Top 60 Surnames of Derry City

Source: The Surnames of Derry by Brian Mitchell (Derry Genealogy Centre, 1992)

Surname	Rank	Origins
Barr	19	Scottish. Derived from various place names in southwest Scotland, meaning height or hill. English. The name has various origins including: a local name for someone who lived by a gateway or barrier; an occupational name for a maker of bars; and a nickname for a tall, thin person.
Boyle	27	Irish. A County Donegal sept, with their heartland at Cloghaneely, who alongside the O’Dohertys and the O’Donnells controlled northwest Donegal in medieval times. English and Scottish. Derived from Beauville in France a family of this name accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. A branch also settled in Scotland, becoming well established in Ayrshire. The Boyles of Limavady who settled there in 1660 are of this stock.
Bradley	8	Irish. The territory of this sept was on the borders of Counties Derry, Donegal and Tyrone. In Derry, Bradley will largely be of this origin. Scots Gaelic. A branch of the Irish Bradleys settled in the Western Highlands where one of its members became Abbot of Iona in the 12th century. Lowland Scottish. Derived from the place name of Braidlie in Roxburghshire.
Breslin	55	Irish. This Donegal sept ruled territory centred on Inniskeel on the Fanad peninsula. They later migrated to Fermanagh where they became hereditary lawyers to the Maguires. Breslin and O’Morison, another County Donegal sept, also anglicised their names to Bryson.
Brown	12	English and Lowland Scottish. Derived in most cases as a nickname for someone who was ‘brown-haired’ or ‘brown-skinned’. An Anglo-Norman family of this name settled in Ireland in the 12th century. Scots Gaelic. At least two septs, one meaning son of the judge and the other meaning son of the brown lad, had their names anglicised to Brown. On their outlawing by the Crown in the 17th century one of the names adopted by members of Clan Lamont was Brown.
Campbell	9	Scots Gaelic. Derived from a nickname meaning crooked mouth the Campbells of Argyll grew in power through the 17th century at the expense of the MacDonalds, Lords of the Isles. Most Ulster Campbells are of this connection. The galloglasses or mercenary soldiers of Clan Campbell settled in Donegal from the 15th century.
Carlin	22	Irish. Tracing their descent from Eoghan, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages, and originating in the Laggan district of County Donegal the Carlins or O’Carolans were the leading sept of Clan Dermot who were very powerful in the neighbourhood of Derry during the 11th and 12th centuries. Although eventually overrun by the O’Kanes the parish name of Glendermot is a reminder of their former prominence and the townland name of Lismacarrol, meaning the fort of the sons of Carroll, as a former base.
Cassidy	31	Irish. A County Fermanagh sept who were hereditary physicians to the Maguires.
Coyle	6	Irish. Meaning son of the servant of Comgall this sept established itself in Mevagh parish, County Donegal. An early form of the name was McIlhoyle. Furthermore Coyle has become confused with McCool.
Curran	42	Irish. There were several distinct septs of this name. In Galway they were a branch of the O’Maddens while in Waterford and Tipperary the Currans were a big sept by the 17th century. The name is numerous in Derry and Strabane today becase a Curran sept also originated in Donegal.
Devine	35	Irish. Tracing their descent from the 10th century King of the ancient Kingdom of Oriel the Devines were a leading County Fermanagh sept until their power was checked by the O’Neills and the Maguires in the 15th century.
Doherty	1	Irish. This name is by far the most popular name in Derry. This County Donegal sept, which originated in Raphoe but settled in Inishowen from the 14th century, can trace their lineage to Conall Gulban, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. They ruled Inishowen until the arrival of an English army at Derry in 1600. An O’Doherty-led rebellion, which included the ransacking of Derry in 1608, helped pave the way for the Plantation of Ulster.
Donaghy/Donaghey	39	Irish. This anglicisation of McDonagh established itself in Counties Derry and Tyrone. Stemming from the personal name Donagh, meaning brown warrior, McDonagh septs originated in County Sligo as a branch of the O’Flahertys and in County Cork as a branch of the McCarthys.
