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Irish surname

O'Riordan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Ríoghbhardáin, Ó Ríordáin · 'descendant of Ríoghbhardán' (royal-bard)

Woulfe (1923) gives O'Riordan, Riordan and Reardon as anglicised forms of Ó Ríoghbhardáin or Ó Ríordáin, 'descendant of Ríoghbhardán' (royal-bard). He says the family came originally from Ely-O'Carroll, in the present Offaly, but that by the time the name is recorded there in 1576, the bulk of the family had long before removed to Cork and Limerick. In 1890 the birth indexes held 159 Riordan entries including spelling varieties (134 spelled Riordan), 89 of them in Cork, and, in a separate table, 11 O'Riordan entries, principally in Cork.

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Coat of arms associated with the O'Riordan surname
Irish formÓ Ríoghbhardáin, Ó Ríordáin
Meaning'descendant of Ríoghbhardán' (royal-bard)
CountiesOffaly, Cork, Kerry, Limerick
Other spellings6

Origin of the O'Riordan name

Woulfe: a family originally of Ely-O'Carroll, in the present Offaly, probably a branch of the O'Carrolls of that district, named from Ríoghbhardán, son of Cúcoirne (Ó Cearbhaill), lord of Ely, who fell at the battle of Sliabh gCrot in 1058. The bulk of the family later removed to Cork and Limerick.[1]

  1. 1058Woulfe: from Ríoghbhardán, son of Cúcoirne, lord of Ely, 'who fell at the battle of Sliabh gCrot'.[1]
  2. 1576Gaven O Rewrdane, freeholder in Ely-O'Carroll, a leading follower of Sir William O'Carroll.[1]
  3. 1597Maurice O'Riordan of Croome attainted; his lands granted to George Sherlocke.[1]
  4. 1890159 Riordan entries incl. varieties (134 spelled Riordan): 89 Cork, 30 Kerry, 24 Limerick.[2][4]
  5. 189011 O'Riordan birth entries, all in Munster, principally Cork.[3][4]

Where in Ireland

Co. OffalyWoulfe: originally of Ely-O'Carroll, 'in the present Offaly'.[1]
Co. Cork89 Riordan entries in Cork in 1890; O'Riordan births principally found in Cork.[2][3]
Co. Kerry30 Riordan entries in Kerry in 1890; Woulfe: 'now very numerous in Cork, Limerick and Kerry'.[2][1]
Co. Limerick24 Riordan entries in Limerick in 1890; Woulfe says the bulk of the family removed to Cork and Limerick.[2][1]

Notable people named O'Riordan

Gaven O Rewrdanefl. 1576Freeholder in Ely-O'Carroll and 'one of Sir William O'Carroll's most important followers' (Woulfe).[1]
Maurice O'Riordan of Croomeattainted 1597Attainted in 1597; his lands were granted to George Sherlocke (Woulfe).[1]

Other spellings

Riordan · Reardon · Reardan · O Reerdan · O Riourdane · O Riverdan[1][2]

The O'Riordan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the O'Riordan 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'Riordan crest gifts

Clan Oriordan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapQH92 Classic Cap - Oriordan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Oriordan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Riordan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapEH37 Classic Cap - Riordan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Riordan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Riordan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap RZ51 Riordan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Riordan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

O'Riordan surname: questions

What does the surname O'Riordan mean?

Woulfe gives O'Riordan as a form of Ó Ríoghbhardáin, 'descendant of Ríoghbhardán', a personal name he glosses as 'royal-bard'.[1]

Are Riordan and Reardon the same name as O'Riordan?

Woulfe lists O'Riordan, Riordan, Reardan and Reardon among the anglicised forms of Ó Ríoghbhardáin (Ó Ríordáin).[1]

Where in Ireland is the O'Riordan name from?

Woulfe says the family was originally of Ely-O'Carroll, in the present Offaly, but that by the 1570s the bulk of it had long before removed to Cork and Limerick, and that O'Riordans are 'now very numerous in Cork, Limerick and Kerry'. In 1890, of 159 Riordan birth entries (including spelling varieties), 89 were in Cork, 30 in Kerry and 24 in Limerick.[1][2]

Are the O'Riordans related to the O'Carrolls?

Woulfe says the family was 'probably a branch of the family of O'Carroll' of Ely, named from Ríoghbhardán, son of Cúcoirne (Ó Cearbhaill), lord of Ely. He gives it as probable, not certain.[1]

Sources

  1. Ó Ríoghbhardáin, Ó Ríordáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-rioghbhardain.php
  2. Riordan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/riordan.php
  3. O'Riordan — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/oriordan.php
  4. Table Explanation — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/table-explanation.php

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