Neary — Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: O Naraigh
Meaning: 'descendant of Nárach' (from nár, meaning noble or modest)
Traditional stronghold: Roscommon, Sligo
Pronunciation: NEER-ee; Irish O Naraigh: oh NAH-rig
History of the Neary name
Neary derives from O Naraigh, built on the root nár, which carries a sense of modesty or nobility of character. The sept was located in the Roscommon and Sligo area of north Connacht, part of a cluster of related families in that region, with the name also appearing in neighbouring Mayo and Leitrim. It has remained a relatively compact surname, without the wide splintering into multiple anglicised forms seen in many Gaelic names, and Neary bearers today are still concentrated in its original Connacht heartland. The surname has occasionally been confused with the unrelated English name Nairy, but the two have separate origins.
Variants: O'Neary · Neery
Famous bearers of the name
- Michael Neary — Catholic Archbishop of Tuam
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Kelly · O'Connor · Murray · Brennan · Flynn · McGowan · Flanagan · Boland