Gaelic sept

Collins

Ó Coileáin

Also: O'Collins

“descendant of Coileán, 'young hound / whelp'”

🏔 Cork · Corcaigh 🏔 Limerick · Luimneach Source: Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923) ↗

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

Coileán means whelp. The Ó Coileáin were a family of the Uí Fidhgheinte, of the same stock as the O'Donovans, and were lords of Uí Conaill Gabhra, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Connello in Limerick. In 1178 they were driven out and most of the clan settled in West Cork; those who stayed held Claonghlas in the south-west of the county until the FitzGeralds dispossessed them late in the 13th century. The name is very common in their old country and across Munster, always anglicised Collins. Michael Collins was born near Clonakilty in West Cork.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Ó Coileáin
Ó — descendant of (originally grandson of)
Coileáin — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Collins an Irish name?

Collins is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

From Wikipedia — “Collins (surname)”

Collins is a surname. There are many alternative spellings or related surnames.

Read the full article ↗ · Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

People of the name

Michael Collins ↗ (1890–1922) · born in County Cork

From the people listed on the county pages; sharing a surname does not mean sharing descent.

Where the Collins country is

County Cork County Limerick Cork Limerick Cobh Midleton Mallow Bandon Newcastle West Fermoy 37 castles in Cork 14 castles in Limerick

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Canty · Cork, Limerick Casey · Cork, Limerick Cremin · Cork, Limerick Curtin · Cork, Limerick Donovan · Cork, Limerick Duane · Cork, Limerick Gleeson · Limerick, Cork Hallinan · Cork, Limerick Harnett · Limerick, Cork Hayes · Cork, Limerick Hurley · Cork, Limerick Langan · Limerick, Cork Leahy · Cork, Limerick Linehan · Cork, Limerick

Quick answers

Is Collins an Irish name?

Collins is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Ó Coileáin.

What does the surname Collins mean?

Collins (Irish: Ó Coileáin) means “descendant of Coileán, 'young hound / whelp'”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Collins from?

The historic homeland of the Collins name is Cork, Limerick. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Collins?

Ó Coileáin. Related spellings: O'Collins.

Looking for the Collins family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Collins ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

Not your spelling? Try the full A–Z. Know more about the Collins name? Add to the story.