Irish Family Names P-R
O'PHELAN, WHELAN
NAME ON MAP: O'FAOLAIN MODERN COUNTY: Waterford MEANING: `descendant of Faolán'. (The name was a diminutive of faol `wolf'.)
PLUNKETT
NAME ON MAP: PLUNKETT MODERN COUNTY: Meath MEANING: an Anglo-Norman name which derived either from Plouquenet in Normandy or was a diminutive of OLD FRENCH blanc `white'.
POWER
NAME ON MAP: POER MODERN IRISH NAME: de Paor MODERN COUNTY: Waterford MEANING: an Anglo-Norman name derived from a le Poer came to Ireland with Strongbow in 1170. (The name probably derived from OLD FRENCH povre `poor', thus `one who had taken a vow of poverty'.)
PRESTON
NAME ON MAP: PRESTON MODERN COUNTY: Meath MEANING: from OLD ENGLISH `priest's manor' (probably in Lancashire). The Anglo-Norman name appeared in Ireland before 1300.
QUIN, QUINN
NAME ON MAP: O'CUINN MODERN COUNTY: Longford, Tyrone MEANING: `descendant of Cuinn'. (The name derived from a personal name Conn meaning `chief leader'.) There were four unrelated septs, the largest being in Tyrone.
MacRANNALL, REYNOLDS, GRANNELL
NAME ON MAP: MacRAGNAILL MODERN COUNTY: Leitrim MEANING: `son of Ragnall'. (The name was the Gaelic version of a Germanic name derived from ragin `counsel' and wald `rule'. It was possibly introduced to Ireland by the Vikings in the OLD NORSE form of Rögnvaldr.) The sept name appears in a 14th century poem.
O'REGAN, REAGAN
NAME ON MAP: O'RIAGAIN MODERN COUNTIES: Leix, Cork MEANING: `descendant of Riagán'. (The meaning is uncertain; it was possibly related to ríodhgach `impulsive'.) The sept was driven out of Meath and County Dublin into Laois by Anglo-Norman pressure before 1300, but only after valiant opposition as one of the Tribes of Tara. The unrelated Cork sept claimed descent from a nephew of Brian Boru.
O'REILLY, RILEY
NAME ON MAP: O'RAGHAILLAIGH MODERN COUNTIES: Cavan, Meath MEANING: `descendant of Raghaillach'. (The meaning of the name is uncertain.) The chief of the sept was known as Breffny O'Reilly. Throughout history the size of their territory ebbed and flowed depending on the relative power of their rivals the O'Rourkes.
O'RIORDAN, REARDEN
NAME ON MAP: O'RIOGHBHARDAIN MODERN IRISH NAME: O'Ríordáin MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: `descendant of Ríoghbhárdán'. (The early name derived from riogh `royal' and bhard `bard' with the diminutive suffix án.) The sept moved from Tipperary to Cork before 1300.
ROCHE
NAME ON MAP: De ROCHE MODERN IRISH NAME: de Róiste MODERN COUNTY: Cork MEANING: an Anglo-Norman family which settled soon in Cork after the invasion, it was later ennobled as the Barons of Fermoy. (The OLD FRENCH name meant `of the rock'.)
O'ROONEY
NAME ON MAP: O'RUANAIDH MODERN COUNTY: Down MEANING: `descendant of Ruanaidh'. (The name meant `champion'.) Ceallach O'Ruanaidh, died 1079, was chief poet of Ireland and Eoin O'Ruanaidh chief poet to the chief of the MacGuinness sept in the 14th century.
O'ROURKE
NAME ON MAP: O'RUAIRC MODERN COUNTIES: Leitrim, Fermanagh MEANING: `descendant of Ruarc'. (The name possibly derived from ruarc `squall, rain shower'.) They were known as the Lords of Breffny (but see the entry for O'Reilly). Tiernan O'Ruairc, Prince of Breffny, killed 1172, had his wife carried off by Dermot MacMurrough (see the entry for MacMurrough).