Brennan (surname)
Language(s) | English |
---|---|
Origin | |
Language(s) | Irish |
Derivation | Ó Braonáin Ó Branáin |
Meaning | "moisture", "drop" "little raven" |
Region of origin | Ireland |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Ó Braonáin, Ó Branáin |
Brennan is an Irish surname which is an Anglicised form of two different Irish language surnames—Ó Braonáin and Ó Branáin.[1][2][3] It can also be found as McBrennan.[4] Historically, one source of the surname was the prominent clan Ua Braonáin (O'Brennan) of Uí Duach (Idough)[5] in Osraige who were a junior Dál Birn sept stemming from a younger son of Cerball mac Dúnlainge (d.888).[6] Recent surname evaluations highlighted the geographic consistency of this lineage in the barony of Idough.[7][8] However, based on the ultimate authority of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh they are out of Ui Dhuinn (O’Dunn) [9] and, therefore, an Uí Failghi tribe, not Osraige. While it is clearly apparent that O’Hart’s pedigree is erroneous, it is suggested that Ó Cléirigh probably became confused while transcribing from Mac Fhirbhisigh.[10]
The Irish surname Ó Braonáin, means "descendant of Braonán". The personal name Braonán is derived from a word which means "moisture", "drop". The Irish surname Ó Branáin, means "descendant of Branán". The personal name Branán means "little raven".[11] Brennan is also a given name.
Notable people with the surname include:
A[]
- Aaron Brennan, fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
- Ad Brennan (1887–1962), pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Alastair Brennan (born 1945), British ice hockey player
- Allison Brennan (born 1969), American writer of romantic thriller novels
- Amanda Brennan, content and community associate at Tumblr
- Andrew Brennan (disambiguation)
- Angela Brennan (born 1960), Australian painter.
- Anna Teresa Brennan (1879–1962), Australian lawyer
- Anne M. Brennan, acting United States General Counsel of the Navy (2009–2010, 2017 – present)
- Archie Brennan (born 2000), English footballer
- Archie Brennan (weaver) (1931–2019), Scottish tapestry maker
- Arthur Brennan (1881–1931), Australian rules footballer
- Ashleigh Brennan (born 1991), Australian gymnast
B[]
- Barbara Brennan (born 1939), American author and spiritual healer
- Barry Brennan (Galway footballer) (born 1956), Irish Gaelic footballer from County Galway
- Barry Brennan (born 1975), Irish Gaelic footballer from County Laois
- Bernie Brennan (born 1927), Canadian Football League player
- Beth Brennan (also Willis), fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
- Bishop Len Brennan, fictional character from Irish sitcom Father Ted
- Brent Brennan (born 1973), American college football head coach for San José State University
- Brian Brennan (author) (born 1943), Irish-Canadian author and historian
- Brian Brennan (born 1962), former professional American football player
- Bríd Brennan (born 1953), North Irish actress
- Bridin Brennan (born 1974), Irish pop singer
- Biko Bradnock-Brennan (born 1992), Irish-English footballer
C[]
- Cait Brennan (born 1969), American singer
- Judith Tarr (pen name Caitlin Brennan) (born 1955), American fantasy and science fiction author
- T. Casey Brennan (born 1948), American comic book writer
- Cecily Brennan (born 1955), Irish artist
- Charles Brennan (born 1967), Professor of Food Science at Lincoln University, New Zealand
- Chris Brennan (born 1971), American mixed martial artist
- Chrisann Brennan (born 1954), American painter and writer
- Christine Brennan (born 1958), sports columnist for the USA Today
- Christopher Brennan (sailor) (1832 – after 1863), Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War
- Christopher Brennan (1870–1932), Australian poet and scholar
- Ciarán Brennan (born 1954), Irish singer and musician
- Cindy Brennan, co-owner and managing partner of Mr. B's Bistro
- Claire Baker (née Brennan; born 1971), Scottish Labour Party politician
- Colleen Brennan (born 1949), American pornographic actress
- Colt Brennan (1983–2021), American football player
- Conor Brennan (born 1994), Northern Irish footballer
- Cormac Brennan (born 1995), Irish rugby union player
D[]
- Dan Brennan (born 1962), Canadian NHL player
- Daniel Brennan, Baron Brennan (born 1942), British Labour life peer and barrister
- Darren Brennan (born 13 1996), Irish hurler
- Dean Brennan (born 1980), Irish footballer
- Debbie Brennan, British Paralympian athlete
- Denis Brennan (born 1945), Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferns
- Don Brennan (disambiguation)
- Donal Brennan (born 1986), Gaelic footballer
- Doreen Brennan, Irish camogie player
- Doug Brennan (1903–1972), Canadian professional hockey defenceman
- Duncan Brannan (born 1970), voice actor sometimes credited as Duncan Brennan
E[]
- Eddie Brennan (born 1978), Irish hurling manager, sports broadcaster and former player
- Eddie Brennan (Gaelic footballer), Gaelic footballer
- Edward A. Brennan (1934–2007), chairman of the board, president (1980–1995) and CEO (1984–1995), of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
- Eileen Brennan (1932–2013), American actress
- Ella Brennan (1925–2018), American restaurateur
- Enya Brennan (born 1961), Irish singer
F[]
- Fanny Brennan (1921–2001), French-American surrealist painter
- Fran Brennan (born 1940), Irish soccer player
- Frank Brennan (disambiguation)
- Frederick Hazlitt Brennan (1901–1962), American screenwriter
- Fredrick Brennan, American computer programmer
G[]
- Garth Brennan (born 1972), Australian professional rugby league football coach
- Gary Brennan, Manager of St. Patrick's G.A.A. Under 15's
- Gavin Brennan (born 1988), Irish footballer
- Geoffrey Brennan (born 1944), professor of philosophy
- Georgianna Brennan, American journalist
- Ger Brennan, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Gerald Brennan (footballer) (born 1938), Australian rules footballer
- Gerard Brennan (born 1928), Justice and later Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
- Gloria Brennan (1948–1985), Aboriginal community leader and public servant from Western Australia
- Gomeo Brennan (born 1939), Bahamian boxer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s
H[]
- Harold Brennan (1905–1979), Australian politician
- Howard Brennan (1919–1983), witness to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
I[]
- Ian Brennan (disambiguation)
- Ivy Brennan, fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street
J[]
- J. Keirn Brennan (1873–1948), American songwriter
- Jack Brennan (disambiguation)
- Jacob Brennan (born 1990), Australian rules footballer
- James Brennan (disambiguation)
- Jamie Brennan (born c. 1996/7), Irish Gaelic footballer
- Jane Brennan, Irish actress
- Jared Brennan (born 1984), Australian rules footballer
- Jason Brennan (born 1979), American philosopher and political scientist
- Jody Brennan (born 1983), Irish hurler
- John Brennan (disambiguation)
- Jon Brennan (born 1981), Jersey rugby player
- Joseph Brennan (disambiguation)
K[]
- Kathleen Brennan (born 1950), American musician
- Katie Brennan (born 1992), Australian rules footballer
- Keith Brennan (1915–1985), Australian diplomat
- Kevin Brennan (disambiguation)
- Killian Brennan (born 1984), Irish professional footballer
- Kim Brennan (born 1985), Australian rower
- Kip Brennan (born 1980), Canadian professional hockey enforcer
- Kitty Brennan (born 1950), American jurist
- Kate Lord-Brennan, member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man (from 2018)
L[]
- Lee Brennan (born 1973), singer
- Liam Brennan, president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (from 2015)
- Bishop Len Brennan, fictional character from the television series Father Ted
- Len Brennan (1911–1943), Australian rugby league player
- Les Brennan (born 1931), Australian rugby league footballer
- Les Brennan (Australian rules footballer) (1910–1992)
- Lesley Brennan, Scottish Labour Party politician
- Louis Brennan (1852–1932), 19th century inventor
- Luke Brennan (Australian footballer) (born 1985), Australian rules footballer
- Luke Brennan (English footballer) (born 2001), English footballer
M[]
- Mac Brennan (born 1990), American professional racing cyclist
- Maeve Brennan (1917–1993), Irish short story writer and journalist
- Margaret Brennan (disambiguation)
- Marie Brennan, American fantasy author
- Mark Brennan (disambiguation)
- Martin Brennan (disambiguation)
- Mary Brennan (born 1954), Member of the Florida House of Representatives
- Matt Brennan (disambiguation)
- Maureen Brennan (born 1954), English educator
- Maurice Brennan (1913–1986), British aerospace engineer
- Maurice B. Brennan (1842–1927), American politician
- Max Brennan (disambiguation)
- Megan Jane Brennan, Postmaster General of the United States (from 2015)
- Michael Brennan (disambiguation)
- Micky Brennan (born 1952), English professional footballer
- Mitch Brennan (born 1954), Australian rugby league footballer
- Moya Brennan (born 1952), singer and the sister of Enya
