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Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
Photograph: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Connacht

County Galway

Gaillimh

Known as The Tribes of Galway. For the fourteen merchant families who ran the city for centuries: Blake, Joyce, Lynch, Bodkin and the rest. The name was originally an insult from Cromwellian forces, and the families took it up as a badge.

Did you know? The Claddagh, the old fishing village facing Galway city, elected its own king into the 20th century — his boat carried a white sail among the brown.
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Clans & surnames of Galway
Bermingham Mac Fheorais Norman · “from Birmingham, England” Blake de Bláca Norman · “le blac — 'the black-haired'” Bodkin Boidicín Norman · “a nickname from a short dagger” Burke de Búrca Norman dynasty · “from de Burgh — 'of the borough'” Cahill Ó Cathail Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathal — cath, 'battle', with either 'rule' or 'great'” Canavan Ó Ceanndubháin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Ceanndubhán, 'the dark-headed one'” Clarke Ó Cléirigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the cleric — possibly Europe's oldest surname (916 AD)” Concannon Ó Concheanainn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cú Cheanainn, 'fair-headed hound'” Conneely Mac Conghaile / Ó Conghaile Gaelic sept · “son of Conghal — 'hound' and 'valour'” Connolly Ó Conghalaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conghalach, 'valiant as a hound'” Cooney Ó Cuana Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cuana” Costello Mac Oisdealbhaigh Norman-Gaelic · “son of Oisdealbh — the first Norman family to take a 'Mac'” Coyne Ó Cadhain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cadhan — a personal name from the barnacle goose” Daly Ó Dálaigh Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Dálach, 'of the assembly'” Darcy Ó Dorchaidhe / d'Arcy Gaelic sept & Norman · “descendant of Dorchaidh, 'dark one' — or from Arcy in France” Dolan Ó Dobhailen Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dobhailen” Donnellan Ó Domhnalláin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Domhnallán, a diminutive of Domhnall, 'world-ruler'” 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'” Egan Mac Aodhagáin Gaelic learned family · “son of little Aodh” Fahy Ó Fathaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fathadh, 'foundation / green field'” Fallon Ó Fallamhain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fallamhan, 'leader'” Finnegan Ó Fionnagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fionnagán, 'little fair one'” 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)” French de Fréins Norman · “'the Frenchman'” Hughes Mac Aodha / Ó hAodha Gaelic sept · “son (or descendant) of Aodh, 'fire'” Jennings Mac Sheóinín Norman-Gaelic · “son of little John” Joyce Seoighe Norman-Welsh · “from Josse, a Breton saint's name” Keane Ó Catháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathán, 'little battler'” Kelly Ó Ceallaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ceallach, 'bright-headed' or 'strife'” Kenny Ó Cionnaith Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cionnaith” Kirwan Ó Ciardhubháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ciardhubhán, 'the black-dark one'” Larkin Ó Lorcáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Lorcán, 'fierce'” Lennon Ó Leannáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Leannán, 'lover' or 'sweetheart'” Lynch Ó Loingsigh / de Lench Gaelic sept & Norman tribe · “descendant of Loingseach, 'mariner'” Madden Ó Madáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Madán (from madadh, 'hound')” Martin Mac Giolla Mháirtín / Máirtín Gaelic sept & Norman tribe · “devotee of St Martin” McDonagh Mac Donnchadha Gaelic sept · “son of Donnchadh” Meehan Ó Miadhacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Miadhachán, 'the honourable'” Mitchell Mistéil Norse-Scots · “from Michael” Mooney Ó Maonaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maonach” Mullan Ó Maoláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maolán, 'the tonsured one'” Naughton Ó Neachtain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Neachtan — an old name linked to water” O'Connell Ó Conaill Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conall — a name built from 'hound' and 'valour'” O'Flaherty Ó Flaithbheartaigh Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Flaithbheartach, 'bright ruler'” O'Halloran Ó hAllmhuráin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Allmhurán, 'the stranger from over the sea'” Treacy Ó Treasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Treasach, 'the fierce, the warlike'” Tully Mac an Tuile / Ó Maoltuile Gaelic learned family · “son of the flood — 'of God's will'” Ward Mac an Bhaird Gaelic learned family · “son of the bard” Watters Mac Uaitéir / Ó hUisce / Ó Fuaruisce Gaelic septs & Ulster settlers · “'son of Walter' (Mac Uaitéir) — or, for the Gaelic septs, names built on 'uisce', water: 'descendant of the water' (Ó hUisce), 'cold water' (Ó Fuaruisce)”

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On the ground in Galway

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Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Galway?

Gaillimh. Galway is one of the 5 counties of Connacht (Cúige Chonnacht).

Who ruled County Galway in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Kingdom of Connacht (O'Connor); by 1450, Clanricarde (Burke). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Galway?

Names historically associated with Galway include Bermingham, Blake, Bodkin, Burke, Cahill, Canavan, Clarke, Concannon, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Galway

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