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O'Driscoll (and its derivative Driscoll) is an Irish surname. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó hEidirsceoil. The O'Driscolls were rulers of the Dáirine sept of the Corcu Loígde until the early modern period; their ancestors were Kings of Munster until the rise of the Eóganachta in the 7th century. At the start of the 13th century, three prominent branches of the family came into existence: O'Driscoll Mor, O'Driscoll Og, and O'Driscoll Beara. The Ó prefix was dropped by many in Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries. The surname is now most prominent in the Irish counties of Cork and Kerry.

Naming conventions

Male	Daughter	Wife (Long)	Wife (Short)
Ó hEidirsceóil^[1]	Ní Eidirsceóil	Bean Uí Eidirsceóil	Uí Eidirsceóil
Ó Drisceóil^[2]	Ní Dhrisceóil	Bean Uí Dhrisceóil	Uí Dhrisceóil

Overview

The surname derives from the forename Eidirsceol, who was alive in the early-to-mid 10th century. The Irish word itself, eidirsceol, means "go-between" or "bearer of news".

The family are of Érainn, descent, specifically the Corcu Loígde population group. By the time the family began using the surname, the territory known as Corcu Loígde (roughly the same as the diocese of Ross) in south-west County Cork, was identified as their homeland, with the town of Baltimore been their seat. From the 12th century the Ó hEidirsceoil's were recorded as kings of Corcu Loígde. According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the O'Driscolls were a chiefly family of the Corca Laoghdne who in turn came from the Erainn tribe who were the second wave of Celts who settled in Ireland from 500 to 100 BC.^[3]

Been driven so far south by the Gaelic Eóganachta and the Anglo-Normans, the family became expert sailors and fishermen. According to genealogist John Grenham:^{[citation needed]}

From the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries they struck an alliance with the Powers of County Waterford in their long feud with the burgesses and merchants of Waterford city, and many of their leaders were killed in battle on land and sea. The feud ended when one of the best known incidents occurred in 1413, when the Mayor of Waterford, Simon Wicken, arrived in Baltimore on Christmas Day and was invited to join in the Christmas festivities. From the fifteenth century on, the family struggled to retain lands and power taken by the English. By 1610, Baltimore had become an English port. In 1631 the town was sacked by Algerine pirates who according to the Irish poem, "Only Smiled; O'Driscolls Child", the pirates burned, raided and kidnapped their people. The poem describes a brave O'Driscoll girl who fought back against the pirates. The poem further describes that, "High on a gallows tree a yelling wretch is seen: Hackett of Dungarvan steered the Algerine". "Some mutter'd of MacMurchadh who brought the Norman O'er. Some curs'd him with Iscariot, that day in Baltimore!"

They are described by Donnchadh Ó Corráin as follows:

In general, the seafaring peoples of the south and west coast—Ua hEtersceóil, Ua Muirchertaig, Ua Conchobair Chiarraige, Ua Domnaill of Corcu Baiscind, Ua Flaithbeartaig, Ua Dubda, and others served as commanders of the king's fleets.

Though the landowners of the clan lost several castles during the 17th century war with Queen Elizabeth of England, most of those bearing the name in Ireland are still to be found living in the County Cork.

Forenames associated with the family included Finn and Con/Mac Con. From the late medieval era, they were anglicized as Florence and Cornelius.

Annalistic references

U=Annals of Ulster. AI=Annals of Inisfallen.

U944: Cairpre son of Mael Pátraic, king of Uí, Liatháin, and Finn son of Mután, king of Corcu Laígdi, were killed by the men of Mag Féine.
AI1103: Conchobar Ua hEtersceóil, king of Corcu Laígde, died in Ros Ailithir.
AI1103: The son of Ua hEtersceóil, king of Corcu Laígde, went to sea with a crew of twenty-five, {and unknown is their faring or their end thereafter}.
AI1126: Ciarmac Ua hEtersceóil died.
AI1178: Muirchertach, grandson of Domnall Ua Carthaig, was treacherously slain by Ua hEtersceóil {in Móin Cluana Cuarbáin and Hector(?)
AI1179: The son of Finn Ua hEtersceóil was slain.
AI1229: Donnchad Ó hEtersceóil, king of Corcu Laígde, died.

