The most common Irish Traveller surnames are McDonagh, Ward, Connors, O’Brien and Maughan, and every one of them is also an ordinary Irish surname shared with settled families. Explore the unique culture of Ireland’s Traveller community through 60 distinctive Irish traveller surnames. These names are not just identifiers but windows into the vibrant history, traditions, and resilience of Irish Travellers. Learn about the origins and meanings of these cherished Irish Traveller surnames.
Quick answer:
- Top five: McDonagh, Ward, Connors, O’Brien and Maughan were the most common Traveller surnames in both 1960 and 1981, and covered a third of all Traveller families in 1981.
- Next six: add Stokes, Joyce, Mongan, McCarthy, Reilly and O’Donoghue and you cover nearly half of all Traveller families.
- Not exclusive: no surname belongs only to Travellers. Every name here is shared with settled Irish families and has an ordinary Gaelic or Norman origin.
- Regional ties: in 1981 most Ward and Sweeney families, and nearly half of Mongan families, lived in Galway, Mayo or Roscommon, half of the Connors families lived in the south-east, and most O’Brien and O’Driscoll families lived in Cork or Kerry.
- Recognition: the State formally recognised Irish Travellers as a distinct ethnic group on 1 March 2017, and Census 2022 counted 32,949 Irish Travellers.
Where Irish Traveller Surnames Come From
Irish Travellers are a minority community with their own customs, history and language, Shelta (often called Cant or Gammon). The State formally recognised them as a distinct ethnic group when Taoiseach Enda Kenny made a statement in Dáil Éireann on 1 March 2017. Census 2022 counted 32,949 Irish Travellers living in the State, up 6% from 30,987 in 2016.
Their surnames are Irish surnames. A 2017 genetic study, led by RCSI and the University of Edinburgh, confirmed that Travellers are of Irish ancestry and estimated that they began to separate from the settled population about 12 generations ago, in the mid-1600s. So nearly every name below is shared with settled families, and its meaning comes from the same Gaelic or Norman roots. A surname on its own tells you nothing about whether someone is a Traveller.
What does stand out is how many Traveller families share a small number of surnames. The most detailed published count is the 1981 Census of Traveller Families, analysed by the ESRI in 1986. Of 2,501 families, a third had one of five surnames (McDonagh, Ward, Connors, O’Brien and Maughan), the same top five as in a 1960 count for the Commission on Itinerancy. Some names were strongly regional too: seven in ten Ward families lived in Galway, Mayo or Roscommon, and almost nine in ten O’Driscoll families lived in Cork or Kerry.
Here are the 15 most common names from that count, and where most of the families with each name lived:
Each entry below gives the surname’s Irish form and documented origin and, where the name was one of the most common Traveller surnames in 1981, how many families had it and where they lived (regions are the old health board areas, so “the Dublin area” means Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow). Surnames without a 1981 figure are Irish names people often ask about; none was shared by nine or more Traveller families in that count. For first names and other surname lists, see our guide to Irish names.
Checked against Patrick Woulfe’s Irish Names and Surnames, the ESRI’s 1981 Census of Traveller Families report, CSO Census 2022 results and Pavee Point in October 2026.
60 Irish Traveller Surnames
Berry (Ó Béara) – Meaning “descendant of Béara,” the name of an old Offaly family that was also found in Mayo. 25 Traveller families were Berrys in 1981.
Carroll (Ó Cearbhaill) – Meaning “descendant of Cearbhall,” a name tied to fierceness and leadership.
Carty (Ó Cárthaigh) – Derived from “descendant of Cárthach,” meaning loving, the name of old families in Tipperary, Clare and Roscommon.
Casey (Ó Cathasaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Cathasach,” referring to watchful or vigilant. 18 Traveller families were Caseys in 1981.
Cash (Ó Cais) – Derived from “descendant of Cas,” meaning bent or curly. 31 Traveller families were Cashes in 1981.
Cawley (Mac Amhalghaidh) – Meaning “son of Amhalghaidh,” an ancient Irish personal name; the best-known family of the name were lords of Calraighe in Co. Westmeath. 48 Traveller families were Cawleys in 1981, over half of them in the Dublin area and the north-east.
Coffey (Ó Cobhthaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Cobhthach,” translating to victorious or triumphant. 35 Traveller families were Coffeys in 1981.
