Ó Ríoghbhardáin

Rev Patrick Woulfe

Irish Names and Surnames

1923

Ó RÍOGHBHARDÁIN, Ó RÍORDÁIN—I—O Riverdan, O Riourdane, O Reerdan, O'Riordan, Riordan, Reardan, Reardon, &c.; 'descendant of Ríoghbhardán' (royal-bard); written Ó Ríoghbhradáin by Keating; the name of a family originally of Ely-O'Carroll, in the present Offaly, and probably a branch of the family of O'Carroll of that district, deriving its name and descent from Ríoghbhardán, son of Cúcoirne (Ó Cearbhaill), lord of Ely, who fell at the battle of Sliabh gCrot, in the Glen of Aherlow, in the year 1058. In 1576, Gaven O Rewrdane was a freeholder in Ely-O'Carroll and one of Sir William O'Carroll's most important followers. The name appears about the same time in Leix and Kilkenny, but the bulk of the family had long before removed to Cork and Limerick. In 1597, Maurice O'Riordan of Croome was attainted and his lands granted to George Sherlocke. The O'Riordans are now very numerous in Cork, Limerick and Kerry.

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