Ó Brolcháin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó BROLCHÁIN—I—O'Brollaghan, O'Brallaghan, Brollaghan, (Bradley); 'descendant of Brolachán' (diminutive of Brólach; the name of a famous Ulster family, descended from Suibhne Meann, King of Ireland in the 7th century. They appear to have been seated originally in the barony of Clogher, Co. Tyrone, but removed thence at an early period and settled in the neighbourhood of Derry, and in Tirconnell. The name is still well known in Ulster and in Co. Mayo, but is often absurdly anglicised Bradley, which greatly obscures the origin of this historic family. A branch of the family seem to have also settled in Cork. Ó Broileacháin (which see) is a common variant in the spoken language of Mayo. For an account of the many distinguished bearers of this surname, see Healy's Ancient Schools and Scholars, pp. 352 et seqq.

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