Leonard

Leonard is almost never Leonard. The surname itself is very rare in Ireland, and nearly all our Leonards are of native origin, carrying a name that disguises where they came from.

The most striking of them is Mac Giolla Fhinnéin, sometimes called the most royal family in Ireland. They belong by race to the Cinel Conaill and are a branch of the ancient and once powerful O'Muldory, descended from Giolla Finnein O'Muldory, who flourished towards the end of the 11th century. Their patrimony (the land a family held by inheritance) was Muinntear Feodachain, on the borders of Fermanagh and Donegal, and their chief was sometimes styled Lord of Loch Erne. The family is still numerous in the west of Co. Fermanagh.

Ó Luinín were a distinguished Co. Fermanagh family, erenaghs (the hereditary lay heads of families that held church lands) of Derryvullen and for many centuries poets, historians, musicians and physicians to the Maguires. Their chief residence was at Árd Uí Luinín in the parish of Derryvullan. There were old families of the name in Carlow and Waterford as well, where they still flourish.

Ó Leannáin covers at least three distinct families, seated respectively in Fermanagh, Mayo and Galway. The Fermanagh line was an ecclesiastical family and erenaghs of Lisgoole near Enniskillen; those of Mayo were a branch of the Ui Fiachrach seated in the neighbourhood of Killala; and the Galway family were followers of O'Kelly of Ui Maine. All three are still well represented, and all three are very often disguised as Leonard.

Others arrive by the same door. Ó Lonáin belonged to a Cork family originally settled in the neighbourhood of Rosscarbery, where they were followers of the O'Learys, and to a Wicklow family who were anciently erenaghs of Kilranelagh. Mac Giolla Seanáin is common in Meath, Cavan and Tyrone. Ó Luingeáin turns up as Leonard especially in Co. Limerick, and Mac Loineáin is a rare Galway surname.