Lydon — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Loideáin
Meaning: 'descendant of Loideán'
Traditional stronghold: Galway, Mayo
Pronunciation: LY-dun; Irish Ó Loideáin: oh LID-yaw-in
History of the Lydon name
Ó Loideáin is a Connacht surname whose homeland lies in Galway, especially Connemara and the districts around Galway city, and in neighbouring south Mayo. The name was anglicised in a remarkable number of ways, including Lydon, Liddane and Leyden, with Liddane found in Clare and Leyden common in north Connacht and Leitrim, all representing the same Irish original. It remains strongly western in distribution, and Lydons are numerous in Galway to this day. The name reached a global audience through John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, born in London to Galway and Cork emigrant parents.
Variants: Leyden · Liddane
Famous bearers of the name
- John Lydon — Singer of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd, born in London to Irish emigrant parents.
- Gary Lydon — Wexford-born actor seen in The Banshees of Inisherin and Calm with Horses.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · Walsh · Lynch · Connolly · Burke · Clarke · Hughes · Keane