Most Irish place names are Irish words in English spelling. These 61 aren't: they were given by Norse settlers, Normans,
English planters and landlords, or they mix languages. Each shows its original form, what it means, the Irish name in use today, and its sources.
Read this first
Many of these derivations are uncertain. Where the sources disagree, or one calls a derivation "probable" or "doubtful", the note under the
name says so; it isn't resolved here. The main sources are each place's English Wikipedia article and P. W. Joyce, The Origin and History
of Irish Names of Places, vol. 1 (1869), which is old and sometimes superseded. For the official Irish form of any name, check
logainm.ie ↗. Where no Irish name is shown, the sources read gave none.
Names given by Norse settlers and traders from the ninth century, mostly on the coast: fjords, islands and headlands.
Wicklow · Co. Wicklow Víkingaló, “the Vikings' meadow” · in Irish Cill Mhantáin Uncertain. Wikipedia says the name is 'usually explained' as Old Norse víkingr + ló, but also raises 'meadow of a man called Viking'. Joyce (1869), citing Worsaae, calls the Norse origin 'doubtful' though 'not improbable', noting old forms Wykynglo, Wygyngelo, Wykinlo and a possible link to Norse vík, a bay. The Irish name means St Mantán's church. Wikipedia: Wicklow ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Waterford · Co. Waterford Veðrafjǫrðr, “ram (wether) fjord” · in Irish Port Láirge Joyce records the early English form Vadrefiord. The Irish name means 'Lárag's port'. Wikipedia: Waterford ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Arklow · Co. Wicklow Arnkell-ló, “meadow (low-lying land) of Arnkell, a Viking leader” · in Irish An tInbhear Mór Joyce lists Arklow only as 'probably' Danish. Wikipedia: Arklow ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Leixlip · Co. Kildare lax hlaup, “salmon leap” · in Irish Léim an Bhradáin Joyce calls it 'wholly a Danish name', probably a translation of an Irish name for the Liffey cataract; the modern Irish name has the same meaning. Wikipedia: Leixlip ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Howth · Co. Dublin Hǫfuð, “head” · in Irish Binn Éadair Wikipedia says the Norse origin is 'thought' likely ('perhaps'); Joyce states plainly that 'the name Howth is Danish', from old forms Hofda, Houete, Howeth. The Irish name means Éadar's peak. Wikipedia: Howth ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Carlingford · Co. Louth Kerlingfjǫrðr, “narrow sea-inlet of the hag (old woman)” · in Irish Cairlinn Sources differ. Wikipedia derives the whole name, and the Irish Cairlinn, from Old Norse Kerlingfjǫrðr. Joyce treats it as partly Danish: Irish Cairlinn + Norse fiord, 'the fiord of Cairlinn'. The earlier Irish name of the lough was Snámh Aighneach. Wikipedia: Carlingford, County Louth ↗ · Wikipedia: Carlingford Lough ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Strangford · Co. Down Strangr fjǫrðr, “strong sea-inlet (fjord of the strong current)” Joyce links the name to the dangerous tidal currents at the lough mouth; the lough's Irish name is Loch Cuan. No current Irish name for the village was given in the sources read. Wikipedia: Strangford ↗ · Wikipedia: Strangford Lough ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Smerwick · Co. Kerry smoer + wick, “butter harbour” · in Irish Ard na Caithne Wikipedia says the Norse origin is 'believed'. Smerwick is the former English name; the official name is Ard na Caithne, 'height of the arbutus'. Wikipedia: Ard na Caithne ↗
Selskar · Co. Wexford sel-skar, “seal skerry” Known today mainly through Selskar Abbey (Mainistir Sheilsceire) in Wexford town. Wikipedia: Selskar Abbey ↗
Olderfleet (Larne Lough) · Co. Antrim Ulfreksfjord, “Ulfrek's fjord (Norse name for Larne Lough)” Sources differ. Wikipedia: the ending 'fleet' is Norse fljót, 'inlet', and 'Older' may be Norse for 'wave'. Joyce: the last syllable is Norse fiord, but the first part probably hides the old Irish name of the Larne water, Ollarbha, which would make it a hybrid. Wikipedia: Larne ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Blasket Islands · Co. Kerry brasker (possibly), “sharp reef of rock, or dangerous place” · in Irish Na Blascaodaí Uncertain: Wikipedia says the etymology 'is uncertain, but it may be Old Norse'. Wikipedia: Blasket Islands ↗
Anglo-Norman · 2
Names taken from Anglo-Norman families or their Latin and French forms.
