IrishCentral.com has put together a list of the top 100 common
Irish surnames with a little explanation of where these names
come from. Whether you're looking to trace your family crest or
trying to trace your family roots this list will point you in
the right direction. From Aherne to Whelan here is our top 100
Irish names: Aherne - (Ó hEachtighearna/Ó hEachthairn) (each,
steed tightearna, lord). Originally Dalcassian, this sept
migrated from east Clare to Co. Cork. In County Waterford the
English name Hearn is a synonym of Hearn. MacAleese - MacGiolla
(son of the devotee of Jesus). The name of a prominent Derry
sept. There are many variants of the name such as MacIliese,
MacLeese, MacLice, MacLise, etc. The best known of this
spelling, the painter Daniel MacLise, was a family of the
Scottish highlands, know as MacLeish, which settled in Cork.
Allen - This is usually of Scottish or English origin but
sometimes Ó hAillín in Offaly and Tipperary has been anglicized
Allen as well as Hallion. Occasionally also i