Province of Connacht
County Mayo
Known as The Yew County. The name says it. Maigh Eo is the plain of the yew trees, and the nickname is a translation of the county's own name rather than anything added to it. The Maritime County is also used, for the Atlantic coast.
Did you know?
In 1798 a French army landed at Killala and a short-lived 'Republic of Connacht' was declared in Castlebar — the British rout there is still called the Races of Castlebar.
Clans & surnames of Mayo
Barrett
Bairéid
Norman · “possibly 'quarrelsome' (baraud)”
Blake
de Bláca
Norman · “le blac — 'the black-haired'”
Brogan
Ó Brógáin
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Brógán — probably from bróg, 'shoe'”
Burke
de Búrca
Norman dynasty · “from de Burgh — 'of the borough'”
Carey
Ó Ciardha / Ó Cearaigh
Gaelic septs (several) · “descendant of Ciardha, 'the dark one' — among several distinct roots”
Conneely
Mac Conghaile / Ó Conghaile
Gaelic sept · “son of Conghal — 'hound' and 'valour'”
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”
Dillon
Diolún
Norman · “from de Leon”
Fitzgibbon
Mac Giobúin
Norman dynasty · “son of Gibbon — Norman French fitz, 'son of', and a pet form of Gilbert”
Garvey
Ó Gairbhith
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Gairbhith, 'rough peace'”
Gill
Mac an Ghoill
Norse-Gaelic · “son of the foreigner”
Higgins
Ó hUiginn
Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Uiginn — 'the Viking'”
Jennings
Mac Sheóinín
Norman-Gaelic · “son of little John”
Joyce
Seoighe
Norman-Welsh · “from Josse, a Breton saint's name”
Kearney
Ó Cearnaigh / Ó Catharnaigh
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cearnach, 'victorious'”
Lennon
Ó Leannáin
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Leannán, 'lover' or 'sweetheart'”
Loftus
Ó Lachtnáin
Gaelic sept (renamed) · “descendant of Lachtnán, 'milk-white'”
McDonnell
Mac Dónaill
Scots-Gaelic · “son of Dónall”
McFadden
Mac Pháidín
Scots-Gaelic & Irish · “son of Páidín, 'little Patrick'”
McNulty
Mac an Ultaigh
Gaelic sept · “son of the Ulsterman”
Moran
Ó Móráin
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Mórán, 'the great one'”
Mulligan
Ó Maolagáin
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maolagán, 'the little tonsured one'”
O'Dowd
Ó Dubhda
Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Dubhda, 'the dark'”
O'Flaherty
Ó Flaithbheartaigh
Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Flaithbheartach, 'bright ruler'”
O'Malley
Ó Máille
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Máille — 'noble chief'”
Prendergast
de Priondargás
Norman-Flemish · “from Brontegeest in Flanders”
Quigley
Ó Coigligh
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Coigleach”
Rooney
Ó Ruanaidh
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ruanadh, 'the champion'”
Tierney
Ó Tighearnaigh
Gaelic sept · “descendant of Tighearnach, 'lordly'”
Vaughan
Ó Mocháin / Vaughan
Gaelic sept & Welsh · “Welsh fychan, 'small' — adopted for Ó Mocháin”
Walsh
Breathnach
Norman-Welsh · “'the Welshman' — soldiers who came with the Normans”
Tap a name for its full page — story, homeland map and neighbours.
On the ground in Mayo
- Aghagower · round tower · incomplete · 16 m
- Balla · round tower · incomplete · 10 m
- Behy court tomb · tomb
- Breastagh Ogham Stone · ogham stone
- Dolmen of the Four Maols · tomb
- Killala · round tower · complete · 25.5 m
- Meelick · round tower · incomplete · 21 m
- Turlough Abbey · round tower · complete · 22.9 m
- 13 castles · Aghalard Castle, Ashford Castle, Ballylahan Castle, Caherduff Castle, Carrickkildavnet Castle and more
Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →
Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Mayo?
Maigh Eo. Mayo is one of the 5 counties of Connacht (Cúige Chonnacht).
Who ruled County Mayo in the Middle Ages?
Around 1014 it was held by Kingdom of Connacht (O'Connor); by 1450, Mac William Bourke (Mayo). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.
What surnames come from County Mayo?
Names historically associated with Mayo include Barrett, Blake, Brogan, Burke, Carey, Conneely, Costello, Coyne, among others.
Trace your ancestors in Mayo
- 1911 Census — Mayo ↗
- 1901 Census — Mayo ↗
- Griffith's Valuation — search Mayo ↗
- Down Survey maps — Mayo ↗
- Schools' Folklore Collection — Mayo ↗
- Placenames of Mayo (Logainm) ↗
- Landed Estates — Mayo ↗
Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.