Donnelly	46	Irish. As a branch of the O’Neills this sept can trace its lineage to Eoghan, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Originating in County Donegal they later migrated to Tyrone where their chief was hereditary marshal in O’Neill’s army.
Duddy	47	Irish. This distinct sept, whose name in gaelic was the same as that of O’Dowd who ruled over extensive territory in Mayo and Sligo, originated in County Derry and anglicised their name to Duddy.
Duffy	18	Irish. Two distinct septs of this name originated in Ulster, one in Monaghan who were based at Clontibret, the other in Donegal where they were hereditary tenants of the church lands of Templecrone. Scots Gaelic. A sept of Clan MacFie who trace their descent from Kenneth McAlpine, the 9th century King of Scots. Meaning ‘son of the black one of peace’ this clan’s home was on the island of Colonsay in the Hebrides.
Gallagher	3	Irish. This is the third most common surname in Derry. This County Donegal sept can trace its lineage to Conal Gulban, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Controlling extensive territories stretching from Raphoe to Ballyshannon they were the chief marshals in the army of O’Donnell, Prince of Tirconnell.
Gillespie	48	Irish and Scots Gaelic. This name originally meant son of the servant of the Bishop. In Ireland Gillespie originated as a County Down sept which settled, at an early period, in County Donegal where they became hereditary tenants of the church lands of Kilcar. In Scotland the Gillespies were a sept of Clan MacPherson. By translation the name also became Bishop.
Hamilton	14	Scottish. Derived from the Yorkshire place name of Hambleton, meaning crooked hill, this surname was introduced to Scotland in the 13th century by a Norman family from Leicestershire. In the 14th century the Hamiltons were granted the lands of Cadzow in Lanarkshire by Robert the Bruce. Hamilton is a name very much associated with the Scottish ‘undertakers’ or landowners who were granted large estates in Counties Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone at the time of the 17th century Plantation of Ulster.
Harkin	7	Irish. This County Donegal sept, with their homeland in the Inishowen peninsula, were hereditary tenants of the church lands of Clonca, near Malin Head.
Hegarty	16	Irish. Originating in south Derry this sept can trace its descent from Eoghan, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. By the 17th century they had established themselves in Inishowen, County Donegal and in County Derry, west of the River Roe. The Hegartys were sub-lords to the O’Neills.
Johnston	44	Scottish. Strictly speaking Johnson and Johnston are two distinct surnames; the former meaning son of John and the latter John’s town. The two names, however, are now indistinguishable one from the other. The Johnstones were one of the great riding clans of the Scottish Borders who settled in Dumfriesshire in the lands of Johnstone in the 12th century. During the Plantation of Ulster many of them settled in Fermanagh. Furthermore septs of Clan Gunn in Caithness and of Clan Donald in Glencoe anglicised their name to Johnson and Johnston. In Ireland a number of septs including McKeown and McShane anglicised their name to both Johnson and Johnston.
Kelly	4	Irish. At least seven distinct septs of the name established themselves in Ireland, the most powerful of which ruled over a territory which included east Galway and south Roscommon. In Ulster, a Kelly sept, claiming descent from Colla, the 4th century King of Ulster, was based in south Derry. Kelly was known as a surname in Scotland long before the 19th century immigration really established the name there; there was a Kelly sept attached to Clan Donald.
Logue	51	Irish. A County Galway sept, whose name originally meant descendant of the devotee of Maodhog, who migrated at an early date to Derry and Donegal. The name is now rare outside these two counties. Mulvogue was another form of the anglicisation of this name. In Donegal Logue was in some cases changed to Molloy, an important sept in counties Offaly and Roscommon.
Lynch	11	Irish. Derived from the personal name meaning mariner there were several septs of the name including one based in north Antrim and Derry. In medieval Galway Lynchs of Anglo-Norman origin were all-powerful. In England Lynch derived as a local name for someone who lived by a hill.
Martin	59	Can be of English, Scottish or Irish origin. In Ireland it may be an abbreviation of the County Tyrone sept name of McMartin and of the County Fermanagh sept name of McGilmartin. In England the personal name Martin became, at an early date, a popular surname while in Scotland septs of the name were attached to Clan Cameron in Inverness-shire and to Clan Donald in Skye.
