The most frequent family names with roots in County Cavan — names that spread through Ireland and the Irish diaspora:
Cavan is one of three Ulster counties that remained in the Republic of Ireland after partition — along with Monaghan and Donegal. It sits in the drumlin belt, that undulating landscape of small rounded hills and innumerable lakes left by the retreating glaciers. The county has over 365 lakes — one for every day of the year, locals claim.
The River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, rises at the Shannon Pot in the Cuilcagh Mountains in the northwest of County Cavan. The source of the Shannon in Cavan — and the river's subsequent journey 360 kilometres to the Atlantic — represents one of the great natural heritage features of Ireland.
O'Reilly is the definitive Cavan surname. The O'Reillys were the ruling family of the ancient kingdom of Breifne, which covered most of Cavan and Leitrim. Their power lasted from the ninth century until the Plantation of Ulster in the early seventeenth century. The name derives from Ó Raghallaigh — 'descendant of Raghallach.'
Cavan emigrants were a significant part of the Ulster Protestant and Catholic migration to America. The county's border position and mixed religious heritage meant its emigrants came from both traditions. New York, in particular, absorbed large numbers of Cavan families.
Love Ireland covers Cavan's lake landscapes, the Shannon source, and the drumlin country that stretches across the Ulster border. The county is quieter than its west-coast equivalents — and more rewarding for it.
Subscribe to Love Ireland — FreeIf your family came from County Cavan, here's where to start your research:
Common County Cavan surnames with dedicated pages on this site: