Where does “O’Brien” come from?
O’Brien (English) comes from Irish Ó Briain, from English Brian, from Irish Brian, from Proto-Brythonic brɨɣėnt, from Proto-Celtic brigantī, from Proto-Indo-European bʰérǵʰonts, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.
Ancestry of “O’Brien”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irish | Ó Briain | — |
| 2 | English | Brian | To keep fire at the mouth of (as of an oven), to give light or to preserve heat |
| 3 | Irish | Brian | — |
| 4 | Proto-Brythonic | brɨɣėnt | privilege, birthright |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | brigantī | something high or elevated; an exalted person |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰérǵʰonts | high |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰerǵʰ- | to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain |