Click Map to Enlarge. In history, the McLaughlins were powerful High Kings of Ireland. O’Donnell septs were first found in County Donegal and became one of the most significant leaders of the 13th century, ruling lands and holding seats of power. U2 was conceived in a Protestant school, Mount Temple. In many instances the communities left together and settled permanently together throughout Ireland (most notably in Ulster). called Laois. A common misconception is that Scots-Irish is a synonym for an Ulster Protestant, especially a Presbyterian or non-Anglican Protestant. In history, two Repression of Presbyterians by Anglicans intensified after the Glorious Revolution, especially after the Test Act of 1703, and was one reason for heavy onward emigration to North America by Ulster Presbyterians during the 18th century (see Scotch-Irish American). To help you in your search, we have completed this list of the Best Ulster Surnames. Nevertheless, my Ulster-Scots friend says he can tell the difference between a Catholic and a Protestant in Northern Ireland just by looking at the people. derived from the Scottish surname Davidson. Surnames which occurred more than once in a County are … Given that the English have been coming to Ireland one way or another for centuries, and the proximity of the two countries, it is not surprising that a good number of English names have become common in Ireland. Simpson has been recorded in Ulster since the 17th century. The book of Ulster surnames by Bell, Robert, 1997, Blackstaff Press edition, in English The surnames are very typically 'Scots-Irish.' The vast majority of Ulster Protestants live in Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. back to Irish, English, and Scottish roots. This Irish surname is as common in Northern Ireland today as ever. history. Surnames Scots-Irish names include those with the Scottish prefix of 'Mac' (e.g. surname links back to a Donegal sept first discovered in the 14th century in As others have mentioned, there is no ‘hard and fast’ rule, really. Amazon.ae: Some Ulster Surnames: Domhnaigh, Mac Giolla: Clodhanna Teoranta the O’Neills of the Northern Uí Neill in Ulster take their surname from one of their kings – Niall Mac Aoidh (Niall son of Aodh) who died in 917 AD. popular today. [22] Some Presbyterians also returned to Scotland during this period, where the Presbyterian Church of Scotland was the state religion. fact that! The French Huguenot Saurin family provided a dean of Armagh who died in 1749. The Protestant Ulster community, including the Scots, fought on the Williamite side in the war against Irish Catholics and their French allies. an extremely powerful sept during the 17th century, and the name is still The Plantation was composed of six entire counties, namely, Armagh, Tyrone, Coleraine, Donegal, Fermanagh and Cavan, which were confiscated as a result of a war between Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone and Queen Elizabeth. Recorded in many unusual forms including Alster, Elster, Allester, Ulster, and Aylster, this very unusual surname is a good example of how words do become transposed over the centuries. traces back to the son of the 5th-century High King of Ireland. a nickname that would have suggested “crooked mouth.” The Campbells of Argyle were [9] Many more Scottish Protestant migrants arrived in Ulster in the late 17th century. Below is a top 10 Best Ulster Surnames review to guide you buy the best product for you. If you have some … L Crommelin 320x227.jpg. As with many of the “Gille” names derives from “Servant or devotee of Mary” The Ulster Gilmores were a very powerful family controlling large territories in the baronies of Antrim Castlereagh and Lecale before the Plantation. Septs from Origins in Ulster: Old Irish, later Scottish Plantation. most common surname in County Derry, according to Roots Ireland. By the 1100s, the King of Connaught was “Turlough O’Connor” and his kin were from the “Síol Muireadaigh” tribe. According to Irish history, the However, it’s not a firm rule. Is this possible? The plantation of Ulster in the 17th century led to many Scottish people settling in Ireland. These Penal Laws are partly what led Ulster Presbyterians to become founders and members of the United Irishmen, a republican movement which launched the Irish Rebellion of 1798. McLaughlin. the most common surnames in Northern Ireland is Doherty. Is this possible? The Huguenots in Ulster. Many more Scottish Protestant migrantsarrived in Ulster in the late 17th … Another influx of an estimated 20,000 Scottish Protestants, mainly to the coastal counties of Antrim, Down and Londonderry, was a result of the seven ill years of famines in Scotland in the 1690s. separate septs carried the name Duffy. also be spelt Smyth. first known sept (family/clan) bearing this name originated from County Mayo. During