Paul

An Irish surname of Antrim. In the 2010 US census it was carried by 78,256 people, the 415th most common surname in the country.

Ó Maolfábhail, Ó Maolfhábhail, descendant of Maolfábhail (fond of travel). This family stood in the barony of Inishowen in Co. Donegal.

Where the name comes from

Ó Maolfábhail is descendant of Maolfábhail, one fond of travel. It belonged to a family of Cinel Eoghain who were chiefs of Carraig Brachaidh, now Carrickabraghy, in the north-west of the barony (an old land division, several parishes across) of Inishowen, Co. Donegal, and to a West Connacht family. It is generally Mulfall or MacFaal in Ulster and Lavelle in Connacht, where it is now most numerous, and MacPaul and Paul are two more of its coats.

The Giant's Causeway at twilight with wet hexagonal basalt columns stretching to the sea and long exposure blurred waves
The Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim

Antrim, photographed

Photographs made in Antrim.

Antrim

The Antrim coast road runs about 25 miles between the cliffs and the sea, with nine glens coming down to it. The rock is basalt, the same flow that formed the Giant's Causeway. Scotland is 12 miles off at the narrowest point and visible on a clear day.

The iconic Dark Hedges beech tree tunnel near Armoy in County Antrim with intertwined branches forming a brooding canopyThe Dark Hedges, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Long exposure of Pan's Rock with its footbridge at dawn on the Antrim Causeway Coast, silky water and blurred clouds, Rathlin Island on the horizonPan's Rock, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunrise over Colliery Bay with Fair Head cliffs and mountains, Co. Antrim, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxColliery Bay & Fair Head, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Dunluce Castle on coastal cliffs with long exposure sea, Co. Antrim, fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxDunluce Castle, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Black and white photograph of a rainstorm sweeping across the Skerries islands off the North Antrim coast near PortrushRainstorm, the Skerries, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunset over Bengore Head with waves rolling over rocks, Co. Antrim, Ireland — fine art landscape photograph by Peter CoxBengore Head, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim Sunset over the Skerries coast in County Antrim with warm light reflecting on wet sand and rock formationsThe Skerries, Co. Antrim Co. Antrim

All Antrim prints

Notable bearers

Ron Paul (born 1935), politician, journalist, and television producer.

Wolfgang Paul (1913-1993), physicist.

Les Paul (1915-2009), musician, composer, and guitarist.

Les Paul (1915-2009), musician, composer, and guitarist.

Les Paul (1915-2009), musician, composer, and guitarist.

About this page

The counties on this page are where the name was thickest on the ground in Ireland a century and a half ago, not a claim about any one family. Names moved around inside the country as much as they left it. The photographs are mine, made in the counties named.

More Irish surnames: Smith · Brown · Miller · Wilson · Anderson · Thomas · Taylor · Moore · Jackson · Martin · Lee · Thompson

How common the name was

In 1890, 14 births were registered under Paul in Ireland, most of them in Antrim and Londonderry.

Ulster 10
Leinster 2
Munster 2
Connacht no figure printed
Ireland 14

Londonderry is the one I haven't worked in.