Surnames in Ireland

New Zealand Tablet, 17 March 1910, Page 413

Surnames in Ireland

A special report on surnames in Ireland by Sir Robert E. Matheson, Registrar-General for Ireland, has been reissued. It was originally published as an appendix to the twenty-ninth annual report of the Registrar-General for Ireland. It has been for some years out of print. The consideration of the subject is divided as follows: (1) The principal surnames in Ireland compared with other portions of the United Kingdom (2) the derivation of surnames in Ireland (3) surnames in Ireland ethnologically considered; (4) the local distribution of surnames in Ireland. In reference to the principal surnames in Ireland compared with those of other portions of the United Kingdom, the tables given in the report show that the name Murphy - stands first in Ireland, in order of numerical strength, representing an estimated number of 62,600 persons (or 13.3 per thousand of the population), and that in both England and Scotland the name ‘ Smith ’ occupies the first place. The second place on the Irish list is held by the name ‘ Kelly,’ representing 55,900 persons (or 11.3 per thousand of the population). In the English tables ‘Jones’ has the second place. In Scotland the second place is held by * McDonald.’ The third place in Ireland is filled by ‘ Sullivan,’ the number of persons of which name,it is estimated amounts to 43,000 (or 9.2 per thousand). In England ‘ Williams is the third name. In Scotland Brown stands third. Several names among the first fifty on the Irish list appear on the lists for one or both of the other divisions of the Kingdom. Thus ‘Smith’ is fifth in Ireland and first in England and Scotland; ‘Murray’ is eighteenth in Ireland and 17th in Scotland; ‘Moore’ is 20th in Ireland and 39th in England; ‘ Wilson ’ is 26th in Ireland, 11th in England, and Bth in Scotland; ‘ Campbell ’ is 31st in Ireland and 7th in Scotland; ‘Clarke’ (or ‘Clark’) is 32nd in Ireland ninth in England, and 18th in Scotland ■‘Johnson’ appears 33rd in Ireland and 16th in Scotland; ! Hughes ’ appears 34th in Ireland and 19th in England; ‘Brown’, is 37th in Ireland, sixth in England, and third in Scotland ‘Martin’ is 33rd in Ireland, 31st in England, and 48th in Scotland ; ‘ Thompson ’ or ‘ Thomson ’ is 42nd in Ireland, 15th in England, and fourth in Scotland; White is 50th in Ireland, 22nd in England, and 41st in Scotland. It is observable from the tables that among the second fifty names on the list several appear in the first fifty of England or Scotland. Thus ‘ Stewart ’is 58th in Ireland and sixth in Scotland; ‘Robinson’ 73rd in Ireland and 12th in England; ‘ Ward’ 78th in Ireland and 30th in England; ‘Reid’ 81st in Ireland and 13th in Scotland; ‘Graham’ 82nd in Ireland and 40th in Scotland; ‘ King ’ 86th in Ireland and 36th in England; ‘Bell’ 89th in Ireland and 47th in Scotland; ‘ Scott ’ 90th in Ireland and 10th in Scotland, and ‘ McDonald,’ which is 95th in Ireland, is second in Scotland. > The report shows, however, that most of the names in Ireland with the larger numbers are peculiar to Ireland, representing the names of Irish clans and septs, such as the Murphys, Kellys, Sullivans, O’Briens, Byrnes, Ryans, Connors, O’Neills, Reillys, Doyles, McCarthys, Gallaghers, Dohertys, etc. The Scotch clans are similarly represented in the list for Scotland, such as the McDonalds, McKenzie's, McGregors, McLeods, McKays, Campbells, Stewarts, Camerons, etc. ■■ - v v -y , /-•