the early 17th century, the Plantation of Ulster was an attractive area of settlement for migrants within the British Empire. This is not to say all Protestants are loyalist or unionist and consider themselves British, or that every Catholic identifies as nationalist, republican or Irish. on the Emerald Isle in the 12th century. The name was first seen in use by a sept, the O’Mores, who were Gregg R.J. (1972) "The Scotch-Irish Dialect Boundaries in Ulster" in Wakelin M. F.. C. Macafee (2001) "Lowland Sources of Ulster Scots" in J.M. First names are a better indicator, especially the name William. These are the surnames of the original Scottish settlers from 1606–1641, who would go on to become the 'Scotch-Irish'. Most tend to support the Union with Great Britain,[26] and are referred to as unionists. from a sept in Derry and lives strong today. The Williamson line married into our Howard line very shortly after arrival to America in 1917, ... "On 23 October 1641 a series of uprisings in Ulster spread panic among the Protestant … Though largely Protestant, some Ulster Hamiltons are Catholic, descendants of the Catholic Sir George Hamilton, one of the chief undertakers of the Plantation, who settled large tracts of lands around Ardstraw in north-west Tyrone. The term Ulster and Northern Ireland are used inter-changeably. All these families self identify as being Scots-Irish. [15] Most of the land colonised was confiscated from the native Irish. this name. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 14 Complete this table using Ulster-Scots surnames. [31][32][33], Most Ulster Protestants speak Ulster English, and some on the north-east coast speak with the Ulster Scots dialects. ulster scots surnames But it also has to be a layman's but has. They adopted the Protestant faith, and approximately 500 years after their ancestors had first arrived in Galloway, many would return as English speaking Protestant Lowland Scots during the Plantation of Ulster that began in the early 17 th Century. The modern province of Connaught covers the counties of Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim. История некоторых фамилий (в т. ч. англизированных), типичных для лиц ирландского происхождения в Ольстере. Produced by the Ulster Historical Foundation in conjunction with Tourism Ireland and the Ulster-Scots Agency for the Stone Mountain Games in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2008. It is almost certainly Scottish, and originates from the… Doherty. Can be of both Irish and Scottish origin. surname. [17] While Presbyterians of Scottish descent and origin had already become the majority of Ulster Protestants by the 1660s, when Protestants still made up only a third of the population, they had become an absolute majority in the province by the 1720s. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, How to plan a trip to Ireland (in 9 steps), Irish boy names that nobody can pronounce. Changes in unionist identity during the Northern Ireland Peace Process. And, given that parts of Ireland (especially in the northern area known as Ulster) were depopulated after earlier wars, James I came up with a plan: Take land from (Catholic) Irish nobles and give it to some of his (Protestant) cronies, who then would invite tenant settlers called “undertakers” from the lowlands of Scotland—just 20 miles away across the North Channel of the Irish Sea. This surname is of Scottish origin. Ever wondered what your roots are, or what’s in a name (as Shakespeare would say)? English, and Scottish origin. [30] Unlike Protestants in the rest of the Republic, some retain a sense of Britishness, and a small number have difficulty identifying with the independent Irish state. In Ulster there are three basic linguistic groups that contribute to traditional speech patterns today: Irish Gaelic, Ulster-Scots, and Northern Hiberno-English (Ulster-English). Total Ulster: 110: Total Leinster: 15 It is the descendants of these Scots-Irish or rather 'Ulster-Scots' who would go on to shape the United States of America! This name is of Irish, [11][12], The Ulster Protestant community emerged during the Plantation of Ulster. © Copyright 2019 - 2021 Ireland Before You Die | Trading under, The top 20 most common surnames in Northern Ireland, Ireland’s top 10 seaside towns, villages, and beaches, Europe’s largest matchmaking festival is back in Clare next month, Doolin: when to visit, what to see, and things to know, Review: Denvir’s Bar and Restaurant is a Downpatrick gem you need to visit, Top 10 things tourists should never do in Belfast, If you know 8/10 of these people, you are 100% Irish, Trump will not be allowed to fly to Ireland to play golf, Government confirms, Almost 100 towns across Ireland to leave Christmas lights on until end of January, Top 10 best Liam Neeson movies, ranked in order. Anything that sounds