Surname O'Tighe - Meaning and Origin
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O'Tighe: What does the surname O'Tighe mean?
The Irish surname O'Tighe is derived from the Gaelic word “tighearna”, which means “lord” or “master”. The name likely originated in the 12th century when it was adopted by one of the powerful clans of the Uí Néill dynasty, the O'Neill, whose members held high positions in the courts of Irish kings. O’Tighe eventually became a hereditary title as well as a surname, and the spelling of the name varied slightly throughout the centuries as it was passed down from generation to generation.
The O'Tighe clan are historically associated with what is now County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland. It was one of the most powerful clans in the region, and members of the family were often found in positions of power. Many served as soldiers and administrators in the 11th and 12th centuries and left their mark as influential landowners in the west of Ireland.
The O’Tighe name has been borne by several prominent Irish figures throughout the ages, including several nobles, politicians, soldiers, doctors, educators, authors, and musicians. In modern times, O’Tighe has become a more common surname in Ireland, and its original meaning is still respected as a sign of nobility and respect. It has often been used as part of a hyphenated last name to symbolize the blending of families through marriage.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Tighe: Where does the name O'Tighe come from?
The last name O'Tighe is most common in Ireland. A quick search of the Irish telephone directory reveals a large number of O'Tighe’s living in the country. This popularity can likely be attributed to the origins of the surname. O'Tighe is ultimately a variant spelling of the Irish Gaelic ÓTighearnaigh, which translates to “son of Tighernach”. Tighernach is a name of Irish origin made up of two Gaelic elements; "tighearna," meaning "lord," and "ach," meaning "young one".
In the past, O’Tighe was mainly concentrated to the province of Connacht, with the heaviest concentrations in counties Galway and Mayo. There are even several townlands named “Tighearnan”, which translates as “the lord’s share”, after the O’Tighearnaigh clan.
Today, O'Tighe is still a common surname among the Irish. It regularly shows up among contemporary history books, birth and death records, and newspaper accounts. It's also becoming more prominent around the world, as Irish families emigrate and settle in other countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname O'Tighe
The surname O'Tighe is an Irish surname derived from the Irish Gaelic Ó Tíghecháin, which means “descendant of Tigechan” or “son of the house”. It is pronounced “oh-TEE-ghah” or “oh-TEE-ghe”.
Variants of the O'Tighe name include O'Tigue, O'Tiegh, O'Tigh, O'Tigue, O'Teigh, O'Tee, O'Teegh, O'Teeh, O'Teig, O'Taegh, O'Teege, O'Teegeh, O'Tega, O'Teehge, O'Tigge, O'Tage, O'Tillard, O'Tilla, O'Tilley, and O'Tilla.
The common spelling of O'Tighe is widely seen in modern records, though older documents and records often have some of the alternate spellings listed above. Some families spell the name more phonetically as O'Tee and O'Ty.
Other surnames of the same origin are O'Tigernain, spelled in many different ways, like O'Tighernon, O'Tighernam, O'Tigernan, and O'Tigerinan.
Numerous variants and spellings of O'Tighe are used across different countries. Some are Irish, while others are Scottish, Danish, or Spanish.
In any case, all variants of O'Tighe should trace back to an original form of Ó Tíghecháin. The original form of the name has likely remained the same for centuries, despite now having dozens of spellings and variants.
Famous people with the name O'Tighe
- Cathal O'Tighe: sorround sound producer and film editor who worked as a sound recordist on the ABC's The Checkout.
- Ciaran O'Tighe: Irish singer-songwriter whose debut single "Bird's Eye View" was released in 2015.
- Kerry O'Tighe: Irish actor known for his roles in The Tudors, Titanic: Blood and Steel, Jack Taylor and other Irish films.
- Terence O'Tighe: Irish actor who has appeared in films such as Anchor and The Wind That Shakes the Barley and television series such as The Tudors, Borgia and The Clinic.
- Brian O'Tighe: former Irish politician who served as a deputy speaker of the Houses of the Oireachtas from 2007 to 2011.
- Noel O'Tighe: lobbyist and spokesman for the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association.
- Sean O'Tighe: Irish businessman and chairman of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce from 2004 to 2006.
- Timothy O'Tighe: former Mayor of Limerick in 2015.
- Niall O'Tighe: Irish rapper who signed with Invizible Records in 2006.
- Conor O'Tighe: former Gaelic football player who played for Louth GAA and was part of their O'Byrne Cup-winning team in 2017.