Flaherty is one of the great Gaelic names of the west, borne by lords who once ruled the lands beyond Galway.
Where does the Flaherty name come from?
Flaherty is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Flaithbheartaigh, from elements meaning “bright” or “princely” ruler — in effect “descendant of the lordly one.” The name is most often seen with the O prefix as O’Flaherty.
The O’Flahertys of Connacht
The family were powerful lords in County Galway, ruling Iar-Connacht — the wild and beautiful country of Connemara west of Lough Corrib. So feared were they by the citizens of Galway that an old prayer is said to have asked for deliverance “from the ferocious O’Flahertys.” The famous sea-captain and chieftain Gráinne Mhaol (Grace O’Malley) married into the family. As one of the historic Gaelic names of the west, Flaherty is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- Flaherty comes from the Gaelic Ó Flaithbheartaigh, “the lordly one.”
- The O’Flahertys ruled Iar-Connacht, the country of Connemara.
- An old prayer is said to have asked deliverance “from the ferocious O’Flahertys.”
- Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen, married into the family.
- The name survives today in Ireland and across the diaspora.
Related Irish family names
You may also like Flannery, Flynn, and Barry.
Carry the Flaherty name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the Flaherty collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flaherty an Irish surname?
Yes — Flaherty is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Ó Flaithbheartaigh, the lords of Iar-Connacht in County Galway.
What does Flaherty mean?
It means roughly “descendant of the lordly one,” from elements meaning “bright” or “princely” ruler.
Is Flaherty the same as O’Flaherty?
Yes — they are the same name; the O prefix preserves the original Gaelic Ó Flaithbheartaigh.
Is there a Flaherty family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our Flaherty products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.