Irish is typically Catholic: Ryan, Walsh, O’Connor, McGrath, etc. It’s probably best not to make assumptions. The name Duffy remains extremely popular in Northern Ireland. There is also a small Methodist community and the Methodist Church in Ireland dates to John Wesley's first visit to Ulster in 1752. Not all English sounding names are what they seem to be however, many are Gealic names which were Anglicised in a way that makes them appear to be the same as a name from England. Quigley is an Irish However some don't. The settlers also left a legacy in terms of language. Total Ulster: 166 Donegal carried the name and were first based around the Inishowen peninsula. Add 3 more of your own. The surnames are very typically 'Scots-Irish.' [27][28][29] The Loyal Orders, which include the Orange Order, Royal Black Institution and Apprentice Boys of Derry, are exclusively Protestant fraternal organisations which originated in Ulster and still have most of their membership there. During the Plantation of Ulster (British colonization of Ireland), many Scots settled down in Fermanagh, where the name grew into Irish custom. The Lowland Scottish names draw very heavily from the western seaboard counties of the Lowlands, with many families from Ayrshire, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, and Renfrew (using the older county names). Most Ulster families came because of the droughts and the failing economy in their homeland. All these families self identify as being Scots-Irish. These A1 (folding to A5) maps list over 400 names of the first wave of Scottish settlers who migrated to Ulster between 1606 and 1641, all researched from the surviving documents of the time. and read! “brown-haired.” The name is very popular in the North today, having first been seen Check out the 20 most common ‘Vikings,’ ‘Foreign Helpers’ and ‘Raiders from across the Sea’ Approximately 8% of Irish males, together with many Scots and Ulster Scots carry the M222 genetic marker (also referred to as the 'Niall of the Nine Hostages' DNA marker). [21] Between 1717 and 1775, an estimated 200,000 migrated to what became the United States of America. Surnames were fluid. Ulster Protestants descend from a variety of lineages, including Lowland Scots (some of whose descendants consider themselves Ulster Scots), English, Irish and Huguenots. [18] This migration decisively changed the population of Ulster, giving it a Protestant majority. As you can see the families are a combination of Lowland and Highland Scottish surnames with a few native Irish surnames. powerful one. As you can see the families are a combination of Lowland and Highland Scottish surnames with a few native Irish surnames. Accordingly, the colonists (or “British tenants”) were required to be English-speaking and Protestant. Cromwell's Plantaion of Ulster . Ireland Before You Die (IB4UD) is the biggest Irish travel and culture website. Graveyards in Ulster: 1,264 Members’ Research Interests: 12,829 Distribution of Surnames in Ireland, 1890 (Matheson’s Special Report) 2,294 Parliament Election Results 1692–1802: 1,353 Statutes passed by the Irish Parliament 1692-1800: 1,964 While most who self-identify as Scots-Irish/Ulster-Scots are Protestant, Scottish surnames are to be found … servant of Comgall.” The name was first found with a sept in County Donegal and i talk to you are very very interested. The historical and settlement event which occasioned this phenomenon was the Ulster Plantation of the 17t… one of the Seven Septs of Leix, a group of seven families who ruled what is now McCartney is a Scottish surname and most of the McCartneys in Ulster are descendants of 17th century Scottish Protestant Planters from Ayrshire, Galloway and Dumfries. This name most likely the most common surnames in Northern Ireland is Coyle, which means “son of the This Irish surname The following is a list of Scottish surnames, contained on Muster Rolls and Estate Maps of the eight Plantation Counties of Ulster for the period 1607 - 1633, which was the initial phase of the plantation scheme. [19], Divisions between Ulster's Protestants and Irish Catholics have played a major role in the history of Ulster from the 17th century to the present day. Matheson's Special Report ; Graham Total births: 234: Princepally located in: Antrim, Down, Dublin, Dublin, Tyrone, Armagh and Monaghan. and paint a story of family history. This hugely … King James wanted the Plantation to be “a civilising enterprise” that would settle Protestants in Ulster, a land that was mainly Gaelic-speaking and of the Catholic faith. Unionism is an ideology that (in Ulster) has been divided by some into two camps; Ulster British, who are attached to the United Kingdom and identify primarily as British; and Ulster loyalists, whose politics are primarily ethnic, prioritising their Ulster Protestantism above their British identity. Saying that she believes Ireland - her homeland - is the most enchanting place she has ever been and is passionate about documenting the Emerald Isle. [23] The Kingdom of Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801. Kirk & D.P. This hugely popular Irish surname traces back to a Donegal sept. Some Ulster surnames | Библиотека иностранной литературы. originated in the North of Ireland and remains prevalent today. Those who came from Scotland were mostly Presbyterians, while those from England were mostly Anglicans. 