List of people

Agnes Meyer Driscoll (1889–1971), American cryptanalyst
Alfred E. Driscoll (1902–1975), American politician
Barry Driscoll (1926–2006), British painter, wildlife artist and sculptor
Bobby Driscoll (1937–1968), American Academy Award-winning actor
Brian O'Driscoll (born 1979), Irish international rugby union player
Bridget Driscoll (died 1896), early British automobile accident victim
Bruce Driscoll (born 1983), Brazilian/American record producer, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist
Charles Benedict Driscoll (1885–1951), American journalist and editor
Chris Driscoll (born 1971), Canadian lacrosse player
Clara Driscoll (disambiguation), multiple people
Dan O'Driscoll (born 1985), former drummer in The Divided, vocalist in British metal band Centuries
Daniel A. Driscoll (1875–1955), Democratic politician from New York
Daniel Patrick Driscoll (1862–1934), British army officer
Danny Driscoll (1855–1888), American criminal and co-leader of the Whyos
Denis J. Driscoll (1871–1958), Democratic politician from Pennsylvania
Dennis O'Driscoll (1954–2012), Irish poet
Denny Driscoll (1855–1886), American Major League Baseball player
Emma O'Driscoll (born 1982), Irish television presenter
Sir Fineen O'Driscoll (died 1629), Irish lord
Gary Driscoll (1946–1987), American rock drummer
Gay O'Driscoll, Dublin senior football player
Ger O'Driscoll (disambiguation), multiple people
Hockey Driscoll, rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s
Gerry Driscol (1924–2011), American yacht racer and businessperson
Jack Driscoll (American football) (born 1997), American football player
Jackie O'Driscoll (1921–1988), Irish football winger
James Driscoll (born 1977), American golfer
Jean Driscoll (born 1966), American wheelchair racer
Jim Driscoll (1880–1925), Welsh featherweight boxer
Joe Driscoll (rapper) (born 1979), musician from New York
John Driscoll (actor) (born 1981), American television and soap opera actor
John L. Driscoll, American football coach and sports figure
John R. Driscoll (1924–2014), American politician and businessman
John O'Driscoll (rugby union) (born 1953), Irish international rugby union player
John O'Driscoll (Gaelic footballer) (born 1967), Irish sportsperson
Joseph Driscoll (Canadian politician) (1876–1942), Canadian politician and a municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta
Joseph R. Driscoll, American politician, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Julie Driscoll (born 1947), English singer and actress
Kat Driscoll (born 1986), British trampolinist
Kermit Driscoll (born 1956), American jazz bassist
Kieran O'Driscoll, Gaelic footballer
Loren Driscoll (1928–2008), American tenor
Mark Driscoll (disambiguation), multiple people
Mark Driscoll (screenwriter) (born 1959), American screenwriter
Martha O'Driscoll (1922–1998), American film actress from 1937 until 1947
Matthew Driscoll (born 1958), American politician
Matthew Driscoll (basketball) (born 1964), American basketball coach
Michael Driscoll (economist) (born 1950), British economist
Michael E. Driscoll (1851–1929), American representative to New York
Michael Patrick Driscoll (1939–2017), American Roman Catholic bishop
Mick O'Driscoll (born 1978), Irish international rugby union player
Paddy Driscoll (1895–1968), American professional football quarterback
Pádraig O'Driscoll, Dublin senior hurler at Lucan Sarsfields
Patricia Driscoll (1927–2020), Irish and British actress
Patrick Driscoll (born 1987), Canadian musician
Patrick O'Driscoll (1878–1949), Irish Clann na Talmhan politician
Peter Driscoll (author) (1942–2005), British author
Peter Driscoll (born 1954), Canadian ice hockey player
Phil Driscoll (born 1947), American musician and minister
Richard Driscoll (born 1980), English comic
Robin Driscoll, British actor and writer
Robyn Driscoll (born 1962), Democratic politician from Montana
Sean O'Driscoll (born 1957), English-born football manager and former player
Shirley Driscoll (born 1935), English cricketer
Terry Driscoll (born 1947), American basketball player
William P. Driscoll (born 1947), American Navy flight officer

Fictional characters

Becky Driscoll from the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Elizabeth Driscoll from the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Erin Driscoll from the television show 24
Jack Driscoll from the King Kong franchise
Peyton Driscoll from the television show CSI: NY
Driscoll from the video game Front Mission
Driscoll Berci from the manga series Bleach
Colm O'Driscoll and his gang, the O'Driscolls, in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2
Driscoll Padgett from the novel Bleeding Edge
Jesse Pinkman from the television series Breaking Bad, who adopts the surname Driscoll in the series epilogue film El Camino (2019)

References

Family Names of Co. Cork, D. O'Murchadha, Glendale Press, Dublin, 1985.
Driscolls and more Driscolls:from County Cork (Ireland) to Township York (Noble County, IN), Allen W. Driscoll, Wawaka, 1998.
Byrne, Francis J., Irish Kings and High-Kings. Four Courts Press. 2nd edition, 2001.
D'Alton, John, Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689 2 vols. London: J.R. Smith. 2nd edition, 1861. (see under O'Donovan's Infantry)
Lankford, E. 'O Driscolls Past and Present' Cape Clear Museum (2005) ISBN 0-9534898-4-1
Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, "Corcu Loígde: Land and Families", in Cork: History and Society. Interdisciplinary Essays on the History of an Irish County, edited by Patrick O'Flanagan and Cornelius G. Buttimer. Dublin: Geography Publications. 1993.
O'Donovan, John (ed.), "The Genealogy of Corca Laidhe", in Miscellany of the Celtic Society. Dublin. 1849.
O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees. Dublin. 5th edition, 1892.
O'Rahilly, Thomas F., Early Irish History and Mythology. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1946.
Old Irish-Gaelic Surnames: A Supplement to Ireland's History in Maps

^ "Ó hEidirsceóil". Sloinne. 5 December 2015.
^ "Ó Drisceóil". Sloinne. 5 December 2015.
^ Cairney, C. Thomas (1989). Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States, and London: McFarland & Company. pp. 61–64. ISBN 0899503624.

External links

This page lists people with the surname O'Driscoll.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.