Ryan - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Ó Riain
Meaning: “little king”
Traditional stronghold: Limerick, Tipperary
Pronunciation: RY-an; Irish O Riain: oh REE-in
History of the Ryan name
Ryan is usually explained as coming from Rian, an old personal name possibly related to ri, 'king'. The main sept, based around Owney on the Tipperary-Limerick border, were lords of that territory before English conquest pushed many families further into Tipperary, where the name is now heavily concentrated. A separate, smaller sept, O Maoilriain, existed in the same general area and also anglicised to Ryan. The surname's strong Munster base, combined with heavy 19th-century emigration, made it one of the most familiar Irish names throughout the English-speaking world.
Variants: Ryane · Mulryan · O'Mulryan
Famous bearers of the name
- Tony Ryan - Tipperary-born aviation entrepreneur, founder of Ryanair and GPA
- Cornelius Ryan - Irish-born journalist and author of A Bridge Too Far
- Gerry Ryan - Dublin radio and television broadcaster
Related names from the same part of Ireland: O'Brien · Kennedy · Collins · Fitzgerald · Carroll · Hayes · Hogan · Tobin