Collins (Ó Coileáin) – Meaning “descendant of Coileán,” translating to young warrior or cub, symbolising vitality. Of the 45 Traveller families named Collins in 1981, over half lived in the Dublin area.
Connors (Ó Conchobhair) – Meaning “descendant of Conchobhar,” a name Woulfe explains as “high-will or desire” (it’s often translated as lover of hounds), a strong and noble name. It was the third most common Traveller surname in 1981 (176 families), with half of them in the south-east (Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford). Our guide to the O’Connor surname covers its separate ruling families.
Delaney (Ó Dubhshláine) – Meaning “descendant of Dubhshláine” (“black of the Slaney”), an old Laois family at the foot of Slieve Bloom. 32 Traveller families were Delaneys in 1981.
Doherty (Ó Dochartaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Dochartach,” translating to hurtful or disobliging; the O’Dohertys became lords of Inishowen in Donegal. 10 Traveller families were Dohertys in 1981.
Doran (Ó Deoráin) – Meaning “descendant of Deorán,” translating to an exile or stranger, the name of a great Leinster family of brehons (judges).
Fahey (Ó Fathaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Fathadh,” from an old word for foundation, the name of a Co. Galway family of Uí Maine.
Flynn (Ó Floinn) – Meaning “descendant of Flann,” translating to red-haired or ruddy. 12 Traveller families were Flynns in 1981, and Senator Eileen Flynn became the first Traveller woman in the Oireachtas in 2020.
Folan (Mac Fhualain) – Meaning “son of Faolán,” from faol, a wolf, the name of an old Co. Galway family.
Furey (Ó Fíodhabhra) – Meaning “descendant of Fíodhabhra,” which Woulfe translates as bushy-eyebrows; an old Westmeath family whose name later became most common in Co. Galway. Fury is another spelling of the same name: boxer Tyson Fury, whose father was born in Tuam, Co. Galway, comes from an Irish Traveller family.
Gallagher (Ó Gallchobhair) – Meaning “descendant of Gallchobhar,” translating to foreign helper or ally.
Gilligan (Ó Giollagáin) – Meaning “descendant of Giollagán,” referring to a young servant or follower, tied to ancient clan traditions.
Gorman (Ó Gormáin) – Meaning “descendant of Gormán,” translating to blue or noble, tied to ancient warriors.
Harty (Ó hAthartaigh) – A variant of Ó Fathartaigh, the name of an Offaly family that had spread to Tipperary, Limerick, Cork and Kerry by the late 1500s. 12 Traveller families were Hartys in 1981.
Higgins (Ó hUiginn) – Meaning “descendant of Uige,” from a word for knowledge or skill, the name of one of Ireland’s most distinguished families of poets.
Hogan (Ó hÓgáin) – Meaning “descendant of Ógán,” translating to young or youthful, symbolic of vitality.
Joyce (Seoigh) – A Norman name integrated into Irish culture; the family came from Wales, and the Galway Joyces gave their name to Joyce Country in Connemara. 62 Traveller families were Joyces in 1981, most of them in the Dublin area, the north-east and the midlands.
Keane (Ó Catháin) – Meaning “descendant of Cathán,” referring to battle or strength.
Keogh (Mac Eochadha) – Meaning “son of Eochaidh,” a very common personal name in early Ireland; one Leinster branch was famous for its poets.
Lawrence (Labhrás) – From the Latin first name Laurentius, common among the Anglo-Normans. 30 Traveller families were Lawrences (including the Laurence spelling) in 1981.
MacMahon (Mac Mathghamhna) – Derived from “son of Mathghamhain,” meaning bear, symbolising strength.
Maughan (Ó Mocháin) – Derived from “descendant of Mochán,” from moch, early; the same name is also anglicised Mohan and Vaughan. It was the fifth most common Traveller surname in 1981 (94 families), most of them in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon or the Dublin area.
McCaffrey (Mac Gafraidh) – Derived from “son of Godfrey,” the name of a branch of the Maguires of Fermanagh.
McCann (Mac Cana) – Woulfe gives the meaning as “son of Annadh”; the McCanns were lords of Clann Breasail, beside Lough Neagh in Co. Armagh.
McCarthy (Mac Cárthaigh) – Meaning “son of Cárthach” (loving), the great Munster family who were kings of Desmond. 55 Traveller families were McCarthys in 1981, spread across Munster and the Dublin area.
