Brennan
/ˈbrɛnən/noun
An Irish surname of Gaelic origin, found especially in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.
Did you know?Brennan has more than one Gaelic origin: Ó Braonáin means “descendant of Braonán,” while Ó Branáin may mean “descendant of little Bran,” with bran meaning “raven.”
Etymological Timeline
Early Medieval Ireland
Old Irish
bran
“Raven; a personal name associated with the bird”
Early Medieval Ireland
Old Irish
braon
“A drop, portion, or small quantity of liquid”
Medieval Ireland
Irish Gaelic
Braonán / Branán
“A diminutive personal name, interpreted as “little drop” or “little raven””
Medieval Ireland
Irish Gaelic
Ó Braonáin / Ó Branáin
“Descendant of Braonán or Branán”
15th–17th Century
Anglicized Irish
Brennan
“An English spelling adopted for several Gaelic surname forms”
Modern English
English
Brennan
“An established Irish surname and given name”