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Irish surname

O'Callaghan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Ceallacháin · 'descendant of Ceallachán' (diminutive of Ceallach)

O'Callaghan and Callaghan anglicise Ó Ceallacháin, 'a well-known Munster family' descended from Ceallachán of Cashel, king of Munster in the 10th century (Woulfe, 1923). Driven from south Cork after the Anglo-Norman invasion, they held lands on the Blackwater west of Mallow until the Cromwellian confiscations. In 1890 Callaghan was Ireland's 43rd commonest surname, about 14,000 people.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Callaghan surname
Irish formÓ Ceallacháin
Meaning'descendant of Ceallachán' (diminutive of Ceallach)
CountiesCork, Clare, Mayo, Kerry
Other spellings4

Origin of the O'Callaghan name

Woulfe: descended from Ceallachán of Cashel, though the surname comes from a namesake four generations later. Originally chiefs of Cinel Aodha (barony of Kinalea, south Cork); driven out by Robert FitzStephen and Milo de Cogan, they settled on the Blackwater west of Mallow (Pobul Ui Cheallachain). A separate Mayo family were lords of Erris.[1]

  1. 952Death of Ceallachán (Callaghan), King of Cashel, after some ten years' reign.[2]
  2. Soon after the Anglo-Norman invasionO'Callaghans driven from Cinel Aodha by FitzStephen and de Cogan.[1]
  3. Cromwellian confiscationsThe head of the family is transplanted to Clare.[1]
  4. 1869J. C. O'Callaghan's History of the Irish Brigades in the Service of France published at Glasgow.[3]
  5. 1890250 Callaghan births (incl. spelling variants; O'Callaghan counted separately), chiefly Cork, Kerry, Dublin.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkCinel Aodha (Kinalea), then Kilshannig and Clonmeen on the Blackwater; 134 Cork entries in 1890.[1][5]
Co. ClareThe head of the family was transplanted here after the Cromwellian confiscations.[1]
Co. MayoA separate Ui Fiachrach family of the name, anciently lords of Erris.[1]
Co. KerrySecond county named for Callaghan births in 1890.[4]

Notable people named O'Callaghan

Ceallachán of Casheld. 952King of Munster (Webb: of Cashel); Keating tells of his capture by Sitric of Dublin and rescue. Ancestor of the O'Callaghans.[1][2]
John Cornelius O'Callaghan1805–1883Dublin-born historical writer; author of The Green Book and History of the Irish Brigades in the Service of France.[3]

Other spellings

Callaghan · O'Callahan · Callahan · Calligan[1]

The O'Callaghan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Callaghan 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.

O'Callaghan crest gifts

Clan Ocallaghan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapJB84 Classic Cap - Ocallaghan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ocallaghan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Callaghan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapXY40 Classic Cap - Callaghan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Callaghan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Callaghan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap XZ85 Callaghan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Callaghan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

O'Callaghan surname: questions

What does the surname O'Callaghan mean?

Woulfe gives O'Callaghan as an anglicised form of Ó Ceallacháin, 'descendant of Ceallachán', a diminutive of Ceallach.[1]

Are Callaghan, Callahan and O'Callaghan the same name?

Woulfe lists O'Callaghan, O'Callahan, Callaghan, Callahan and Calligan as anglicised forms of Ó Ceallacháin.[1]

Where in Ireland is O'Callaghan from?

Co. Cork: first the barony of Kinalea in the south, then the Blackwater west of Mallow (parishes of Kilshannig and Clonmeen). A separate family were lords of Erris in Co. Mayo.[1]

Are the O'Callaghans descended from a king?

Woulfe says they descend from Ceallachán of Cashel, king of Munster in the 10th century, but took the surname from a namesake four generations later.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Ceallacháin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-ceallachain.php
  2. Callaghan or Kellachan, King of Cashel — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/Callaghan.php
  3. O'Callaghan, John Cornelius — Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), vol. 41, transcribed, Wikisource. en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/...
  4. Callaghan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/callaghan.php
  5. Registration Province of Munster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/munster-names.php

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