OCúnaoigh

OCúnaoigh is an Irish surname. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic O' Cúnaoigh, meaning descendant of Cúnaoigh. The personal name Cúnaoigh is derived from the word "cú," meaning hound or wolf, and "naoigh," meaning new. Therefore, the surname can be interpreted as "descendant of the new hound" or "descendant of the new wolf." The O' Cúnaoigh sept was historically associated with the province of Connacht, particularly in the region that is now County Roscommon. Family members bearing this surname were often found among the learned classes and erenaghs of the area. Over centuries, as surnames became more standardized, variations in spelling emerged, including Coonahan, Conahan, and Cunihane, among others. Today, OCúnaoigh and its variations are found throughout Ireland and in countries with significant Irish diaspora, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. The historical significance of the O' Cúnaoigh lineage is tied to the social and political landscape of medieval Ireland.