FAMILY
NAME VARIATIONS
CAREY
Gaelic: O'Ciardha
Common variations: O'Keary, Carr, Keary,
MacCary, Currane, Kerin
The name Carey is now numerous and
widespread in Ireland. But it is more prevalent in the
Munster counties of Cork, Kerry, and Tipperary than
elsewhere. Carey is an anglicized form of the Gaelic -
O'Ciardha. They were an ancient sept whose chiefs were lords
of Carbury in Co. Kildare until they were dispersed by
Anglo-Norman invaders in the late 12th century. The name
Carey is widespread in Ireland, especially in Cork, Kerry,
and Tipperary.
HICKEY
Gaelic: O'hIchidhe
Common variations: Hicky, Hickie, Hicks,
Hickson
The name comes from the Gaelic iceadh,
which means healer. The name is numerous in Co. Limerick and
northern Tipperary, as well as its place of origin, east-
and mid-Clare. The O'Hickeys traditionally claim descent
from the Hereditary Physicians to the O'Briens, Kings of
Thomond. Much of the family's land around Quin, Co. Clare
was confiscated in Tudor times.
LEDDIN
Gaelic: O'Loideain
Common variations: O'Leddan, which is a
Munster variant of Liddane, Laden, Leyden, Lydon, (O) Lydon.
Other forms are Leyden in Connacht and Clare, and Liddane
mainly in Co. Clare.
HARRIGAN
Gaelic: O'hArragain
Common variations: O'Harrigan - when found
is south and east Munster this is usually a variant of
Horgan, or O'Horgan - a Co. Cork name; Hourigan in Co.
Limerick, and sometimes Arragan in south Waterford and
Tipperary.
KENNEDY
Gaelic: O’Cinneide
Common variations:
The Kennedys trace their descent from the
11th century, and regard Cinneide, nephew of Brian Boru,
thee Irish King, as their primal ancestor. They were an
important Dalcassian sept of east Clare. They lived in Co.
Clare until driven out by O'Briens and MacNamaras, leaving
behind them the civil parish of Killokennedy. From there,
they spread through Ireland, particularly the counties to
the south. They settled in north Tipperary and as far south
as Wexford, where the ancestors of President John F. Kennedy
originated.
DUANE
Gaelic: O'Dubhain
Common variations: Dwayne, Divane, Devane
This is usually anglicized Dwane in west
Munster, Downes in Thomond, and Duane in Connacht. There
were several septs of O’Dubhain, the two of importance being
of Corca Laoidhe and south Connacht.
ALLEN
Gaelic: Allen is usually Scotch or English,
sometimes O'hAillin in Offaly and Tipperary.
Common variations: Alyn, Hallion,
occasionally also in Co. Tipperary Allen is a synonym of
Hallinan.
MORRISSY
Gaelic: O'Muirgheasa
Commmon variations: Morrissey
The name may also be of Norman descent - de
Marisco.
CULLINANE
Gaelic:
O'Cuileannain (probably from cuileann, holly)
Common
variations: Quillinane, Culhane, Cullen
A branch of the
Corca Laoidhe. In Clare and Tipperary the spelling is
Cullinane and sometimes Quillinane. Another sept of Donegal
have become Cullen.