cearnaigh

Cearnaigh is a surname of Irish Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Gaelic cearnaigh, an occupational term referring to a quarry worker or stone cutter, indicating that the name originally described a person's trade. The form Cearnaigh appears in Gaelic records, and the prefix Ó Cearnaigh marks a lineage meaning "descendant of Cearnaigh."

In medieval and early modern Gaelic Ireland, bearers of the name were associated with communities where quarrying and stoneworking were common. Over time, Gaelic names were recorded in English-language documents, leading to a range of anglicized spellings and adaptations in different regions. The name is commonly found in the Irish annals and genealogies in connection with families of Gaelic origin.

Today, Cearnaigh remains relatively uncommon. It is chiefly encountered in Ireland, particularly in areas with preserved Gaelic heritage, and among the Irish diaspora in North America, Britain, and Australia. The surname is part of the broader category of Gaelic occupational names that survive in modern usage as family names.

See also: Irish surnames, Gaelic language, Ó Cearnaigh, occupational surnames.