McDonagh (Mac Donnchadha) – Common in Traveller communities, meaning “son of Donnchadh,” a brown or strong warrior. It was the most common Traveller surname in both 1960 and 1981 (235 families), and the most widely spread across the country.
McGinley (Mag Fhionnghaile) – Meaning “son of Fionnghal” (fair valour), a well-known Donegal family, some of whom settled in Westmeath and Longford. 28 Traveller families were McGinleys in 1981.
McLaughlin (Mac Lochlainn) – Meaning “son of Lochlainn,” a personal name of Norse origin; the family were the senior branch of the northern Uí Néill, based in Inishowen.
Mongan (Ó Mongáin) – Meaning “descendant of Mongán,” linked to someone with long or thick hair, a sign of vitality. Woulfe notes it is usually anglicised Mangan, with Mongan kept in Mayo and elsewhere. 59 Traveller families were Mongans in 1981, nearly half of them in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
Mullins (Ó Maoláin) – Meaning “descendant of Maolán,” referring to a devotee or someone bald, often linked to monastic origins.
Murphy (Ó Murchadha) – Meaning “descendant of Murchadh,” or sea warrior, linked to strength and resilience. There’s more on its several origins in our Murphy surname guide.
Nevin (Ó Cnáimhín) – Meaning “descendant of Cnáimhín,” from cnámh, a bone; some Nevins descend instead from Mac Naoimhín, “son of the little saint.” 36 Traveller families were Nevins in 1981, and Mullingar boxer John Joe Nevin, an Irish Traveller, won Olympic silver in London in 2012.
O’Brien (Ó Briain) – Meaning “descendant of Brian,” a noble family linked to Irish kingship, popular among Travellers. In 1981, 142 Traveller families were O’Briens, over half of them in Cork and Kerry. See our history of the O’Brien surname for the Brian Boru connection.
O’Byrne (Ó Broin) – Meaning “descendant of Bran,” referring to the raven, a sacred symbol in Irish mythology.
O’Dempsey (Ó Díomasaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Díomasaigh,” translating to proud or self-assured.
O’Donoghue (Ó Donnchadha) – Meaning “descendant of Donnchadh” (brown or strong warrior), with famous branches around Killarney in Kerry. 49 Traveller families were O’Donoghues or Donoghues in 1981.
O’Driscoll (Ó hEidirsceóil) – Meaning “descendant of Eidirsceol,” referring to an interpreter or go-between. Almost nine in ten of the 44 Traveller families named O’Driscoll in 1981 lived in Cork and Kerry, the family’s old home.
O’Halloran (Ó hAllmhuráin) – Meaning “descendant of Allmhurán,” translating to stranger from beyond the sea, with old families in Galway and Clare.
O’Kelly (Ó Ceallaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Ceallach,” associated with war or strife. Our Kelly surname guide covers its many separate families.
O’Leary (Ó Laoghaire) – Meaning “descendant of Laoghaire” (calf-keeper), a West Cork family from around Inchigeelagh. 27 Traveller families were O’Learys in 1981.
O’Shea (Ó Séaghdha) – Meaning “descendant of Séaghdha,” referring to stately or majestic individuals.
Power (de Paor) – A Norman name from le Poer, “the poor,” the family that came over with Strongbow and settled in Waterford. 27 Traveller families were Powers in 1981.
Price (Prís) – From the Welsh ap Rhys, “son of Rhys,” and an old surname in Ireland.
Quilligan (Ó Cuileagain) – A form of Ó Colgan, “descendant of Colga,” an old Offaly family name that was also common in Clare. 38 Traveller families were Quilligans in 1981.
Quinn (Ó Cuinn) – Meaning “descendant of Conn,” translating to intelligence or wisdom, a very common surname in all parts of Ireland.
Reilly (Ó Raghallaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Raghallach,” the family who ruled Breifne in Co. Cavan; Riley and O’Reilly are the same name. 53 Traveller families had one of these spellings in 1981.
Sheridan (Ó Sirideáin) – Meaning “descendant of Sirideán,” an old church family of Granard, Co. Longford, who later moved to Cavan.
Stokes (Stóc) – From the English place name Stoke (Old English stoc, a village), introduced into Ireland around the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. It was the sixth most common Traveller surname in 1981 (68 families), spread mainly across the midlands, the Dublin area and the north-west.
