebridge in County Clare, east of the Owenogarney River which flows past Bunratty Castle.

In 1151, five chieftains of the family were killed in battle at Móin Mhór near Mourne Abbey. They were mostly driven out of the area by the MacNamaras around 1318, and appeared again in concentrated force in East Cork during the 16th century.

You can find out a lot more at the official Ahern clan website.

Anglicised variations: Casada, Casaday, Cassada, Cassaday, Cassady, Cassedy, Cassetty, Cassida, Cassity.

“Men of peace, culture and scholarship”.

An active and vibrant clan building bonds among all Cassidys and their descendants from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (where the Cassidys originated from). The next rally is in 2011 so stay tuned to [...]]]> Gaelic variations:
Ó Caiside.

Anglicised variations:
Casada, Casaday, Cassada, Cassaday, Cassady, Cassedy, Cassetty, Cassida, Cassity.

“Men of peace, culture and scholarship”.

An active and vibrant clan building bonds among all Cassidys and their descendants from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (where the Cassidys originated from). The next rally is in 2011 so stay tuned to the official website below for details and other news:

Website: www.cassidyclan.org: free genealogy consultation, the clan newsletter 4 times a year, clan rallies, research, and special projects.

Anglicised variations: O Flanura, Flanura, Flanure, Flanarough, O Flanor, Flannra, O’Flanuragh, O’Flanneragh, Flannra Flanary Flanery, Flannery, Flannary, Flannerry, [...]]]> Gaelic:
Ó Flannabhra of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe in Connaught,
Ó Flannabhra of Uí Fidhghente in Munster,
Ó Flannghaile of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe.
Gaelic variations:
Ó Flannabra, Ó Flannabhra, Ó Flanngaile, Ó Flannaoile, Ó Flanaoile, Ó Flannghaile.

Anglicised variations:
O Flanura, Flanura, Flanure, Flanarough, O Flanor, Flannra, O’Flanuragh, O’Flanneragh, Flannra Flanary Flanery, Flannery, Flannary, Flannerry, Flanelly, Flannelly, Flanley, Flanaly, Flannaly, Flanarough, Flanry, Flanerry, Flannarry, Farrenery, Flannely, Flannerly, Flamery, Flanherey, Flaneley, Flanelle, Flanell, Flaner Flanhery, Flannarry, Flannealley,Flannelley, Flanneny, Flannory, Flennery.

The modern Flannery Clan are descendants of three distinct septs of people, namely Ó Flannabhra of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe in Connaught, Ó Flannabhra of Uí Fidhghente in Munster, and Ó Flannghaile of Uí Fiachrach Muaidhe.

Flannabhra means “red eyebrow” and possibly refers to a person with prominent red hair, and Flannghaile means “red valour” and possibly originated from a person who displayed valour in combat or sport.

The official Flannery clan website is a good place to find more about your name and descendency.

Anglicised variations: Mac-Auliffe, McAwliffe, Mac Auliff, McAufflie, McAuliffee, McCouliff, Couliff, Mc Culliff, Culliff, Cauliff, Auliffe, McCorlif, McCorliff, Mac Auliffe, MacAuliffe, Macaulife, McAuliffe, MacAuliff, McAuliff, McAulliffe, MacCauliffe, McCauliffe, McAlliffe, McOlliff, McOlive.

County of origin: Cork. Home place: Newmarket.

“Far beyond the bountiful Allo, and westward of Glen Celsian of the stately trees, in [...]]]> Gaelic: MacAmhlaoibh.

Anglicised variations: Mac-Auliffe, McAwliffe, Mac Auliff, McAufflie, McAuliffee, McCouliff, Couliff, Mc Culliff, Culliff, Cauliff, Auliffe, McCorlif, McCorliff, Mac Auliffe, MacAuliffe, Macaulife, McAuliffe, MacAuliff, McAuliff, McAulliffe, MacCauliffe, McCauliffe, McAlliffe, McOlliff, McOlive.

County of origin: Cork.
Home place: Newmarket.

“Far beyond the bountiful Allo,
and westward of Glen Celsian of the stately trees,
in a fair land of great prosperity,
it is the the domain of the noble MacAuliffe”

Website: The Clan MacAuliffe of Duhallow

Brilliant site!

This got me [...]]]> Wandering the web tonight brought me to a site run by the MacAuliffe family from Newmarket. They organise a fantastic rally every four years where clan members meet up from around the world and celebrate their Irish family heritage. (“Newmarket stands in what was once Clanawley, the ancient McAuliffe clan lands”).

This got me to thinking that it might be useful to start a ‘clan’ section on diaspora.ie, where we could provide links back to family or clan sites with the Irish surname as the title of the article. Anyone searching their surname here would be able to find references that would help them with their search.

So, the next entry in the new ‘Clans’ section will be titled MacAuliffe (and its variations) and will have for example a link to the MacAuliffe Clan Home Page.

If you have a family or clan website and would like it to appear here let us know and we’ll include it.