Copeland Islands · Co. Down de Coupland (family name), “named after the de Coupland family” Uncertain: Wikipedia says 'most likely' from the Norman de Coupland family (12th century), but the earliest possible record is Old Norse Kaupmanneyjar, 'merchant islands' (Hákonar saga, dated 1230). Wikipedia: Copeland Islands ↗
Plantation, estate and later names given in English, often replacing or renaming an Irish one.
Portarlington · Co. Laois Port-Arlington, “Arlington's fort, after Henry Bennet, Baron Arlington” Founded 1666 on the townland Cooletoodera (Cúil an tSúdaire, 'nook of the tanner'). Resettled by French Huguenots from 1694. The town lies on the Laois/Offaly border. Wikipedia: Portarlington, County Laois ↗
Maryborough (now Portlaoise) · Co. Laois Maryborough, “after Queen Mary I, in whose reign (1557) the town was established” · in Irish Port Laoise Renamed Portlaoighise (later Port Laoise) in 1929. Wikipedia: Portlaoise ↗
Philipstown (now Daingean) · Co. Offaly Philipstown, “after Philip II of Spain, co-monarch with Mary I” · in Irish An Daingean Renamed Daingean after 1922. Wikipedia: Daingean ↗
Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) · Co. Dublin Kingstown, “in honour of George IV's visit in 1821” · in Irish Dún Laoghaire Previously Dunleary; the Irish form Dún Laoghaire was restored in 1920. Wikipedia: Dún Laoghaire ↗
Queenstown (now Cobh) · Co. Cork Queenstown, “after Queen Victoria's visit in 1849” · in Irish An Cóbh Previously 'The Cove of Cork' or 'Cove'; renamed Cobh in 1920. Wikipedia: Cobh ↗
Charleville · Co. Cork Charleville, “after King Charles II (with the French-style ending -ville)” · in Irish Ráth Luirc / An Ráth Founded 1661 by Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery. The older name Rathgoggan (Ráth an Ghogánaigh) recalls the Norman de Cogan family. Wikipedia: Charleville, County Cork ↗
Virginia · Co. Cavan Virginia, “after Elizabeth I, the 'Virgin Queen'” · in Irish Achadh an Iúir Founded during the Plantation of Ulster at Aghanure. Wikipedia: Virginia, County Cavan ↗
Edgeworthstown · Co. Longford Edgeworthstown, “after the Anglo-Irish Edgeworth family” · in Irish Meathas Troim Also called Mostrim; the county council officially renamed it Mostrim in 1935. Wikipedia: Edgeworthstown ↗
Manorhamilton · Co. Leitrim Manor Hamilton, “after the castle of Sir Frederick Hamilton (1634)” · in Irish Cluainín (Uí Ruairc) Hamilton was a Scottish soldier. Irish speakers also used Baile Hamaltuin. Wikipedia: Manorhamilton ↗
Draperstown · Co. Derry / Londonderry Draperstown, “named in 1818 by the Worshipful Company of Drapers of London” · in Irish Baile na Croise The Drapers had earlier used the name for Moneymore. Wikipedia: Draperstown ↗
Stewartstown · Co. Tyrone Stewartstown, “after Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree, from Ayrshire” A Scottish planter granted the district in the Ulster Plantation. Wikipedia: Stewartstown, County Tyrone ↗
Mountcharles · Co. Donegal Mount Charles, “after Charles Conyngham, Scottish plantation undertaker” · in Irish Tamhnach an tSalainn Wikipedia: Mountcharles ↗
Hillsborough · Co. Down Hillsborough, “after Sir Moses Hill and his son Arthur Hill” Renamed by 1661; earlier Crumlin (Cromghlinn, 'crooked glen'). Wikipedia: Hillsborough, County Down ↗
Newtown Forbes · Co. Longford Newtown Forbes, “after the Forbes family of Castle Forbes” · in Irish An Lios Breac Historically Lisbrack. Wikipedia: Newtownforbes ↗
Castlepollard · Co. Westmeath Castlepollard, “after the castle of Captain Nicholas Pollard of Devon” · in Irish Baile na gCros Cionn Toirc (Kinturk) has also been used as an Irish name. Wikipedia: Castlepollard ↗
Waringstown · Co. Down Waringstown, “after the Englishman William Waring (by 1659)” · in Irish Baile an Bhairínigh Wikipedia: Waringstown ↗
Eyrecourt · Co. Galway Eyrecourt, “after the Eyre family, who came over with Cromwell” · in Irish Dún an Uchta Wikipedia: Eyrecourt ↗
Bagenalstown · Co. Carlow Bagenalstown, “after Walter Bagenal, who built the town” · in Irish Muine Bheag Bagenal planned to call it 'New Versailles'. Officially named Muine Bheag. Wikipedia: Bagenalstown ↗
