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Irish surname

Ryan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Maoilriain / Ó Riain · Ó Maoilriain: 'descendant of Maolriain' (follower of Riaghan or Rian); Ó Riain: 'descendant of Riaghan' or 'Rian'

Ryan is used as the English form of more than one Irish surname. Woulfe (1923) describes Ó Riain, a Carlow family who were lords of Idrone, and Ó Maoilriain (Mulryan), a family of Leinster origin who became very numerous and powerful in Owney, Co. Tipperary, and Owneybeg, Co. Limerick. In 1890 Ryan births were by far most numerous in Co. Tipperary.

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Coat of arms associated with the Ryan surname
Irish formÓ Maoilriain / Ó Riain
MeaningÓ Maoilriain: 'descendant of Maolriain' (follower of Riaghan or Rian); Ó Riain: 'descendant of Riaghan' or 'Rian'
CountiesTipperary, Limerick, Carlow
Other spellings5

Origin of the Ryan name

Woulfe: Ó Maoilriain was a family of Leinster origin who settled in the 13th or 14th century in Uaithne-tire and Uaithne-cliach (Owney, Co. Tipperary, and Owneybeg, east Co. Limerick). Ó Riain was a Carlow family, lords of Uí Dróna (Idrone), now numerous through Leinster.[1][2]

  1. 13th–14th c.Ó Maoilriain, of Leinster origin, settle in Owney and Owneybeg.[1]
  2. 1610William Ryan surrenders his lands in Owney O Mulrian and receives them back by patent.[1]
  3. 17th c.The family property lost in the confiscations.[1]
  4. 1831Patrick John Ryan, later Archbishop of Philadelphia, born at Thurles.[4]
  5. 1884Patrick John Ryan appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia.[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. TipperaryÓ Maoilriain held the barony of Owney; in 1890 Tipperary had by far the most Ryan births.[1][3]
Co. LimerickÓ Maoilriain also held Owneybeg in east Limerick; Woulfe calls the name very common there.[1]
Co. CarlowÓ Riain were lords of Uí Dróna, the present barony of Idrone.[2]

Notable people named Ryan

Patrick John Ryan1831–1911Born at Thurles, Co. Tipperary; sixth bishop and second archbishop of Philadelphia, appointed 1884.[4]
Richard Ryan1796–1849Author of the 'Dictionary of the Worthies of Ireland' (London, 1821); Webb calls him 'probably an Irishman', son of a London bookseller.[5]

Other spellings

O'Ryan · Mulryan · O Mulryan · Mulroyan · Mulrain[1]

The Ryan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Ryan 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.

Ryan crest gifts

Clan Ryan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapCZ51 Classic Cap - Ryan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ryan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap$42.45Clan Ryan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap AO64 Ryan Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Ryan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap$33.45

Ryan surname: questions

Is Ryan an Irish surname?

Yes. Woulfe (1923) gives Ryan as an English form of Ó Riain, the name of a Carlow family, and of Ó Maoilriain (Mulryan) of Munster. In his Ó Riain entry he adds that Ó Maoilriain and a Connacht name, Ó Ruaidhín, 'are both now incorrectly anglicised O'Ryan or Ryan'.[1][2]

What does the surname Ryan mean?

Woulfe explains Ó Maoilriain as 'descendant of Maolriain' (follower of Riaghan or Rian) and Ó Riain as 'descendant of Riaghan' or 'Rian'.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the Ryan name from?

The Mulryans held Owney in Co. Tipperary and Owneybeg in east Co. Limerick; the Ó Riain family were lords of Idrone in Co. Carlow. In the 1890 birth indexes Tipperary had by far the largest number of Ryans, followed by Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Clare and Galway.[1][2][3]

Are Ryan and Mulryan the same name?

Woulfe lists Mulryan, Mulrain, O'Ryan and Ryan among the English forms of Ó Maoilriain, a Munster family, and says it is to be distinguished from Ó Riain of Carlow. In the Ó Riain entry he calls the Ryan form of Ó Maoilriain an incorrect anglicisation.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Ó Maoilriaghain, Ó Maoilriain — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/om/o-maoilriaghain.php
  2. Ó Riaghain, Ó Riain — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/or/o-riaghain.php
  3. Ryan — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), birth indexes of 1890, transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/ryan.php
  4. Patrick John Ryan — Catholic Encyclopedia (1907–1912), New Advent. newadvent.org/cathen/13282c.htm
  5. Richard Ryan — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/RichardRyan.php

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