The O'Brien surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 118,557 people carried this name — #258 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 2,490 people counted. That is up 3% from 115,385 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the O'Brien surname

Anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Briain, meaning “descendant of Brian”.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «O'Brien» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 502 births for the O’Brien name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Munster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 22,300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 14 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Munster 291
Leinster 105
Ulster 56
Connacht 50

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In print

O'Brien in American newspapers,
1885–1910.

Newspaper page from Press And Daily Dakotaian carrying the name O'Brien
Press And Daily Dakotaian 1885-08-24
Newspaper page from Evening Journal carrying the name O'Brien
Evening Journal 1905-12-21
Newspaper page from The Citizen carrying the name O'Brien
The Citizen 1910-01-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 962,960 pages in all carry the name.

In print

O'Brien in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.

436,025 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss O'Brien. The most, 66,789, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 156,101
Victoria 115,437
Queensland 85,080
South Australia 30,707
Western Australia 26,552
Tasmania 18,259
ACT (Canberra) 3,053
Northern Territory 354

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss O'Brien.

In the public record

People named O'Brien,
in the records of 10 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States38,136 records

38,136 records of the O'Brien name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 14,226
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 9,670
  • Other U.S. records 14,240
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Michael Steven O'Brien

    Born 1948; from Portland, Oregon. U.S. Army, light wheel vehicle mechanic; killed in action 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Charles G. O'Brien

    Born 1915 in Maryland. Enlisted 1941 at Baltimore; plumber from Baltimore City. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1992, buried at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Owings Mills, Maryland.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record John Patrick O'Brien

    Born 1933; from New York, New York. U.S. Marine Corps; killed in action 1952 in Korea. Buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 38,136 records for O'Brien in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Australia11,936 records

11,936 records of the O'Brien name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 5,371
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 2,440
  • Other Australian records 4,125
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Daniel O'Brien

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Rodney, sailing from Queenstown in 1852. Native of Clare. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Richmond, Tasmania, aged 23.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret O'Brien

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Hope, sailing from Dublin in 1842. Native of Cork. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1845.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret O'Brien

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Blackfriar, sailing from Kingston in 1851. Native of Sligo. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1852. Married 1852 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 16.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 11,936 records for O'Brien in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada2,545 records

2,545 records of the O'Brien name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 2,235
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 95
  • Other Canadian records 215
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Walter J. O'Brien

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 29.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jno O'Brien

    Came to Ontario in 1862 aboard the Minnesota, landing at Quebec, bound for St. Marys, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Carolyn M. O'Brien

    Buried in 1987 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 34.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 2,545 records for O'Brien in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand269 records

269 records of the O'Brien name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 194
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 36
  • Other New Zealand records 39
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Pamela Elaine O'Brien

    Died 1996, aged 56; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Warren Leslie O'Brien

    Died 1995, aged 63; buried at Tuamarina Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Christopher O'Brien

    Buried in 1872 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 29.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 269 records for O'Brien in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom214 records

214 records of the O'Brien name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 119
  • Stirling Council burial records 86
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 9
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James O'Brien

    Buried in 1902 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 61.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John O'Brien

    Buried in 1851 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 62.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 2 of 214 records for O'Brien in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Ireland95 records

95 records of the O'Brien name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Edward O'Brien

    Died 1987, aged 78; buried at Lackagh (Old), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John O'Brien

    Died 2000, aged 58; buried at Mountbellew, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 95 records for O'Brien in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands39 records

39 records of the O'Brien name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 18
  • Dutch population registers 17
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 4
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Adriaan Johan O'Brien

    Died 1837 in Hulst, aged 64; of independent means.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Iris Maude O'Brien

    Married in 1946 in Rolde; clerk.

    Open Archives, Drents Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 39 records for O'Brien in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France35 records

35 records of the O'Brien name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Kathleen Mary Gabriel O'Brien

    Born 1931 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Gerard Louis O'Brien

    Born 1944 in Metz (Moselle); died 1974 in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 35 records for O'Brien in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Belgium4 records

4 records of the O'Brien name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Michaël O'Brien

    Died 1913 in Aelst; born 1850 in Castlenane; priest.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 4 records for O'Brien in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Germany2 records

2 records of the O'Brien name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Felix O'Brien

    From Liegnitz. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 5 October 1916 (Infantry Regiment No. 141).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for O'Brien in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to O'Brien.

When the index is not enough

This page says where O'Brien is.
A volume says what happened to it.

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