35 most common surnames in Northern Ireland

How popular is your last name? 👇

Author: Emma Dickson

One of Northern Ireland most unique qualities is the fact you don't have to travel too far to find someone you know or have a relation with. There's not many places you can actually do that 🤣

Our accent, names and sometimes even hair colour can give a lot away to a stranger. But it's true what they say, a family's name can tell a million stories. This got us thinking...what are the most popular surnames across the country?

Research took us to Forebears - an online genealogy portal, that archives family history. We took a look into the past, to find out which names come out on top and what they actually mean.

Northern Ireland's Most Popular Surnames:

Campbell is a Scottish and Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic roots cam (crooked) and beul (mouth)

The name Wilson is derived from the personal name William

The surname Kelly was first found in southwest Ireland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times

This surname is derived from the given name John and tone or toun - literally meaning John's town

Brown is an English-language surname in origin, believed to have used to describe of a person with brown hair or clothing

Smith was an alternative name for a man who works with metal - blacksmith

The Moore surname is believed to derive from the Gaelic meaning great, chief, mighty or proud

Meaning descendant of Niall, a personal name of Irish origin, thought to mean champion

Originally a viking name, Thompson translates into son of Thom, Thomp or Thompkin

Another name given to a guardian or warden

Murphy is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and the meaning is sea warrior

According to some sources the name translates into a grey home, or gravel homestead

The name Martin comes from the Latin name Martinus, which is a derivative of Mars, who was the Roman god of fertility and war

The meaning of Quinn is counsel

Again, this name translates literally to son of Robin

Clarke was originally the name given to a person who concerned himself with matters of scholarly importance or of religious orders or as a secretary

The original Gaelic form of the name Doherty is O Dochartaigh, from the word "dochartach," which means unlucky

Hamilton is believed to mean treeless hill or home

The name could have occupational connections, as in the name for a bell ringer. But it could also hail from France, in other words 'belle' meaning beautiful

The Irish meaning of Hugh is mind and/or intellect

The name Donnelly derives from the words 'donn' which means brown, and 'gal' which means valor

The meaning of Murray is lord and master

McCann is an Irish surname derived from Mac Cana, meaning son of Cana. The Irish personal name Cana literally means wolf cub, and was a term for a young warrior

Again, the descendant of the metal worker

Descendant of Cathan - a diminutive from war and battle

The literal meaning translates to son of Lochlann

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, meaning yellow

Scott simply translate to painted warrior and wanderer

The Gaelic translation reads son of the strong man

This surname is derived from a nickname - the red

Kennedy comes from the Gaelic word chieftain - a leader of a clan or tribe

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor 'the son of Andrew'

Burns was the surname given to someone who lived near 'at the burn' which is nowadays known as a stream

The Irish translation reads, the son of Eoghan (wellborn), or of Eoin (gracious gift of Jehovah).

Of ancient Gaelic origin, Gallagher derives from the word 'gallchobhar', meaning 'foreign help'