McBride	60	Irish. Meaning son of the devotee of Brigid this County Donegal sept, who were based at Gweedore, were hereditary tenants of the church lands of Raymunterdoney. Scots Gaelic. This sept of Clan Donald, who were based on Arran Island, trace their descent from Gillebride, father of Somerled, the 12th century Lord of Argyll.
McCafferty	33	Irish. Meaning son of the horse rider this sept originated in County Donegal as a branch of the O’Donnells. The name has become confused with McCaffrey, a sept which traces its decent from Donn Carrach Maguire, King of Fermanagh, who died in 1302.
McCallion	21	Scots Gaelic. Meaning son of Colin the McCallions were the galloglasses (mercenary soldiers) of Clan Campbell of Argyll. In the 16th century they came to Donegal to fight for the O’Donnells.
McCauley	40	Scots Gaelic. There were two septs of this name; on Lewis in the Hebrides they were a sept of Clan MacLeod while in Dunbartonshire the McAuleys were a branch of Clan MacGregor. A branch of the latter sept accompanied the McDonalds to the Glens of Antrim in the early 16th century. Irish. A County Fermanagh sept who trace their descent from Donn Carrach Maguire, the first Maguire King of Fermanagh, who died in 1302.
McCloskey	23	Irish. This County Derry sept is very much associated with the Dungiven area. They were a branch of the O’Kanes, tracing their descent from the 12th century Bloskey O’Cahan.
McDaid	10	Irish. This County Donegal sept was a branch of the Dohertys. Meaning son of David they take their name from the O’Doherty chief of that name who died in 1208. In a few cases McDaid may be a variant of the Scottish clan name Davidson.
McDermott	26	Irish. This County Roscommon sept was a branch of the O’Connors, Kings of Connaught before the Norman invasions of the 12th century. A few may be of Scottish origin as in Perthshire there was a Clan Campbell sept of this name.
McGilloway	54	Irish. Meaning son of the yellow-haired youth this sept originated in County Donegal. The name was also anglicised to McElwee, McIlwee and McKelvey.
McGinley	56	Irish. This County Donegal sept played an important part in church affairs in the Diocese of Raphoe. The name is often confused with McKinley. In Scotland McKinley septs belonged to Clans Buchanan, Farquharson, MacFarlane and Stewart of Appin.
McGowan	32	Irish. Meaning son of the smith the most powerful sept of this name originated in County Cavan. Other septs of the name were also based at Inishmacsaint, County Donegal and at Clogher, County Tyrone. Scots Gaelic. As the maker of arms the smith was an important hereditary position in each clan. As a consequence the surname Smith was associated with most clans. This surname, more than any other, has suffered at the hands of anglicisation. Many Smiths in Ulster today were originally McGowan.
McIntyre	58	Scots Gaelic. Meaning son of the carpenter this clan settled at Lorn in Argyllshire from the Hebrides around 1400. A branch of the family were hereditary pipers to the chiefs of Clan Menzie. The name has become much confused with McAteer, a County Armagh sept, whose name has also been changed to McIntyre. In the Glens of Antrim McIntyre was frequently anglicised to Wright while in Fermanagh McAteer was sometimes anglicised to Wright.
McLaughlin	2	Irish. The second most popular name in Derry. Derived from the Norse personal name Lachlann this County Donegal sept can trace its lineage to Eoghan, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. In the 12th century the McLaughlins, from their Inishowen homeland, were High Kings of Ireland and patrons of the monastic settlement in Derry. From the mid-13th century the O’Neills of Tyrone ousted the McLaughlins as the leading power in Ulster. Some may be of Scottish descent from Clan MacLachlan of Argyll.
Millar/Miller	34	English and Scottish. As every manor or estate had its miller this occupational surname sprang up all over England and Scotland. Millar is usually regarded as the Scottish spelling of the name.
