Naughton - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Neachtain
Meaning: “pure, bright”
Traditional stronghold: Galway, Roscommon
Pronunciation: NAWT-on; Irish Ó Neachtain: oh NYAKH-tin
History of the Naughton name
Ó Neachtain descends from the ancient personal name Nechtan, connected with an old root meaning 'pure' or 'bright' and borne in myth by a water deity. There were two distinct septs: one of the Dál gCais in County Clare, and a more powerful one of the Uí Maine on the Galway-Roscommon borderland, whose chiefs held territory in the Fews near the Shannon. The name was anglicised in many ways, including Naughton, Naughten, Naghten and even Norton, which disguises its Gaelic origin entirely. It remains most common in Galway, Roscommon and Clare, with Ó Neachtain still used in Irish-speaking districts.
Variants: Naughten · Naghten · Norton
Famous bearers of the name
- Seán Ó Neachtain - Poet and scribe at the centre of Dublin's Irish-language literary circle around 1700.
- Bill Naughton - Mayo-born playwright and author of Alfie.
- Martin Naughton - Industrialist, founder of Glen Dimplex and noted philanthropist.
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · O'Connor · Lynch · Murray · Connolly · Brennan · Burke · Flynn