- Murray Brennan (born 1940), New Zealand surgeon, oncologist, cancer researcher, and academic
- Myles Brennan (born 1999), American football player
N[]
- Nash Brennan, fictional character on the American drama One Life to Live
- Natasha Brennan (born 1986), English rugby union player
- Neal Brennan (born 1973), American writer, stand-up comedian, television director and producer
- Nelly Brennan (1792–1859), Manx washerwoman
- Nick Brennan, British cartoonist
- Nickey Brennan (born 1953), Irish hurler, manager and Gaelic games administrator
- Nigel Brennan (born 1972), Australian photojournalist and author
- Norman Brennan, serving police officer in London
O[]
- Owen Brennan (footballer) (1877–1961), Australian rules footballer
- Owen Brennan (restaurateur) (1910–1955), New Orleans restaurateur
P[]
- Paddy Brennan (born May 1981), Irish jockey
- Patricia Brennan (1944–2011), Australian medical doctor
- Patricia Flatley Brennan, director of the National Library of Medicine
- Patrick Brennan (disambiguation)
- Paudge Brennan (1922–1998), Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- Paul Brennan (disambiguation)
- Peter Brennan (disambiguation)
- Philip Brennan (disambiguation)
- P��l Brennan (born 1956), Irish singer, songwriter and producer
R[]
- Reed Brennan, fictional character from the book series Private
- Richard Brennan (disambiguation)
- Robert Brennan (disambiguation)
- Ralph Brennan, New Orleans restaurateur and head of The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group
- Rory Brennan (born 1945), Irish poet
- Rose Brennan (born 1931), Irish singer
- Rosie Brennan (born 1988), American cross country skier
- Rowan Brennan (born 1958), Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer
S[]
- Samantha Brennan, British-born philosopher and scholar of women's studies
- Sarah Rees Brennan (born 1983), Irish writer
- Scott Brennan (disambiguation)
- Séamus Brennan (1948–2008), Fianna Fáil politician
- Síle Ní Bhraonáin (born 1983), television presenter
- Shane Brennan (born 1957), American and Australian television writer and producer
- Shay Brennan (1937–2000), Irish footballer
- Stella Brennan (born 1974), New Zealand artist, curator, and essayist
- Stephen Brennan (disambiguation)
- Stuart Brennan (born 1982), British actor, writer, producer and director
T[]
- T. Corey Brennan (born 1959), associate professor of Classics at Rutgers University
- T. J. Brennan (born 1989), American professional ice hockey defenseman
- Temperance "Bones" Brennan, fictional character from the television series Bones
- Terrance Brennan, Chef-Proprietor of the restaurants of The Artisanal Group
- Terry Brennan (1928–2021), American football player and coach
- Terry Brennan (politician) (born 1942), Irish Fine Gael politician
- Thomas Brennan (disambiguation)
- Tim Brennan (born 1983), member of the Celtic punk group Dropkick Murphys
- Timothy M. Brennan (born 1959), Compton police officer
- Tony Brennan (1916–1965), Irish hurler
- Tony Brennan (Gaelic footballer) (born 1944), Irish Gaelic footballer
- Trevor Brennan (born 1973), Irish rugby union player
- Tyler Brennan, fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours
U[]
- Ursula Brennan (born 1952), British civil servant
- Úna Brennan (1888–1958), Irish republican and feminist
V[]
- Vincent M. Brennan (1890–1959), US Representative from Michigan
W[]
- Walter Brennan (1894–1974), American actor
- William Brennan (disambiguation)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "brennan Family History". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015.
- ^ "O'Brennan Family Crest and History".
- ^ Grenham, John (1994). The Little Book of Irish Clans. Dublin, Ireland: John Hinde. p. 10. ISBN 0-7858-0083-2.
- ^ "McBrennan Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms".
- ^ "Ireland's History in Maps - Ancient Ossory, Osraige, Osraighe".
- ^ "Brenan (No.1) family genealogy - Irish Pedigrees".
- ^ 1659 Ireland Census map of the name (O)Brennan
- ^ Griffith's Valuation map of the name (O)Brennan
- ^ Mac Fhirbhisigh, Dubhaltach (2003). Leabhar Mór na nGenealach. Dublin: De Burca.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Mike (2021). "The Similar-Sounding Surnames of Haplotype R-BY140757". The Journal of the Fitzpatrick Clan Society. 2: 1–41. doi:10.48151/fitzpatrickclansociety00421.
- ^ [1]
External links[]
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Look up Brennan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Surnames
- Irish families
- Surnames of Irish origin
- Anglicised Irish-language surnames