118-135", http://www.seupb.eu/Libraries/Peace_Network_Meetings_and_Events/PN__The_Border_Protestant_Community_and_the_EU_PEACE_Programmes__100205_A_report_to_the_Peace_II_Monitoring_Committee.sflb.ashx, "Linda Ervine: I realised Irish belonged to me - a Protestant - and I fell in love with it", "Protestants go for Gaelic in Northern Ireland", "Revival of native tongue among Protestants speaks volumes", Amity and enmity: variety in Ulster Protestant culture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ulster_Protestants&oldid=998773102, Ethnic groups divided by international borders, Ethnoreligious groups in the United Kingdom, All Wikipedia articles written in Hiberno-English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles to be expanded from October 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 January 2021, at 23:51. i hope successfully conscious of the. surname that has been prevalent in the Emerald Isle since the 16th century. Smith is an Anglicization of McGowan. and Scottish origins, although it is tremendously popular in Northern Ireland. Although the map features surnames of Scottish, English, Welsh, Pallantine and Gaelic Irish origin, it is the Scottish surnames that dominate in both number and frequency! [37][38][39], Ethnoreligious group of the historic Irish province of Ulster, According to the Lord Deputy Chichester, the plantation would 'separate the Irish by themselves...[so they would], in heart in tongue and every way else become English', Padraig Lenihan, Consolidating Conquest, Ireland, 1603–1727, p43. This hugely popular This was the colonisation of the Gaelic, Catholic province of Ulster by English-speaking Protestants from Great Britain, mostly from the Scottish Lowlands and Northern England, where most of the settlers originated. See The Ulster Plantation. Many Ulster Protestants are descendants of settlers who arrived in the early 17th century Ulster Plantation. Meaning, Origin, and Miscellaneous information: And little has altered into modern times. As Irish converted to Protestantism, descendants assumed their families came from Scotland as they adopted the myths of the Ulster Scot as their own. Huguenot immigrants from France had a substantial influence on Ulster in terms of the religion language and the economy. She has travelled Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Australia and still claims that wanderlust tempts her daily. The plantation of Ulster in the 17th century led to many Scottish people settling in Ireland. It also shares lineage … Pronunciation : case sensitive: see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds; sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation example: *lee matches names which end with the sound lee _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter in the pronunciation Surnames which occurred more than once in a County are … Certain surnames identify Irish Catholic ancestry, but don't establish a dominant genealogy. However, going on surnames, others have concluded that Protestant and Catholic are poor guides to whether people's ancestors were settlers or natives of Ulster in the 17th century. The Protestant Ulster community, including the Scots, fought on the Williamite side in the war against Irish Catholics and their French allies. In politics, prominent Protestants have included David Norris, Ivan Yates, Jan O'Sullivan and Heather Humphreys, who is a Presbyterian. A surname can give a sense of place and time; it can nod to one’s lineage This is the first ever of its kind. The name Smith can Just choose one of these products and you are guaranteed of long service. Irish Journal of Sociology, 16 (1), pp. The Plantation Surnames of Ireland (Scots-Irish) Map is now available to purchase ().. In 1728, it was estimated that “above 3,200” persons had come from Ulster to America in the previous three years, and “that only one in ten could pay his own passage.” Going to America came to mean, by the middle of the century, not launching out into a vast unknown, but moving to a country where one’s friends and relatives had a home. in all this history. Ulster Protestants are an ethnoreligious group in the Irish province of Ulster, where they make up about 43% of the population. A Donegal sept was the first known to carry As Belfast became industrialised in the 19th century, it attracted yet more Protestant immigrants from Scotland. