There are several Irish surnames that you might be surprised to find out have French roots.
Some of the Irish surnames that have been around for more than ten centuries in Ireland actually came from French names or words.
This is down to the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in the latter 12 century. During the invasion, the Normans brought with them Old French language that was used by the nobility of medieval England and France.
As a result, many Irish surnames that have survived to the modern day hold French roots. Let’s take a look at five Irish surnames that are actually French, not Irish.
5. Fitzpatrick – the only surviving surname with the French ‘Fitz’ prefix
In the same way that the ‘O’ and ‘Mac/Mc’ prefixes in Irish surnames denote family lineage, ‘Fitz’ comes from the French language ‘Fils’ meaning ‘son of’.
The same can be said for the Hiberno-Norman surname Fitzgerald. Fitzpatrick is a really unique Irish surname, and actually the only surviving Irish surname with the French ‘Fitz’ prefix.
Combining the French prefix with the classic Irish name Patrick, this is a true representation of the lasting effects of invasion to the modern day.
4. Power – a funny contrast to its French definition
Power is an interesting one, because this word in English is generally associated with influence, direction, and leadership.
However, this Irish surname actually comes from the French word povre, meaning poor, or poure, meaning pauper. So actually almost the opposite to what the word means in English.
People who arrived in Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion would have had the surnames le Poer, or de la Poer. This was Gaelicised to de Paor, then anglicised to Power.
While the name had an early root meaning poverty, the Power family in Ireland at this time rose to prominence and acquired several vast estates in south-east Ireland.
3. Burke – from the French de Burgh
During the Anglo-Norman invasion, people landing in on Irish soil with this surname would’ve been called de Burgh or de Burgo.
The French/Germanic part of the name, burh or burg, means a “fortified place,” “citadel,” or “borough”. As such, with the French ‘de’ meaning from, the name translates to “from the fortress or castle”.
The family founder in Ireland was William de Burgo, a Norman knight who arrived in the 12th century. Over generations, the family integrated deeply into Irish society, adopting the Gaelicized form de Búrca. The name then became Burke, or Bourke.
There are several notable people with this name, including 18th century philosopher Edmund Burke, and comedian and actress Kathy Burke. This is one of the Irish names that sound Irish but aren’t.
2. Costello – this name went on an interesting journey to become what it is today
The man who is said to have brought this name to Ireland during the invasion was a knight named de Angulo, descended from a man named Gilbert de Nangle.
The son of Gilbert was given the Irish name Oisdealbhach. This name combines os (deer or fawn) and dealbhhadh (resembling).
Interestingly, descendants adopted the Irish prefix ‘Mac’, and so they became Mac Oisdealbhaigh, one of the earliest examples of a Norman family taking the traditional Irish prefix.
Eventually, the name was simplified and anglicised to the Costello we still see frequently around Ireland today.
1. Barry – interesting ties to Wales
This name ties in with Irish surnames that are actually Welsh, because the Normans with the name de Barri took the name from Barry Island in Wales (shout out Gavin & Stacey).
The Normans apparently settled there before their Irish invasion in the latter half of the 12th century. The surname then became de Barra in Irish, then eventually anglicised to Barry.
You can see evidence of this family in all over Munster today. As they became one of the dominant lordly dynasties in Munster, they gave their name to regions like Barrymore and Barryroe in County Cork.
