O'Brien is a common surname of Irish origin.

The name is Gaelic, and its original language version is Ua Briain or Ó Briain (pronounced: Ew-Breen/Oh-Breen), meaning 'descendant of Brian'. It carries the sense ‘eminence’, i.e. ‘exalted one’. The Brian referred to is in most cases the ancient Irish king Brian Boru, or in Gaeilge - Brian Bórumha mac Cennétig. This O'Brien family ruled over Munster after Brian Boru's death, and later supplied the rulers of Thomond until the area became incorporated into the English holdings in Ireland in the Tudor period (but see the de Clare family). The O'Brien rulers were then given the titles of Earl of Thomond and Baron Inchiquin, the latter of which survives today and is held by the descendants of the ancient rulers. Two mottoes have been associated with the O'Brien clan: firstly, Vigueur de dessus: 'Strength from above' and secondly, 'The strongest arm uppermost' [1].

Other variants of this surname are O'Bryan, O'Brian, O'Breen', Breen, Bryant ("T" for Thomond) and many more.

Places named O'Brien

• O'Brien, Oregon, United States
• O'Brien County, Iowa, United States
• O'Brien, Buenos Aires, Argentina

People named O'Brien

• Cardinal O'Brien, Keith Patrick, current Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh
• O'Brien, Alex, a professional American tennis player
• O'Brien, Andrew "Andy", an Irish association football player
• O'Brien, Billy (1860-1911), American baseball player
• O'Brien, Bronterre, (1805-1864), British Chartist
• O'Brien, Conan, (born 1963), US comedian and talk show host
• O'Brien, Dave, television announcer of the New York Mets
• O'Brien, Cathy, purported American child-slave/sex-abuse victim.
• O'Brien, Dermod (1865-1906), Irish painter
• O'Brien, Edna, novelist, member of Aosdána
• O'Brien, Eugene, actor of the silent film era (born Louis O'Brien)
• O'Brien, Fergal, Irish professional snooker player
• O'Brien, Flann, At Swim-Two-Birds
• O'Brien, George (1899-1985) the American silent movie actor.
• O'Brien, George Hubert (born 1984) the Bermudian cricketer
• O'Brien, George the former Southampton F.C. footballer
• O'Brien, George (1821-1888), the New Zealand painter.
• O'Brien, George Thomas Michael former governor of Fiji
• O'Brien, George H. (1926-2005) Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient.
• O'Brien, George Miller (1917-1986) Member, U.S. House of Representatives (from Illinois), 1973-1986.
• O'Brien, George (1828-1887) Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General,
• O'Brien, James, see separate disambiguation page
• O'Brien, Jim, professional basketball coach
• O'Brien, John Patrick, American soccer player
• O'Brien, Kate, British fashion & television make-up artist
• O'Brien, Kerry, Australian ABC Television Current Affairs Presenter
• O'Brien, Larry, political and basketball figure
• O'Brien, Larry, Canadian entrepreneur and politician; Mayor of Ottawa, late 2006 to present
• O'Brien, Mark, Green Party candidate in the 2004 Canadian federal election
• O'Brien, Mick, Traditonal Irish Musician
• O'Brien, Miles, journalist and CNN anchor
• O'Brien, Pat, American Movie Actor
• O'Brien, Patrick, economic historian
• O'Brien, Richard, (born 1942), Rocky Horror Show and Rocky Horror Picture Show writer and actor
• O'Brien, Robert C., Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
• O'Brien, Shauna American erotic film star.
• O'Brien, Soledad American Television journalist, currently host of CNN's American Morning
• O'Brien, Stephen UK conservative politician for Eddisbury
• O'Brien, Tim, (born 1946), American author
• O'Brien, Tim, (born 1954) American musician

Fictional People named O'Brien

• O'Brien, Keiko, fictional character, wife of Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
• O'Brien, Miles, fictional character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
• O'Brien, a character in Nineteen Eighty-Four

Ships named O'Brien

• USS O'Brien

Other

• Potatoes O'Brien is a potato dish made from potatoes, onions and bell peppers.[2]

See also

• O'Brian
• List of people by name: Ob