Power - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: de Paor
Meaning: Norman - “the poor (one)”
Traditional stronghold: Waterford
Pronunciation: POWR; Irish de Paor
History of the Power name
Power derives from the Anglo-Norman le Poer, meaning 'the poor man', likely an ironic or pious nickname brought to Ireland with the invasion of 1170s. The family settled extensively in County Waterford, where they became powerful feudal lords, the barony of Power's Court and other placenames recalling their dominance. Over the following centuries the Powers gaelicised as de Paor and integrated thoroughly with Irish society, becoming 'more Irish than the Irish themselves' in the old phrase applied to Old English families. The surname remains heavily concentrated in Waterford, Kilkenny and south Tipperary today, and is one of the clearest examples of a Norman name becoming a fixture of Irish identity.
Variants: de Paor · Poer · Le Power
Famous bearers of the name
- Jack Power - one of the founders of the Clonmel-based Bulmers cider dynasty (Powers name also linked to Powers Irish whiskey)
- Ann Power - Irish sociologist and academic
- Vincent Power - Irish journalist and author
- Sean Power - Irish Fianna Fail politician and former TD
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Walsh · Whelan · McGrath · Curran · Foley · Wall · Dunphy · Phelan