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 people
Alexandra Byrne, costume designer
Alfie Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin and TD
Allie Byrne, British actress
Andrew Byrne, first Catholic Bishop of Little Rock
Andrew Hozier-Byrne, better known under his stage name Hozier (born 1990), Irish singer and songwriter
Anthony Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Bill Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Billy Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Bob Byrne, Irish comics writer
Brendan Byrne, Governor of New Jersey from 1974 to 1982
Brian Byrne, Canadian musician
Bryan Byrne, Irish footballer
Catherine Byrne, Irish politician
Charles Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Charlie Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Christopher Byrne (disambiguation), several people named Chris or Christopher
Cliff Byrne, Irish footballer
Conan Byrne, Irish footballer
Condon Byrne, Australian politician
Damian Byrne, Artist
Damien Byrne, footballer
David Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Dean Byrne (disambiguation) (born 1984), American based Irish boxer
Debra Byrne, Australian singer
Declan Byrne, cartoonist
Denis Byrne, Irish sportsman
Dominic Byrne, British newsreader and presenter
Donald Byrne, chess player
Donn Byrne, Irish novelist
Doris I. Byrne (1905–1975), New York politician and judge
Edward Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Emma Byrne, Irish footballer
Emmet Byrne, US Representative from Illinois
Eric Byrne, Irish politician
Eugene Byrne, English writer
Fiach Mc Hugh O'Byrne, notable in Irish history
Francis Byrne (politician) (1877–1938) Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.
Francis John Byrne, Irish historian
Frank Byrne (Australian politician) Francis Arthur Byrne, of Hay, New South Wales
Frank Byrne (Irish nationalist), instigator of the Irish National Invincibles
Frank M. Byrne, eighth governor of South Dakota
Gabriel Byrne, Irish actor
Gay Byrne, Irish broadcaster
George Byrne, English cricketer
Gerry Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Gonçalo Byrne, Portuguese architect
Henry Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Hollis Byrne, British singer
Hugh Byrne (disambiguation), several people
James Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Jane Byrne, mayor of Chicago, Illinois
Jason Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Jennifer Byrne, journalist
Jenny Byrne, Australian tennis player
Joe Byrne, Australian outlaw
Joe Byrne (politician), Irish politician
John Byrne (disambiguation), several people named John or Johnny
Josh Byrne, British computer scientist
Julie Byrne, American musician
Kurtis Byrne, Irish professional association football player
Lee Byrne, Welsh rugby player
Leo Christopher Byrne, US Roman Catholic archbishop
Leslie Byrne, US Congresswoman from the state of Virginia
Liam Byrne, British politician
Mairéad Byrne, Irish poet
Mark Byrne, Irish football player
Martha Byrne, American actress
Mary Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Matt Byrne, drummer of the band Hatebreed
Michael Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Myles Byrne, a leader in the Irish rebellion of 1798
Neil Byrne, singer in the group Celtic Thunder
Nicky Byrne, member of Irish boy band Westlife
Oliver Byrne (1944–2007), CEO of Irish soccer club Shelbourne F.C.
Oliver Byrne (mathematician)
Pat Byrne, Irish football player and manager
Patricia M. Byrne
Patrick Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Patsy Byrne, English actress
Paul Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Paula Byrne, British author
Peter Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Ric Byrne, American wrestler and author
Richie Byrne, Irish footballer
Robert Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Roger Byrne, English footballer
Rose Byrne, Australian actress
Rosemary Byrne, Member of the Scottish parliament
Rory Byrne, car designer
Sam Byrne, Irish footballer
Scott Byrne, American drummer
Sean Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Shane Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Shaun Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Stephen Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Steve Byrne, comedian
Terry Byrne, English football manager
Thomas Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Todd Byrne, Australian rugby player
Tommy Byrne (disambiguation), several people
Tony Byrne (disambiguation), Irish boxer
Walter Byrne, Professional baseball umpire, see List of Major League Baseball umpires
William Byrne (disambiguation), several people
William O'Byrne (1908–1951), English cricketer
William Richard O'Byrne (1823–1896), Irish biographer and politician
Byrne: A Novel by Anthony Burgess
Byrne Dairy, based in New York
Caroline Byrne case, relating to the death of the Australian model
David Byrne (album), by the musician of the same name
O'Byrne Cup
