From Ó Cathail, ‘descendant of Cathal’ — several unrelated septs who each arrived at the same name.
The Cahill certificate.
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Gaelic Origin · Root meaning ‘battle-mighty’
Cahill anglicises Ó Cathail, ‘descendant of Cathal’, a personal name built on cath (‘battle’) and read either as ‘battle ruler’ or ‘great warrior’ depending on which second element is preferred. Unusually, several entirely unrelated septs carried it — in Galway, whose chief was lord of Kinelea, and separately in Kerry, Clare and Tipperary.
Four families with no blood between them, each landing on the same word for the same reason — proof of how ordinary it once was to name a son for battle.
Irish form: Ó Cathail
