County Mayo Surnames & Places

County Mayo is one of our favourite counties in Ireland. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it is a region steeped in history, natural beauty, and cultural significance. For many people of Irish descent worldwide, Mayo represents an important connection to their ancestral roots. This post explores County Mayo surnames, their origins, geography, and the development of its principal towns – with a few photos thrown in along the way!

Mayo, derived from the Irish “Maigh Eo” meaning “plain of the yew trees,” has a history dating back to ancient times. The region was originally inhabited by the “Fir Bolg” people and later the “Tuatha Dé Danann”, according to Irish mythology.

Dominant Gaelic and Norman Families.

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Up until the 17th century, Mayo was dominated by a few powerful Gaelic and Norman families:

1. The O’Malleys: A powerful seafaring clan based in the west of Mayo (see more here).
2. The Burkes (de Burgo): Norman descendants who became highly Gaelicised.
3. The O’Connors: A Gaelic clan with strong influence across the province of Connacht.
4. The Barretts: Norman settlers who established themselves in the county.

These families played crucial roles in shaping Mayo’s political and social landscape until the Cromwellian conquest in the 1650s significantly altered the land ownership and power structures of the area.

Geography and Location.

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Mayo is situated in the west of Ireland, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, County Sligo to the northeast, and County Galway to the south. It’s the third-largest of Ireland’s 32 counties by area and is known for its varied landscape, including:

• Clew Bay with its 365 islands
• Achill Island, Ireland’s largest island
• Croagh Patrick, a mountain and important pilgrimage site
• The Nephin Beg range

Have you visited any of these areas in Mayo?

Mayo was officially shired (established as a county) in 1585 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This was part of the Tudor conquest of Ireland, which aimed to extend English law and governance across the island.

Major Market Towns

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In the 19th century, several towns in Mayo served as important market centres, each with its own specialties:

1. Castlebar: The county town and administrative center, known for its linen industry.
2. Westport: A planned town, famous for its Georgian architecture and as a trading port.
3. Ballina: Known for its salmon fishing on the River Moy.
4. Claremorris: An important market town and railway junction.
5. Ballinrobe: One of the oldest towns in Mayo, with a rich racing tradition.
6. Newport: Was known for its fishing industry and served as a market town for the local agricultural community.
7. Swinford: Developed as a market town with a strong focus on agricultural trading.
8. Ballyhaunis: Ballyhaunis was an important market town with a focus on agricultural trading and milling. The town’s markets attracted farmers from the surrounding areas, and it had several mills processing local grain.
9. Foxford: Known for its woollen mills, which produced high-quality textiles.
10. Crossmolina: Developed as a market town with a focus on agricultural trading and milling.

Each of these towns played a crucial role in the economic and social life of 19th-century Mayo, serving as hubs for trade, craft, and community gatherings.

County Mayo Surnames.

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The following list represents 100 of the most common County Mayo surnames at the time of the Irish 1901 census. They reflect the rich mixture of Gaelic, Norman, and English heritage in the county:

Acton, Barrett, Beirne, Bell, Biggins, Boyle, Brady, Brennan, Brett, Browne, Burke, Butler, Byrne, Cafferkey, Callaghan, Callanan, Campbell, Carney, Carr, Carroll, Casey, Cawley, Clarke, Cleary, Coleman, Collin, Conlon, Connolly, Conway, Conroy, Cooney, Corcoran, Costello, Coughlan, Coyne, Creighton, Culkin, Cunnane, Cunningham, Cuffe, Daly, Deane, Doherty, Dolphin, Donnellan,