Mitchell	49	Can be of English, Scottish or Irish origin. Derived from the Hebrew personal name Michael, and in a few cases from a nickname meaning ‘big’, Mitchell became very numerous throughout England and Scotland. In Northeast Scotland the Mitchells were a sept of Clan Innes. Furthermore the Highland Scottish name of McMichael, septs of Clan Stewart of Appin and Clan Stewart of Galloway, was frequently anglicised to Mitchell. In Ireland, and in County Donegal especially, the County Roscommon sept name of Mulvihill was anglicised to Mitchell.
Moore	5	Can be of English, Scottish or Irish origin. In England and Scotland the name derived from the personal name More, meaning Moor (i.e. the Muslim people of Northwest Africa) or from a local name for someone who lived on or near moorland. Moore became widespread as a surname throughout England and Scotland. In Scotland the name was also known as More and Muir. The Mores were a sept of Clan Leslie while the Muirs were a sept of Clan Campbell. In Ireland the O’Mores were the leading sept of the Seven Septs of Leix.
Moran	50	Irish. In the Province of Connaught there were four distinct septs of this name. In addition the County Fermanagh sept of McMorran has become Moran. Moran is also a recorded variant of Morahan which originated in Offaly and Leitrim. In some cases, as Morrin, it may be a Huguenot name. Many Huguenots fled to Ulster from France in the late 17th century in the face of persecution by Louis XIV.
Morrison	28	Irish. A County Donegal sept who were hereditary tenants of the church lands of Clonmany adopted this English name which meant son of Maurice. Scots Gaelic. Claiming descent from a Norse family shipwrecked on the Island of Lewis Clan Morrison, from their seat at Habost on the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis, became sub-lords to the MacLeods.
Mullan/Mullen/Mullin	24	Irish. Meaning descendant of the bald one and tracing their descent from the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages, the O’Mullan sept originated in the Laggan district of east Donegal. As a member of Clan Connor they accompanied the O’Kanes in their invasion and settlement of north Derry in the 12th century. Confusion is caused by the fact that the majority of Scottish Macmillans adopted the surname of McMullan, which, like O’Mullan, was frequently shortened to Mullan.
Murray	45	Scots Gaelic. Taking their name from the northern province of Moray this clan acquired its territory in the 12th century from David I. Irish. Derived from a given name meaning mariner several septs of this name originated in counties Cork, Down, Leitrim and Roscommon.
O’Doherty	30	Irish. This County Donegal sept, which originated in Raphoe but settled in Inishowen from the 14th century, can trace their lineage to Conall Gulban, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. They ruled Inishowen until the arrival of an English army at Derry in 1600. An O’Doherty-led rebellion, which included the ransacking of Derry in 1608, helped pave the way for the Plantation of Ulster. This name is also anglicised as Doherty.
O’Donnell	13	Irish. Taking their name from Domhnall, who died in 901, and tracing their descent from Conall Gulban, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages, this sept, from their base around Kilmacrenan, County Donegal, rose in importance from the 13th century to the position of overlords of Donegal. The O’Donnells, alongside the O’Neills, led the Ulster Rebellion of 1594-1603 against English encroachment.
O’Kane	29	Irish. The sept of O’Kane or O’Cahan can trace their lineage to Eoghan, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Originating in the Laggan district of County Donegal the O’Kanes, who were the leading sept of Clan Connor, settled in the the Dungiven area, County Derry from the 10th century. By the 12th century they had established themselves in County Derry from the Foyle to Bann rivers and they had gained the privilege of inaugurating the chief of the O’Neills.
O’Neill	36	Irish. Tracing their descent from Eoghan, son of the 5th century High King of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages, this sept has one of the oldest surnames in Ireland. It has been in continuous use since King Domhnall in the 10th century adopted the name of his grandfather Niall, Black Knee. The senior branch of this sept, the O’Neills of Tyrone, were frequently High Kings of Ireland and in the 16th century they were the leaders of Gaelic resistance to English attempts to pacify Ireland. A junior branch established themselves in County Antrim in the 14th century and from their seat at Shane’s Castle became known as the Clandeboy O’Neills.