Sweeney (Mac Suibhne) – Meaning “son of Suibhne” (well-going), the famous gallowglass family of Donegal. Two-thirds of the 40 Traveller families named Sweeney in 1981 lived in Galway, Mayo or Roscommon.
Swords – Probably taken from the town of Swords (Sord) in north Co. Dublin, though the standard surname dictionaries don’t cover it, so its Irish form is uncertain.
Terry (Tuiridh) – A Norman name from Tyrry, a form of the Old English personal name Thuri, recorded in Kilkenny and Cork since the 1290s; the Terrys gave Cork city more than twenty mayors.
Tierney (Ó Tighearnaigh) – Meaning “descendant of Tighearnach,” referring to lordly or noble heritage.
Tobin (Tóibín) – Derived from Norman settlers named de St. Aubyn, after St. Aubin in Brittany; the Tobins settled early in Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Ward (Mac an Bhaird) – Meaning “son of the bard,” from the hereditary families of poets who served the O’Donnells of Donegal and the O’Kellys of Galway. It was the second most common Traveller surname in 1981 (183 families), and seven in ten of them lived in Galway, Mayo or Roscommon.
Irish Traveller Surnames: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common surnames in the Irish Traveller community?
Common surnames in the Irish Traveller community include Ward, McDonagh, Connors, O’Brien and Maughan. These were the top five in both 1960 and 1981, and between them covered a third of all Traveller families in 1981. These surnames are deeply rooted in the history and traditions of Travellers, often passed down through generations and widely recognized within their community.
Is Maughan, Delaney or Joyce a Traveller name?
Not exclusively. Maughan (94 families), Joyce (62) and Delaney (32) were among the most common Traveller surnames in 1981, but all three are shared with settled Irish families, as is every other name on this list. Kelly, Murphy, Quinn, Higgins and McCann are ordinary Irish surnames that weren’t among the most common Traveller surnames in 1981.
How many Irish Travellers are there?
Census 2022 counted 32,949 Irish Travellers living in the State, up 6% from 30,987 in 2016 and less than 1% of the population. Galway City, Longford and Offaly had the highest share of Travellers.
Are Irish Travellers related to Roma?
No. The 2017 genetic study led by RCSI and the University of Edinburgh, published in Scientific Reports, found that Irish Travellers are of Irish ancestry and have no particular genetic links to European Roma. Travellers are sometimes searched for as “gypsies,” but they’re a distinct Irish ethnic group, and many Travellers find that word offensive when it’s used about them.
Who are some famous Irish Travellers?
Well-known Irish Travellers include boxer Francie Barrett, who carried Ireland’s flag at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics; John Joe Nevin, Olympic bantamweight silver medallist in 2012; playwright Rosaleen McDonagh, the first Traveller elected to Aosdána, in 2017; and Senator Eileen Flynn. Folk singer and banjo player Pecker Dunne (1932 to 2012) was a Traveller too, and English heavyweight Tyson Fury is of Irish Traveller heritage.
How do Traveller surnames reflect the history and culture of their community?
Traveller surnames reflect a culture of resilience, familial ties, and oral traditions. Because so many Traveller families share a small number of surnames, a name like Ward or McDonagh often points to a wider kinship group, and some names were still tied to particular regions in 1981. These surnames often signify strong identities tied to their community’s distinct heritage and shared experiences.
Are there any specific meanings behind these Irish traveller surnames?
Many Traveller surnames have Gaelic origins with meanings tied to nature, professions, or personal traits. For instance, McDonagh means “son of Donnchadh,” referring to a brown or strong warrior. Connors comes from Ó Conchobhair, meaning “descendant of Conchobhar,” a name Woulfe explains as “high-will or desire.” Others, such as Stokes, Tobin and Power, arrived with the Normans.
How have Irish Traveller surnames changed or been preserved over time?
Traveller surnames have been both preserved and adapted over time. While many retain their traditional Gaelic roots, some have been anglicized due to historical pressures, such as British rule or migration. Despite these changes, Traveller families have maintained their distinct naming practices, using surnames as a way to preserve their unique identity.
How can these Irish Traveller surnames help us understand the Traveller’s way of life?
Traveller surnames offer insights into the community’s history, values, and social structures. They highlight the importance of family ties, nomadic traditions, and cultural resilience. By studying these surnames, we gain a deeper understanding of the Traveller community’s enduring legacy and its contributions to Irish heritage.