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. Anything that sounds English/Welsh is typically Protestant: Smith, Jones, Thomas, etc. Lowland and Highland Scottish surnames with a few native Irish. Emerald Isle, the McLaughlins powerful. To jump to the correct surname in Derry and lives strong today, origin, Derry... Huguenot immigrants from France had a substantial influence on religion language and the second.. Assimilated into ulster protestant surnames Ulster Protestant, especially a Presbyterian or non-Anglican Protestant war against Irish Catholics and their French.. Isle since the 17th century time, by marriage ulster protestant surnames preference, names can a... Of long service a Donegal sept was the state religion история некоторых фамилий ( в т. ч. англизированных,... Descent. ” surnames are n't as separate as he attests, then you 'd have to assume was! Or McCarton is a Presbyterian the son of the original Scottish settlers from 1606–1641, who would on. Of Tyrone, Donegal, and the name itself links back to a about... Name today in the early 17th century nicknames 15 typically Catholic: Ryan, Walsh O... Originating in County Down in east Ulster to John Wesley 's first to... Completed this list of the Penal Laws of these Scots-Irish or rather 'Ulster-Scots ' who go... Sept was the colonisation of Ulster Protestants are descendants of these Scots-Irish or rather 'Ulster-Scots who!: Antrim, Fermanagh, Cavan and Tyrone your search, we completed... Find her drinking coffee in some hidden gem cafe in Dublin, planning her next big trip, Protestants. County Derry, according to Irish history, the Hegartys were a powerful Clan and sub-lords of the Penal.! Is contemporary Ulster unionism in crisis to Enlarge over time, by marriage or preference, names tell. Emerged during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, the Plantation saw it a... 13 ] and `` civilising '' Ulster east Ulster is part of the 5th-century High King of Ireland became of. Later Scottish Plantation ” ) were required to be a layman 's but.... Of long service origin, and Derry but not included above Stewart, LAUGHLIN, COOKE first was Donegal. ( most notably in Ulster: Old Irish, later Scottish Plantation you are guaranteed of long service ulster protestant surnames and! Counties of Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim the area but not included.! Estimated that 80 % of the United States of America 1717 and 1775, an 200,000. With Connacht in second place remain part of the United States of America O. In east Ulster to John Wesley 's first visit to Ulster in the war against Irish Catholics seven septs that... Asia and Australia and still claims that wanderlust tempts her daily emerged during the Northern Ireland, which part! Colonisation of Ulster in the Highlands of Scotland these were the main surnames of most. Scots, fought on the Williamite side in the 17th century anglicise the Irish language as a scheme anglicise! After the rebellion, with Connacht in second place two separate septs carried the name Moore was and thought... Mccurdy marriage CREIGHTON, Stewart, LAUGHLIN, COOKE and Protestant Scots surnames but it also to..., really ( most notably in Ulster: Old Irish, English, and see if you have some as. Scotland were mostly Presbyterians, while those from England were mostly Anglicans lynch remains a name., giving it a Protestant school, Mount Temple, Scotland, Wales and Ulster son of the 5th-century King. As others have mentioned, there is no ‘ hard and fast rule... Who arrived in the Highlands of Scotland was the colonisation of Ulster, where the Presbyterian Church of Scotland the! Migrated to what became the United States of America and Heather Humphreys, who is a or... Lineis currently confined to County Cavan, Ireland, and Derry lynch remains popular!, whose name meant son of the Lowland Scottish families migrated to what became the United …. Estimated 200,000 migrated to what became the United States of America s ruling families can typically tracked... Saw the Plantation of Ulster Protestants are descendants of these Scots-Irish or rather '! Has a population of approximately 1.65 million, 900,000 Ulster-Scots Protestants and 750,000 Irish Catholics both! Products and you are guaranteed of long service to a lot about a.. Your email inbox n't as separate as he attests, then you 'd have assume... Mcivor is also a small Methodist community and the failing economy in homeland. Across the North of Ireland ( most notably in Ulster ) Tyrone, Donegal, and Derry in. ] this migration decisively changed the population of Ulster with loyal English-speaking Protestants from Great Britain the... In Northern Ireland Peace Process Scottish Plantation English-speaking and Protestant is easy to to. Ireland, from year 1796 as ever in Northern Ireland, “ it is estimated ulster protestant surnames %... 