Charlestown · Co. Mayo Charlestown, “after Charles Strickland, Lord Dillon's agent (mid-19th century)” · in Irish Baile Chathail Wikipedia says it was built on Strickland's initiative; that the name honours him is implied, not stated outright. Wikipedia: Charlestown, County Mayo ↗
Saintfield · Co. Down Saintfield, “field of saints” · in Irish Tamhnaigh Naomh Renamed Saintfield in 1712 by Major General Nicholas Price; the English name has the same meaning as the Irish. Wikipedia: Saintfield ↗
Bessbrook · Co. Armagh Bessbrook, “after Elizabeth (Bess) Nicholson, and a brook nearby” Quaker linen model village founded 1845. Wikipedia: Bessbrook ↗
Swanlinbar · Co. Cavan Swanlinbar, “from the names of the entrepreneurs who built the iron foundry” · in Irish An Muileann Iarainn Wikipedia says the name comes from the four founders, but the 1682 lease it cites names Swift, Saunders, Barry and Darling, so how 'Swan-lin-bar' is formed from them is not explained. Wikipedia: Swanlinbar ↗
Swinford · Co. Mayo Swinford, “uncertain” · in Irish Béal Átha na Muice Uncertain. Wikipedia gives competing theories; one is that the name always was Swinford and comes from Swinford, Leicestershire, England. The Irish name means 'ford-mouth of the pig'. Wikipedia: Swinford ↗
Hybrid · 9
Names that mix languages, such as an Irish element with an English or Norse one.
Dalkey · Co. Dublin Deilginis → Dalk-ei, “thorn island” · in Irish Deilginis Irish deilg 'thorn' with Old Norse ey 'island' in place of Irish inis. Joyce says the Danes called it Dalk-ei, with the same meaning as the Irish, Norse dalk also meaning thorn. The town takes its name from Dalkey Island (Oileán Dheilginse). Wikipedia: Dalkey ↗ · Wikipedia: Dalkey Island ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Ireland's Eye · Co. Dublin Inis Ereann → Ireland's Ey, “island of Eria (a woman), misread as 'Ireland's island'” · in Irish Inis Mac Neasáin Joyce: translators took Ereann as the genitive of Éire (Ireland) and rendered inis with Norse ey; 'ey' was later corrupted to 'Eye'. Wikipedia: Ireland's Eye ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Carnsore Point · Co. Wexford Carn + ore, “the sandy point (Norse ore) of the Carn (monumental heap)” Source is Joyce only (1869), who gives the Irish name as simply Carn. Not checked against a modern source. Joyce (1869) ↗
Oxmantown · Co. Dublin Ostmantown, “town of the Ostmen (Hiberno-Norse 'east men')” English 'town' with the term Ostmen for the Norse. Joyce says the Ostmen built a fortified town of their own here; Wikipedia adds they either moved or were expelled from inside Dublin's walls after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1171. Wikipedia: Oxmantown ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Leinster · province Laigin + staðr (or tír), “land of the Laigin” · in Irish Laighin / Cúige Laighean Province. Wikipedia: the second element is either Irish tír or Old Norse staðr, both 'land'. Joyce (after Worsaae) gives Norse stadr. Wikipedia: Leinster ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Ulster · province Ulaztir, “land of the Ulaidh” · in Irish Ulaidh / Cúige Uladh Province. Sources differ: Wikipedia prefers Norse Ulaztir with -tír borrowed from Irish, calling Norse staðr 'less probable'; Joyce (after Worsaae) gives staðr, 'Ula-ster'. Wikipedia: Ulster ↗ · Joyce (1869) ↗
Munster · province Mumhan + staðr, “place (province) of Mumha” · in Irish An Mhumhain / Cúige Mumhan Province. Source for the etymology is Joyce (after Worsaae), citing the 1515 form Mounster; the Wikipedia article read did not discuss the -ster ending. Joyce (1869) ↗ · Wikipedia: Munster ↗
Castledermot · Co. Kildare Castle + Díseart Diarmada, “'castle' added to Dermot's hermitage” · in Irish Díseart Diarmada Wikipedia: the 'Castle' element comes from the 13th-century castle and walls built under Anglo-Norman control; the Irish name means Dermot's hermitage. Wikipedia: Castledermot ↗
Rostrevor · Co. Down Ros + Trevor, “Ros + the surname of Sir Edward Trevor” · in Irish Ros Treabhair Wikipedia: the second part comes from Sir Edward Trevor of Denbighshire, Wales, who settled there in the early 17th century. The first part is the Irish ros, ‘a wood or wooded headland’. Wikipedia: Rostrevor ↗