Donoghue, Doyle, Duffy, Durcan, Egan, Fadden, Fahey, Feeney, Finn, Fitzmaurice, Fitzpatrick, Flannery, Fleming, Flynn, Forde, Foy, Gallagher, Gannon, Gaughan, Gavin, Geraghty, Gibbons, Gillespie, Golden, Grady, Griffin, Hanley, Hannon, Hastings, Healy, Heneghan, Henry, Heraty, Higgins, Hoban, Hopkins, Horan, Hughes, Hunt, Jennings, Jordan, Joyce, Judge, Keane, Kelly, Kennedy, Kenny, Killeen, King, Kirby, Lally, Langan, Lavelle, Lavin, Loftus, Lydon, Lynch, Lyons,

Macken, Maguire, Malley, McAndrew, McConville, McDonagh, McDonnell, McEllin, McGarry, McGetttrick, McGowan, McGrath, McGreal, McHale, McHugh, McLoughlin, McNamara, McNicholas, McNulty, Monaghan, Moran, Morley, Mulchrone, Mullen, Munnelly, Murphy, Murray, Naughton, Neary, Nolan, O’Boyle, O’Brien, O’Connor, O’Donnell, O’Malley, O’Toole, Padden, Philbin, Prendergast, Quinn, Reape, Regan, Reilly, Ronan, Rowland, Ruane, Ruddy, Ryan, Sheridan, Staunton, Sweeney, Tighe, Waldron, Walsh

Many of these county Mayo surnames have deep roots in the county’s history, with some tracing back to the ancient Gaelic clans, others to Norman settlers, and some to later English colonisation.

Population Changes and the Great Famine.

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The population of County Mayo has seen significant fluctuations over the centuries, with the Great Famine of 1845-1852 having a particularly devastating impact. In the early 1800s, Mayo’s population was growing rapidly, reaching 366,328 by 1841, making it the third most populous county in Ireland at the time.

However, the Great Famine brought about a catastrophic decline. Mayo was one of the counties hardest hit by the potato blight and subsequent famine. The population figures reveal the stark reality of this tragedy:

• 1841: 388,887 (peak pre-Famine population)
• 1851: 274,499 (nearly 30% decline in just ten years)
• 1901: 199,166
• 2016: 130,507 (modern census figure – just over one third of the population of 1841)

As you can see from the above figures, the Great Famine had a profound and lasting impact on Mayo. Between 1841 and 1851, the county lost nearly 30% of its population to death and emigration. The port of Westport saw countless departures as masses of people fled to North America, England, and Scotland in search of survival and a better life.

Mayo’s agricultural landscape was transformed by the Famine with many smaller farms abandoned or consolidated into larger holdings. There was a shift away from intensive crop cultivation towards more pastoral farming, particularly sheep farming in the mountainous areas.

The Famine also accelerated the decline of the Irish language in Mayo, though it remained strong in some areas, particularly in the west of the county. The loss of population and the trauma of the Famine led to long-term economic challenges for the county, with effects that continued to shape Mayo’s development well into the 20th century.

The legacy of the Famine is deeply ingrained in Mayo’s cultural memory, influencing local folklore, literature, and historical narratives. It also contributed to the Land War of the 1870s and 1880s, in which Mayo played an initiating and central role, with the Mayo-born Michael Davitt founding the Irish National Land League.

Despite the hardships, Mayo has shown remarkable resilience. While the county’s population has not returned to pre-Famine levels, Mayo’s culture and heritage remain strong, and its communities continue to adapt and persevere through challenging times.

Conclusion.

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County Mayo’s rich tapestry of history, geography, and culture is reflected in the diverse County Mayo surnames and the development of its towns. From the ancient Gaelic clans to the Norman invaders, and through centuries of social and economic change, Mayo has maintained a unique identity that continues to resonate with people of Irish descent around the world. Whether your ancestors hailed from the bustling markets of Castlebar, the fishing communities of Achill Island, or the farmlands of East Mayo, the county’s heritage offers a fascinating window into Ireland’s past and present.

How about you? Did any of your Irish ancestors come from beautiful County Mayo? I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of County Mayo Surnames and Places.

Slán for now,

Mike.

P.S. If you want to go deeper and learn more about your County Mayo surnames and ancestors then check out The Green Room.