The most common meaning of Byrne (variations: Byrnes, O'Byrne) is a surname derived from the Irish name Ó Broin.
There are two Irish surnames which have Byrne as their English spelling; the most common comes from Ó Broin, which refers to the Leinster-based family of Bran as described below, while the less common family name is Ó Beirn or Ó Beirne in Irish. The latter is most commonly found in Mayo, Sligo and Donegal in the Northwest of Ireland.
In the Irish language, Ó Broin means "descendant of Bran". The name has been traced back to the ancient Celtic chieftain, Bran mac Máelmórda, King of Leinster, deposed in 1018, (d. 1052), who belonged to the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty. He was descended from Cathair Mór, an earlier king of Leinster, who was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, also monarch of all Ireland around 200 AD. The clan's motto is the Latin phrase Certavi et vici, meaning "I have fought and conquered".
In pre-Norman times the O'Byrnes, then known as the Uí Fáeláin sept, inhabited the rich Kildare plains. With the progress of the Anglo-Norman conquest, they were compelled to migrate to the poorer lands and the mountainous country eastwards, later to be denominated as the county of Wicklow.
Alan Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleAlexandra Byrne, costume designerAlfie Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin and TDAllie Byrne, British actressAndrew Byrne, first Catholic Bishop of Little RockAndrew Hozier-Byrne, better known under his stage name Hozier (born 1990), Irish singer and songwriterAnthony Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleBill Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleBilly Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleBob Byrne, Irish comics writerBrendan Byrne, Governor of New Jersey from 1974 to 1982Brian Byrne, Canadian musicianBryan Byrne, Irish footballerCatherine Byrne, Irish politicianCharles Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleCharlie Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleChristopher Byrne (disambiguation), several people named Chris or ChristopherCliff Byrne, Irish footballerConan Byrne, Irish footballerCondon Byrne, Australian politicianDamian Byrne, ArtistDamien Byrne, footballerDavid Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleDean Byrne (disambiguation) (born 1984), American based Irish boxerDebra Byrne, Australian singerDeclan Byrne, cartoonistDenis Byrne, Irish sportsmanDominic Byrne, British newsreader and presenterDonald Byrne, chess playerDonn Byrne, Irish novelistDoris I. Byrne (1905–1975), New York politician and judgeEdward Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleEmma Byrne, Irish footballerEmmet Byrne, US Representative from IllinoisEric Byrne, Irish politicianEugene Byrne, English writerFiach Mc Hugh O'Byrne, notable in Irish historyFrancis Byrne (politician) (1877–1938) Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.Francis John Byrne, Irish historianFrank Byrne (Australian politician) Francis Arthur Byrne, of Hay, New South WalesFrank Byrne (Irish nationalist), instigator of the Irish National InvinciblesFrank M. Byrne, eighth governor of South DakotaGabriel Byrne, Irish actorGay Byrne, Irish broadcasterGeorge Byrne, English cricketerGerry Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleGonçalo Byrne, Portuguese architectHenry Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleHollis Byrne, British singerHugh Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleJames Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleJane Byrne, mayor of Chicago, IllinoisJason Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleJennifer Byrne, journalistJenny Byrne, Australian tennis playerJoe Byrne, Australian outlawJoe Byrne (politician), Irish politicianJohn Byrne (disambiguation), several people named John or JohnnyJosh Byrne, British computer scientistJulie Byrne, American musicianKurtis Byrne, Irish professional association football playerLee Byrne, Welsh rugby playerLeo Christopher Byrne, US Roman Catholic archbishopLeslie Byrne, US Congresswoman from the state of VirginiaLiam Byrne, British politicianMairéad Byrne, Irish poetMark Byrne, Irish football playerMartha Byrne, American actressMary Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleMatt Byrne, drummer of the band HatebreedMichael Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleMyles Byrne, a leader in the Irish rebellion of 1798Neil Byrne, singer in the group Celtic ThunderNicky Byrne, member of Irish boy band WestlifeOliver Byrne (1944–2007), CEO of Irish soccer club Shelbourne F.C.Oliver Byrne (mathematician)Pat Byrne, Irish football player and managerPatricia M. ByrnePatrick Byrne (disambiguation), several peoplePatsy Byrne, English actressPaul Byrne (disambiguation), several peoplePaula Byrne, British authorPeter Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleRic Byrne, American wrestler and authorRichie Byrne, Irish footballerRobert Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleRoger Byrne, English footballerRose Byrne, Australian actressRosemary Byrne, Member of the Scottish parliamentRory Byrne, car designerSam Byrne, Irish footballerScott Byrne, American drummerSean Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleShane Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleShaun Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleStephen Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleSteve Byrne, comedianTerry Byrne, English football managerThomas Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleTodd Byrne, Australian rugby playerTommy Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleTony Byrne (disambiguation), Irish boxerWalter Byrne, Professional baseball umpire, see List of Major League Baseball umpiresWilliam Byrne (disambiguation), several peopleWilliam O'Byrne (1908–1951), English cricketerWilliam Richard O'Byrne (1823–1896), Irish biographer and politicianByrne: A Novel by Anthony BurgessByrne Dairy, based in New YorkCaroline Byrne case, relating to the death of the Australian modelDavid Byrne (album), by the musician of the same nameO'Byrne Cup