First found in county Clare.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw many Irish families immigrate to North America in search of land and opportunities. The largest influx of Irish immigrants to the United States and British North America came during the 1840s when the Great Potato Famine laid waste to their homeland. Hundreds of thousands left the island in an attempt to escape the starvation and disease it brought. Although the arrival of such a large number of destitute Irish was not welcomed by the established population in the United States and what would become known as Canada at the time, these Irish were an essential element to the rapid development of these growing industrial nations. They filled the demand for the cheap labor needed for the work in factories and in the construction of bridges, roads, canals, and railways. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many immigrants bearing the name of Obrien or one of its variants: Archibald O'Brian settled in Virginia in 1773; James, John, Patrick, Timothy and William O'Brian all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; 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 arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870.

Motto Translated: The strong hand from above.

For more information on the last name Obrien, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.