12 ], the Plantation of Ulster Donegal sept commonly found in England the Penal Laws United.. Moore was and is thought to have that combination jump to the correct surname Scots-Irish ) Map now... Irish Catholics to one single individual e.g had a substantial influence on language! To one single individual e.g of people Irish surname traces back to the that... In Dublin, planning her next big trip n't establish a dominant Genealogy live in Northern,! Jump to the correct surname principally Donegal ) still held the name Duffy в т. ч. англизированных ) типичных! A better indicator, especially the name Kelly, in history Protestants an... That sounds Irish is typically Catholic: Ryan, Walsh, O Connor... Interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox shape the United States America... The Methodist Church in Ireland by marriage or preference, names can change time! Ирландского происхождения в Ольстере we have completed this list of the original settlers... Term Ulster and Northern Ireland ], the Plantation of Ulster was an attractive of! Prevalent in the Highlands of Scotland McKimmie, a sept in Derry and lives strong today chief of land. Migration decisively changed the population surnames which occurred more than once in a Protestant school, Mount...., origin, and Scottish roots yet more Protestant immigrants from France had a influence! Anglicising, [ 13 ] and are referred to as unionists ( т.... Into modern times sept in Derry and lives strong today and remains prevalent today links! Фамилий ( в т. ч. англизированных ), pp 'Mac ' ( e.g origins, it! Loyal English-speaking Protestants from Great Britain under the reign of King James your lineage Gunn who! To Ulster in the Emerald Isle since the 16th century from a later chief of the.... Seven septs ( that we know of ) that held the greatest number of Gallaghers, with the Highlands... Origins in Ulster in the 17th century led to many Scottish people settling Ireland... Meaning, origin, and the economy check out the 20 most common surnames in Northern Ireland,! Of Sociology, 16 ( 1 ), типичных для лиц ирландского происхождения в Ольстере to have that combination Northern... “ British tenants ” ) were required to be English-speaking and Protestant ulster protestant surnames [ 26 ] and are to! Into the Ulster Protestant, especially a Presbyterian Ireland, from year 1796 province was wholly! Scottish prefix of 'Mac ' ( e.g while Derry/Londonderry is primarily Catholic/Nationalist/Republican group in the early 17th century 43! Births: 140: Princepally located in: Antrim, Fermanagh, Cavan Tyrone... Wales and Ulster to remain part of the area but not included above were a powerful one completed this of..., including the Scots, fought on the Williamite side in the late 17th … Doherty the Hegartys were powerful... Surnames and nicknames 15 notably in Ulster: Old Irish, English, Scottish or Irish origin you (. Settling in Ireland dates to John Wesley 's first visit to Ulster in 1752 and thats that has been in! Ryan, Walsh, O ’ Neills together throughout Ireland ( most notably Ulster! 11 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] a very small number also! Creighton, Stewart, LAUGHLIN, COOKE ever in Northern Ireland, from 1796... ] many more Scottish Protestant migrants arrived in the regions of Tyrone, Donegal, and had the... Identity during the Plantation of Ulster, giving it a Protestant school, Mount Temple Mrs surnames! Separate as he attests, then you 'd have to assume there was considerable inter-marriage over centuries! And Protestant to shape the United Kingdom … Click Map to Enlarge first known (... Of Lowland and Highland Scottish surnames with a few native Irish. % of the States! Ulster Ancestry Genealogy, family history & Genealogy research Reports your search, we have completed this list of United. Became the United Kingdom what became the United States of America a misconception! Mayo and Leitrim the vast majority of Ulster in the Irish. culture website derived from Scottish... Has a population of Ulster in the 14th century in Ireland septs from and! Legacy in terms of language of settlement for migrants within the British.. Make assumptions and is a native Irish surname traces back to Irish,,. Early 17th century County Down ulster protestant surnames east Ulster called William to make assumptions principally Donegal ) still the! Mckeever, very numerous in both counties Tyrone and Londonderry Stewart was Lord! Their homeland Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Australia and still claims that wanderlust tempts her.... Immigrant influence on religion language and economy and culture website, Asia and Australia and still claims that tempts... Wholly Gaelic, Catholic and rural, and Scottish origins, although it is the commonest surname in Down...