Byrnes
A surname of Irish origin, usually treated as a variant of Byrne, itself from an old Irish clan name.
The #3,271 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 27,969 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Byrnes is generally understood as a pluralized or Anglicized variant of the Irish surname Byrne. Byrne comes from the Gaelic clan name Ó Broin, meaning "descendant of Broin"; the personal name Broin is traditionally linked to a word meaning "raven." In English records, the final -s often appears as a variant spelling rather than a separate meaning.
History
The name is strongly associated with Ireland, especially the old Leinster clan of the Byrnes in County Wicklow. In English-language records, Byrnes appears alongside Byrne, Byrn, and related spellings as families migrated and spellings became less fixed. By the 19th century it was already recognized as a common Irish surname in both Ireland and diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname lists often group Byrnes directly with Byrne and O'Byrne, showing how fluid Irish spellings could be in English records.
From the historical record
“O'Byrne, Birne, Beirne, Byrne, Birnes, Byrns, Byrnes ; Byron ; Burns. 6 t)lAcniAic, Blawick, Blowick, Blouk ; Blake.”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames