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Irish surname

Gleeson: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Glasáin · 'descendant of Glasán' (diminutive of glas, grey)

Gleeson comes from the Irish Ó Glasáin, 'descendant of Glasán', from glas, grey. Woulfe calls it a common surname in all the south of Ireland, especially Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Kilkenny. In 1890 almost half of all Gleeson births were registered in Tipperary.

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Coat of arms associated with the Gleeson surname
Irish formÓ Glasáin
Meaning'descendant of Glasán' (diminutive of glas, grey)
CountiesTipperary, Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny
Other spellings6

Origin of the Gleeson name

Woulfe: Ó Glasáin is 'a common surname in all the south of Ireland', 'especially in Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Kilkenny'. He notes the Irish name is 'now generally pronounced Ó Gliasáin'.[1][2]

  1. 1890Birth indexes: 82 Gleeson births, 63 of them in Munster.[3]
  2. 1902Evelyn Gleeson co-founds the Dun Emer Guild in Dundrum, Co. Dublin.[4]
  3. 1908The Yeats sisters leave Dun Emer to form Cuala Industries.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. Tipperary38 of 82 Gleeson births in the 1890 indexes; named by Woulfe.[1][3]
Co. Limerick13 Gleeson births in 1890; named by Woulfe.[1][3]
Co. CorkNamed by Woulfe; among the counties holding most remaining 1890 births.[1][3]
Co. KilkennyNamed by Woulfe; among the counties holding most remaining 1890 births.[1][3]

Notable people named Gleeson

Evelyn Gleeson1855–1944Co-founded the Dun Emer Guild (1902) with the Yeats sisters; oversaw its tapestry and rug work.[4]

Other spellings

Gleason · Glissane · Glessane · Glissawn · O Glassane · O Gleasan[1]

The Gleeson coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Gleeson surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Gleeson crest gifts

Clan Gleeson Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapDO63 Classic Cap - Gleeson Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Gleeson Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

Gleeson surname: questions

What does Gleeson mean?

Gleeson is from the Irish Ó Glasáin, 'descendant of Glasán', a diminutive of glas, grey.[1]

Where in Ireland is Gleeson from?

Woulfe calls it common in all the south of Ireland, especially Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Kilkenny. In 1890, 38 of 82 Gleeson births were in Tipperary.[1][3]

Are Gleeson and Gleason the same name?

Yes. Woulfe lists both Gleeson and Gleason as anglicised forms of Ó Glasáin.[1]

How is Gleeson written in Irish?

Ó Glasáin; Woulfe notes it is now generally pronounced Ó Gliasáin.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Glasáin – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/names/og/o-glasain.php
  2. Ó Gliasáin (cross-reference) – Irish Names and Surnames (Woulfe, 1923), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/names/og/o-gliasain.php
  3. Gleeson – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909; 1890 birth indexes), Library Ireland. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/gleeson.php
  4. Susan and Elizabeth, The Yeats Sisters, Women's Museum of Ireland. womensmuseumofireland.ie/exhibits/yeats-sisters

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).