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Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary
Photograph: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Munster

County Tipperary

Tiobraid Árann

Known as The Premier County. The origin is not documented, which is unusual for a nickname this well known. It is variously put down to the richness of the Golden Vale, or to the Butlers, Earls of Ormond, whose seat was in the county. Neither can be shown. The origin is not settled.

Did you know? In 1101 the King of Munster gave the Rock of Cashel, seat of kings for 600 years, to the Church, a grand gesture that conveniently denied it to his rivals.
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Clans & surnames of Tipperary
Butler de Buitléir Norman dynasty · “le botiler — the (chief) butler of Ireland” Cahill Ó Cathail Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cathal — cath, 'battle', with either 'rule' or 'great'” Cantwell Cantual Norman · “from Kentwell, Suffolk” Carew de Carrún Norman-Welsh · “from Carew in Pembrokeshire — a place name, 'the fort by the ford'” Carroll Ó Cearbhaill Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cearbhall, 'fierce in battle'” Carty Ó Cárthaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cárthach, 'loving'” Coleman Ó Colmáin / Ó Clumháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Colmán, 'little dove' — from Latin columba” Condon Condún Norman · “de Caunteton — from Welsh Marches” Corcoran Ó Corcráin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Corcrán, 'purple-faced'” Donegan Ó Donnagáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Donnagán — a diminutive of donn, 'the dark one' or 'brown'” Egan Mac Aodhagáin Gaelic learned family · “son of little Aodh” Fogarty Ó Fógartaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Fógartach, 'the banished' or 'proclaimed'” Hayes Ó hAodha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Aodh, 'fire'” Hickey Ó hÍcidhe Gaelic learned family · “descendant of the healer (íce, 'healing')” Hogan Ó hÓgáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Ógán, 'the young one'” Kearney Ó Cearnaigh / Ó Catharnaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cearnach, 'victorious'” Keating Céitinn Norman-Welsh · “possibly Welsh cethin, 'dusky'” Kennedy Ó Cinnéide Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cinnéidigh, 'helmeted head'” Keogh Mac Eochaidh Gaelic learned family · “son of Eochaidh — from each, 'horse'” Maher Ó Meachair Gaelic sept · “descendant of Meachar, 'hospitable'” Mulcahy Ó Maolchathaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of the devotee of St Cathach ('battle')” O'Brien Ó Briain Gaelic dynasty · “descendant of Brian (Boru)” Prendergast de Priondargás Norman-Flemish · “from Brontegeest in Flanders” Purcell Puirséil Norman · “pourcel — 'piglet' (a herdsman's name)” Ryan Ó Maoilriain Gaelic sept · “descendant of Maoilriaghain” Scully Ó Scolaidhe Gaelic sept · “descendant of the scholar” Shanahan Ó Seanacháin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Seanachán, 'the old, wise one'” Sheehy Mac Síthigh Scots-gallowglass · “son of Sítheach, 'the peaceful' — or 'the otherworldly'” Slattery Ó Slatara Gaelic sept · “descendant of Slatra, 'the strong, bold'” Tierney Ó Tighearnaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Tighearnach, 'lordly'” Tobin Tóibín Norman · “de St Aubyn” Treacy Ó Treasaigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Treasach, 'the fierce, the warlike'” Troy Ó Troighthigh Gaelic sept · “descendant of Troightheach, 'the foot-soldier'”

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On the ground in Tipperary

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Quick answers
What is the Irish name for County Tipperary?

Tiobraid Árann. Tipperary is one of the 6 counties of Munster (Cúige Mumhan).

Who ruled County Tipperary in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Thomond (O'Brien); by 1450, Earldom of Ormond (Butler). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Tipperary?

Names historically associated with Tipperary include Butler, Cahill, Cantwell, Carew, Carroll, Carty, Coleman, Condon, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Tipperary

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