Ó Ciardha Explained

Ó Ciardha, modern spelling Ó Ciara: Anglicised Carey, Keary, Kearey, Carry, O Carry . Mainly a midland (Leinster) surname.^{[1] [2] [3]} One major sept of Ó Ciardha was that of Carbury in modern County Kildare, which receives very early mention in the Irish Annals, such as the Annals of Ulster in 954 AD, 'ua Ciardai, ri Cairpri', i.e. O Carey, king of Carbury,^[4] and the Annals of Tigernach in 993 AD.^[5]

Other names are also Anglicised Carey, including Ó Ciaráin (Munster), Ó Céirín (Connaught, Munster). All three of these patronymics have Old Irish root 'ciar' or 'céir'- 'dark, black'.^[6]

See also

• Carey (surname)

Notes and References

1. Woulfe, P. 'Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall', Dublin, 1923
2. MacLysaght, E. 'The Surnames of Ireland', Dublin, 1985
3. Hanks, P. 'Dictionary of American Family Names', Oxford, 2003
4. online at University College Cork: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/index.html
5. online at University College Cork:http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100002A/index.html
6. Woulfe, op. cit.; Maclysaght, op. cit.; De Bhulbh, S. 'Sloinnte na h-Éireann, Irish Surnames', Limerick, 1997