Porter	57	English and Scottish. This occupational name can have three meanings, the most likely one being a doorkeeper. In the Middle Ages the office of porter was a very important one in both castle and monastery. In some cases Porter referred to a person who could be hired to carry baggage while in Scotland it had an additional meaning of ferryman. Porter was first recorded in Ireland in the 13th century.
Quigley	17	Irish. By the end of the 16th century this sept, which originated in County Mayo, had become dispersed with its main concentration located in Counties Derry and Donegal. A sept called Quigley also originated in the Inishowen peninsula, County Donegal.
Robinson	53	Derived originally from the personal name Robert, a popular Old English personal name, Robinson is generally regarded as an English name and Robertson as a Scottish one. In Ulster, however, Robertson and Robinson have lost this neat distinction.
Simpson	37	English and Scottish. Meaning son of Simon it was derived from the Old Testament name Simeon which became a very popular medieval first name. In Devon in the 13th century three places named Simpson gave rise to the surname there. In the Highlands of Scotland McKimmie, a sept of Clan Fraser, whose name meant son of Simon, was anglicised to Simpson. Simpson has been recorded in Ulster since the 17th century.
Smith	15	Smith, also spelt Smyth, can be of English, Scottish or Irish origin. It is the commonest surname in England, Scotland, Wales and Ulster. This occupational name sprang up all over England wherever there was a smith (such as blacksmith, gunsmith, goldsmith, etc.). In Scotland and Ireland Smith was a further anglicisation of McGowan.
Stewart	38	Scottish. Derived from the Old English occupational name of Steward who was the keeper of a household. As every Bishop or Landlord had his Steward the name sprang up all over Scotland. From the 12th century Walter, the High Steward of the Royal household, who was responsible for the collection of taxes and the administration of justice, descended the Scottish Royal family of Stewart. Clan Stewart, which also traces its descent from the above Walter, later divided into separate clans: the Stewarts of Appin; of Atholl; of Bute; and of Galloway. Nine of the 59 Scottish ‘undertakers’ or landowners granted lands in the 17th century Plantation of Ulster were Stewarts.
Taylor	43	English and Scottish. Derived from the occupational name of tailor. On the English side of the Scottish Borders the Tailors were one of the riding clans. In the Lowlands of Scotland the name was first recorded in the late 13th century while in the Highlands the Taylors or McTaylors were a sept of Clan Cameron in Argyllshire. The name was well known in Ireland from the 14th century but it was the 17th century Plantation of Ulster which established the name in great numbers in counties Antrim, Down and Derry.
Thompson	20	English and Scottish. Meaning son of Thomas this surname, spelt as Thompson, was the 15th commonest name in England and, as Thomson, was the 5th commonest in Scotland. This distinction in spelling, however, was not perpetuated in Ulster. The Thomsons were one of the lesser riding clans of the Scottish Borders; many of whom settled in County Fermanagh during the 17th century Plantation of Ulster. In the Highlands of Scotland a number of distinct septs of McThomas anglicised their name to Thomson and to McCombe and Holmes.
Walker	41	English and Scottish. In the North and West of England Walker derived as an occupational name for a fuller. In the Middle Ages it was the fuller’s job to scour and thicken raw cloth by ‘walking’ or trampling upon it in a trough filled with water. Walker also became widespread in Scotland where it was first recorded in the early 14th century. In Ireland the name is most common in counties Antrim, Down and Derry.
Ward	52	In England this name derived as an occupational name for a watchman or guard. Most Wards in Ireland, however, are of Gaelic Irish origin. Meaning son of the bard, and also anglicised as McAward and McWard, septs of this name were hereditary poets to both the O’Kellys of Galway and the O’Donnells of Donegal. The Wards of Donegal were based at Lettermacaward near Glenties. In Scotland McWard generally became Baird but not Ward.
Wilson	25	English and Scottish. Derived from the Old German personal name William which was introduced to Britain by the Normans. It is estimated that 80% of Ulster Wilsons are of Scottish descent; Wilson was a common name throughout the Lowlands of Scotland. Furthermore the Wilsons were septs of Clan Gunn in Caithness and Sutherland and of Clan Innes in Banffshire.

Top 60 Surnames of Derry City

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