Etymology Explorer › Irish

Where does “Ó Briain” come from?

Ó Briain (Irish) comes 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 “Ó Briain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBrian—
2IrishBrian—
3Proto-Brythonicbrɨɣėntprivilege, birthright
4Proto-Celticbrigantīsomething high or elevated; an exalted person
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰérǵʰontshigh
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain

Words derived from “Ó Briain”

  • O'Brien
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →