For centuries, even through the Norman invasion, Irish last names defined clans and septs (smaller groups within clans). It wasn’t until British colonization that last names were changed to sound more Anglican and to disrupt the Gaelic way of life. To this day, research into Irish genealogy is difficult because of the changing (and disappearance) of some names.
Most Popular Irish Last Names on FamilyEducation: Lillis, Moore, Burns
Image: The Cliffs of Moher