Ó Fionnachta

Rev Patrick Woulfe
1923

Ó FIONNACHTA, Ó FIONNACHTAIGH—IO Fynaghta, O Fenaghtie, O Finatie, Finnaghty, Finaghty, Feenaghty, Fenaghty, Fenaughty, (?) Feenaghy, (?) Fanaghey, Finnerty, Finerty, Fannerty, (Fenton); 'descendant of Fionnachta' (fair-snow); also written Ó Fionachta, Ó Finneachta, Ó Fianachta, Ó Fionnachtaigh, &c., and, by the aspiration of the initial f, Ó hIonnachta, which see; the name of a Connacht family who are a branch of the Siol Muireadhaigh, or Sil-Murry, and of the same stock as the O'Connors of that province. They seem to have formed two clans, known as Clann Chonnmhaigh and Clann Mhurchadha, seated respectively on the west and east side of the Suck, in the counties of Galway and Roscommon. Ó Fionnachta of Clann Chonnmhaigh, or Clanconoo, had his castle at Dunamon, in Co. Roscommon, and as the representative of the senior branch of the Sil-Murry had the privilege of drinking the first cup at every royal banquet. The family is frequently mentioned in the Annals, but soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, they were supplanted by a branch of the Burkes, the head of which was known as MacDavid. There was another family of the same name, a branch of the Ui Maine, anciently settled in south-east of Co. Galway. The name is not uncommon in Munster, but is often disguised under the anglicised form of Fenton.

Alphabetical Index to Irish Surnames

SEARCH FOR NAMES »