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Hook Lighthouse, County Wexford
Photograph: Spike · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Province of Leinster

County Wexford

Loch Garman

Known as The Model County. For its farming, which was held up in the 19th century as the model the rest of the country should copy. The Yellowbellies is the older and more argued-over name.

Did you know? 'At the creek of Baginbun, Ireland was lost and won' — the first Norman force dug in on this small Wexford headland in 1170 with fewer than a hundred men.
Carlow Cavan Cork Donegal Dublin Clare Galway Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow Antrim Armagh Down Fermanagh Londonderry Tyrone

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Clans & surnames of Wexford
Cody Mac Óda Norman · “son of Odo” Connery Ó Conaire Gaelic sept · “descendant of Conaire, 'keeper of the hound'” Cullen Ó Cuilinn Gaelic sept · “descendant of Cuileann, 'holly'” Darcy Ó Dorchaidhe / d'Arcy Gaelic sept & Norman · “descendant of Dorchaidh, 'dark one' — or from Arcy in France” Devereux Deabhrús Norman · “from Évreux in Normandy” Doran Ó Deoráin Gaelic learned family · “descendant of Deoradhán, 'the exile, the pilgrim'” Doyle Ó Dubhghaill Norse-Gaelic · “descendant of Dubhghall, 'dark foreigner' — a Viking” Esmonde Easmonn Norse-English · “east-mund, 'grace-protector'” French de Fréins Norman · “'the Frenchman'” Furlong Furlong Norman-English · “from the furrow-length of a ploughed field” Hore de Hór Norman-English · “hoar — 'grey-haired'” Kavanagh Caomhánach Gaelic dynasty · “follower of St Caomhán” Keating Céitinn Norman-Welsh · “possibly Welsh cethin, 'dusky'” Kehoe Mac Eochaidh Gaelic learned family · “son of Eochaidh — from each, 'horse'” Kinsella Cinnsealach Gaelic dynasty · “of the Uí Cheinnsealaigh — the royal line of south Leinster” Larkin Ó Lorcáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Lorcán, 'fierce'” Murphy Ó Murchadha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Murchadh, 'sea-warrior'” Nolan Ó Nualláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Nuallán, 'famous, noble'” Prendergast de Priondargás Norman-Flemish · “from Brontegeest in Flanders” Redmond Réamonn Norman · “from Raymond (le Gros)” Roche de Róiste Norman · “de la roche — 'of the rock'” Sinnott Sionóid Norse-English · “sige-noth, 'victory-bold'” Whelan Ó Faoláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Faolán, 'little wolf'”

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On the ground in Wexford
  • 10 castles · Bargy Castle, Barntown Castle, Coolhull Castle, Duncannon Fort, Enniscorthy 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 Wexford?

Loch Garman. Wexford is one of the 12 counties of Leinster (Cúige Laighean).

Who ruled County Wexford in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Kingdom of Leinster (Mac Murrough); by 1450, MacMurrough Kavanagh. The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Wexford?

Names historically associated with Wexford include Cody, Connery, Cullen, Darcy, Devereux, Doran, Doyle, Esmonde, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Wexford

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.