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Blarney Castle, County Cork
Photograph: Ryanhuntmuzik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Munster

County Cork

Corcaigh

Known as The Rebel County. Cork backed Perkin Warbeck, the pretender to the English throne, in 1491, and the name stuck. It was taken up again, and meant differently, during the War of Independence.

Did you know? In 1920 Cork lost two Lord Mayors in seven months: Tomás Mac Curtain was shot in his home, and Terence MacSwiney died on hunger strike in Brixton Prison after 74 days.
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Clans & surnames of Cork
Ahern Ó hEachthighearna Gaelic sept · “descendant of Eachthighearna, 'lord of horses'” Barrett Bairéid Norman · “possibly 'quarrelsome' (baraud)” Barry de Barra Norman · “from Barri in Wales” Buckley Ó Buachalla Gaelic sept · “descendant of Buachaill, 'the herdsman'” Cagney Ó Caingne Gaelic sept · “descendant of Caingne — from caingean, 'a legal dispute'; an advocate's name” Canavan Ó Ceanndubháin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Ceanndubhán, 'the dark-headed one'” Carew de Carrún Norman-Welsh · “from Carew in Pembrokeshire — a place name, 'the fort by the ford'” Carey Ó Ciardha / Ó Cearaigh Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Ciardha, 'the dark one' — among several distinct roots” Casey Ó Cathasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathasach, 'vigilant in war'” Coffey Ó Cobhthaigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Cobhthach, 'victorious'” Coleman Ó Colmáin / Ó Clumháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Colmán, 'little dove' — from Latin columba” Collins Ó Coileáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Coileán, 'young hound / whelp'” Condon Condún Norman · “de Caunteton — from Welsh Marches” Coughlan Ó Cochláin / Mac Cochláin Gaelic sept · “descendant or son of Cochlán — from cochall, 'cloak' or 'hood'” Cronin Ó Cróinín Gaelic sept · “descendant of Crónín, 'little dark-yellow one'” Crowley Ó Cruadhlaoich Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cruadhlaoch, 'hard hero'” Culloty Ó Codlata Gaelic sept · “descendant of Codladh, 'sleep'” Daly Ó Dálaigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Dálach, 'of the assembly'” Deasy Déiseach Gaelic territorial · “'of the Déise' — a man of the Déise people” Dennehy Ó Duineachdha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Duineachaidh — read as 'humane'” Desmond Deasmhumhnach Gaelic territorial · “'the south-Munster man'” Díaz — (Spanish name; Diaz in English) Spanish — the New Irish · “'son of Diego' — a patronymic from the Visigothic period; El Cid himself was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, son of Diego” Dinneen Ó Duinnín Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Duinnín, a diminutive of donn, 'brown'” Donegan Ó Donnagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Donnagán — a diminutive of donn, 'the dark one' or 'brown'” Donovan Ó Donnabháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Donndubhán, 'dark brown-haired chief'” Dowling Ó Dúnlaing Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dúnlang” Downey Ó Duibheanaigh / Ó Maoldomhnaigh Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Duibheanach — or, for the second sept, 'devotee of the church'” Duggan Ó Dubhagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhagán, 'the little dark one'” Flynn Ó Floinn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Flann, 'ruddy'” Foley Ó Foghladha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Foghlaidh — 'the plunderer'” Forde Mac Conshnámha / Mac Giolla na Naomh / Ó Fuaráin Gaelic septs (several) & English settlers · “three Irish names all mistranslated as 'ford': 'son of the swimming-hound' (Leitrim), 'son of the devotee of the saints' (Galway), 'descendant of Fuarthán, the cold one' (Cork)” Galvin Ó Gealbháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gealbhán, 'bright-white'” Hayes Ó hAodha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aodh, 'fire'” Healy Ó hÉilidhe / Ó hÉalaighthe Gaelic sept · “'claimant' (Sligo) or 'ingenious' (Cork)” Hennessy Ó hAonghusa Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aonghus” Hore de Hór Norman-English · “hoar — 'grey-haired'” Hurley Ó hUrthuile / Ó Muirthile Gaelic sept · “descendant of Urthuile — 'sea-tide'” Kelleher Ó Céileachair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Céileachar, 'companion-loving'” Lombard Lombard Italian-Norman · “'the Lombard' — an Italian banker” Looney Ó Luanaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Luanach, 'warrior' (luan, champion)” Lynch Ó Loingsigh / de Lench Gaelic sept & Norman tribe · “descendant of Loingseach, 'mariner'” McCarthy Mac Cárthaigh Gaelic dynasty · “son of Cárthach, 'loving'” Moynihan Ó Muimhneacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of the Munsterman” Murphy Ó Murchadha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Murchadh, 'sea-warrior'” Noonan Ó Nuanáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ionmhaineán, 'the beloved'” O'Callaghan Ó Ceallacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ceallachán of Cashel” O'Donoghue Ó Donnchadha Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Donnchadh” O'Driscoll Ó hEidirsceoil Gaelic sept · “descendant of the eidirsceol — 'the go-between, the interpreter'” O'Keeffe Ó Caoimh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Caomh, 'gentle, beloved'” O'Leary Ó Laoghaire Gaelic sept · “descendant of Laoghaire, 'calf-keeper'” O'Mahony Ó Mathghamhna Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Mathghamhain, 'bear'” O'Sullivan Ó Súilleabháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Súildubhán, 'dark-eyed one'” Regan Ó Riagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Riagán, 'little king' (or 'impulsive')” Riordan Ó Ríoghbhardáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ríoghbhardán, 'royal little bard'” Roche de Róiste Norman · “de la roche — 'of the rock'” Scanlon Ó Scannláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Scannlán — from scannal, 'contention' or 'strife'” Sheehan Ó Síodhacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Síodhach, 'the peaceful'” Sweeney Mac Suibhne Scots-gallowglass · “son of Suibhne, 'well-going'” Twomey Ó Tuama Gaelic sept · “descendant of Tuaim — 'burial mound'” Woulfe de Bhulbh Norman · “le woulf — 'the wolf'”

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On the ground in Cork

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Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Cork?

Corcaigh. Cork is one of the 6 counties of Munster (Cúige Mumhan).

Who ruled County Cork in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Desmond (MacCarthy); by 1450, Earldom of Desmond (FitzGerald). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Cork?

Names historically associated with Cork include Ahern, Barrett, Barry, Buckley, Cagney, Canavan, Carew, Carey, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Cork

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