Surname O Longaigh - Meaning and Origin

O Longaigh: What does the surname O Longaigh mean?

The surname O'Longaigh is an Irish one, believed to be of either Connacht or Munster origin. Its root goes back to the ancient Gaelic name "O'Leannachain", which roughly translates to "descendant of a servant of St. Lannach, or a follower of Lannach". St. Lannach was one of seven sons of Dichu, a legendary Irish monarch from ancient times.

The "O" prefix of O'Longaigh indicates that the family is of patrilineal descent, tracing its roots through the male line. This can be inferred from the fact that the name was originally Anglicized to "O'Longane" and later to its current spelling. Additionally, the "Longaigh" part of the surname signifies a person or family from a place associated with a church of St. Lannach.

Throughout history, the O'Longaigh family name has been associated with strength, loyalty and endurance. O'Longaighs were renowned for their courage, honor and respect for their fellows. As per Irish tradition, the surname is linked to the tribe of origin, the old sept of the O'Longaigh. This sept has been associated with modern day Sligo county.

Today, the O'Longaigh surname is a reminder of a proud family and a heritage that has withstood the test of time. Despite the passage of centuries, its core values of faith, loyalty and strength remain at its core. For the O'Longaighs, the name is a source of pride, strength and identity.

O Longaigh: Where does the name O Longaigh come from?

The last name O Longaigh (or O Longaigh or O’Longaigh) is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic sept of Ui Laighthigh, which, in Gaelic, is derived from laithche, which can mean "loyal". This surname is one of the oldest in Ireland, and it has many variations, including Laighigh, Laightey, and Laighin. Today, this surname is most commonly found in counties Cork and Waterford in Ireland. In the 2017 census, there were only four people in Ireland with this surname.

In Europe, O Longaigh is mostly found in Germany, Switzerland, UK, Finland, and Austria. On a global scale, this surname is found in all continents, but is most common in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Areas of concentration in these countries include New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Charlotte, Toronto, and Sydney.

Due to migration and immigration, the O Longaigh surname can now be seen in many more countries than in the past. This is especially common throughout Europe, America, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the last name can be found among those of Irish descent in various parts of the country. It is also becoming increasingly popular due to immigrants coming to the US, who often carry the O Longaigh surname with them.

Variations of the surname O Longaigh

The variants, spellings, and surnames of O Longaigh include the following:

O'Longaigh, O Laighin, O Lakers, O Langers, O'Lamar, O Langis, O'Lanka, O Lunga, O Longaigh, O Longane, O'Longer, and O'Lonigan.

The classic Irish Gaelic form of the diffferent spellings of O Longaigh is Ó Longaigh. The prefix "O" is an abbreviation of the Irish title Ó meaning "descendant of." The name was a territorial surname which referred to the ruler of Longaigh which was located on the western coast of Ireland in County Galway.

The O Longaigh variants are the result of a mixture of Gaelic and English language influences. Many of the variants may have been adopted by immigrants to other countries in an attempt to integrate. These spellings spread throughout the British Isles as those of Irish descent continued to migrate.

The surname has developed many different spellings of the same origin, such as O Laighin, O Lakers, O Langers, O'Lamar, O Langis, O'Lanka, O Lunga, O Longaigh, O Longane, O'Longer, and O'Lonigan. It is also possible to find the more colloquial variants, such as Lang, Lank, Langer, and Laing.

While the prevalence of the name has diminished, there are still many families who proudly bear the O Longaigh name. O Longaigh is a proud Irish surname that is still recognized in many areas of the world.

Famous people with the name O Longaigh

• Paul O'Longaigh: Paul O'Longaigh is an Irish musician from the area of Galway. O Longaigh is best known for his work as a pioneer of the Irish folk revival in the late 1960s. He was a founding member of the bands Déanta and The Bothy Band and also released a solo album, A Stor Mo Chroí.
• Tom O'Longaigh: Tom O'Longaigh is an Irish traditional musician who is a member of The Bothy Band and a founding member of the traditional Irish supergroup Skylark. He was born in Galway and is best known for his fiddle playing.
• Orla O'Longaigh: Orla O'Longaigh is an Irish flutist, singer and composer from County Mayo. She is a well-known performer of traditional Irish music, playing on numerous recordings and tours and collaborating with a slew of other musicians in the folk and traditional Irish music genres.
• Daragh O'Longaigh: Daragh O'Longaigh is an Irish fiddle player from west Clare. He has performed and recorded with many of the top names in traditional Irish music.
• Brendan O'Longaigh: Brendan O'Longaigh is an Irish folk guitarist from County Mayo. A prolific composer and interpreter of traditional tunes, he has released several solo albums of both new and traditional material.
• Sean O'Longaigh: Sean O'Longaigh is an Irish fiddle player and songwriter from Randalstown, County Antrim. O Longaigh is a respected session musician and is part of the folk duo Dervish. He has won numerous awards and is a sought-after performer at trad music festivals.

Other surnames

Ó Longáin