Contents [hide]

O'Brien History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

O'Brien Surname History

Origins Available:
Ireland

The old Gaelic name used by the O'Brien family in Ireland was Ó Briain, which means descendant of Brian.

Early Origins of the O'Brien family

The surname O'Brien was first found in Thomond, a territory comprised of most of County Clare with adjacent parts of counties Limerick and Tipperary. Prior to the 10th century, the sept was a Dalcassian Clan known as the Ui Toirdealbhaigh and achieved prominence with the rise of their eponymous ancestor, Brian Boru (941-1014), to the High Kingship of Ireland. Brian Boru, by far the most outstanding figure of this family, is widely acknowledged as the greatest of all the ancient Kings of Ireland and is best remembered for driving the Norsemen out of Ireland at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

Early History of the O'Brien family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Brien research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1369, 1400, 1551, 1577, 1600, 1614, 1640, 1642, 1651, 1663, 1674, 1678, 1690, 1692, 1699, 1714, 1717 and 1771 are included under the topic Early O'Brien History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Brien Spelling Variations

One explanation for the many variations is that scribes and church officials frequently spelled the name as it sounded: an imprecise method at best. Understandably then, various spellings of the surname O'Brien were found in the many archives researched. These included O'Brien, OBrine, O'Brion, O'Bryan, O'Bryen, McBrien, McBrine, Brian, Briand, Briant, Brine, Brines, Briens and many more.

Early Notables of the O'Brien family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Brian Sreamhach MacMathghamhna O'Brien, king of the Irish region of Thomond (1369-1400)
Daniel O'Brien (1577-1663), member of the Supreme Council of Catholic Confederates
Daniel O'Brien (d. 1690), founder of the Irish Brigade known as Clare's Dragoons
Murrough McDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and 6th Baron Inchiquin (1614-1674)
Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan or Lord O'Brien (c.1642-1678), an Irish nobleman and politician
William McMurrough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Inchiquin (c.1640-1692), an Irish nobleman
Charles O'Brien, sixth Viscount (1699-1771), Marshal of France
the Most Rev. Terence Albert O'Brien (1600-1651), Dominican Bishop of Emly who was hanged after the Siege of Limerick

O'Brien World Ranking

In the United States, the name O'Brien is the 281^st most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name O'Brien is ranked the 259^th most popular surname with an estimated 15,900 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name O'Brien is the 869^th popular surname with an estimated 4,558 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks O'Brien as 176^th with 3,074 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks O'Brien as 194^th with 29,099 people. 5

O'Brien migration to the United States +

Suffering from poverty and racial discrimination, thousands of Irish families left the island in the 19th century for North America aboard cramped passenger ships. The early migrants became settlers of small tracts of land, and those that came later were often employed in the new cities or transitional work camps. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Although the immigrants from this period were often maligned when they arrived in the United States, they provided the cheap labor that was necessary for the development of that country as an industrial power. Early immigration and passenger lists have revealed many immigrants bearing the name O'Brien:

O'Brien Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew, Anne, Bridge, Catherine, Charles, Cornelius, David, Daniel, Denis, Edward, Frank, George, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Martin, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Thomas, and William O'Brien all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870

O'Brien migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

O'Brien Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry O'Brien, aged 7, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Peter O'Brien, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Ann O'Brien, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Daniel O'Brien, aged 50, a tailor, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
Mary O'Brien, aged 5, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

O'Brien migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

O'Brien Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Mary O'Brien, (Brien), (b. 1768), aged 24, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bellona" in July 1792, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1853 6

O'Brien Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Cornelius O'Brien, Irish convict who was convicted in Tipperary, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Denis O'Brien, Irish convict who was convicted in Wexford, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. James O'Brien, Irish convict who was convicted in Dundalk, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. John O'Brien, Irish convict who was convicted in Wexford, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Maurice O'Brien, Irish convict who was convicted in Wexford, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

O'Brien migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

O'Brien Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John O'Brien, aged 22, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Ellen O'Brien, aged 25, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
Mr. John O'Brien, (b. 1817), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 8
Mrs. O'Brien, (b. 1814), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 8
Mr. O'Brien, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl of Lonsdale" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand on 11th April 1841 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name O'Brien (post 1700) +

Denis O'Brien (1941-2021), American attorney, and former business manager of George Harrison of the Beatles
Richard "Rich" O'Brien (1956-2017), American television director known for his work at Fox News
Glenn O'Brien (1947-2017), American writer, journalist and editor, known for his work with Rolling Stone and Interview
Walter Howard "Hod" O'Brien (1936-2016), American jazz pianist
Dan O'Brien Jr., American former general manager of Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds (2003-2006)
Dan O'Brien Sr. (1930-2017), American front office executive in Major League and minor league baseball, father of Dan O'Brien Jr
Donald Eugene O'Brien (1923-2015), United States district judge
Edward Joseph O'Brien (1930-2014), American Major League Baseball shortstop, outfielder and pitcher
Conan Christopher O'Brien (b. 1963), American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer
Pat O'Brien (1899-1983), American film actor
... (Another 33 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the O'Brien family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Maggie O'Brien (1855-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 10
Mr. Albert P. O'Brien (1874-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 10
Mr. Walter J. O'Brien (1888-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 10

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Edward Bedford O'Brien (1906-1941), Australian Shipwright 1st Class from Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 11

HMS Royal Oak

Arthur Edward O'Brien (1901-1939), British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 12

RMS Titanic

Mr. Thomas O'Brien (d. 1912), aged 27, Irish Third Class passenger from Pallasgreen, Limerick who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 13
Mrs. Johanna "Hannah" O'Brien, (née Godfrey), aged 26, Irish Third Class passenger from Pallasgreen, Limerick who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking 13
Mr. Timothy O'Brien (d. 1912), aged 21, Irish Third Class passenger from Drimoleague, Cork who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 13

SS Caribou

Mr. Jack F. O'Brien, British passenger who was Royal Air Force from Amherst, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Joseph Bernard O'Brien, American Private First Class from Illinois, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 14

Victoria steamboat disaster

Thomas O'Brien, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bellona
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html