Brennan (surname)
Brennan is an Irish surname which is an Anglicised form of two different Irish language surnames—Ó Braonáin and Ó Branáin. Historically, one source of the surname was the prominent clan Ua Braonáin of Uí Duach in Osraige who were a junior Dál Birn sept stemming from a younger son of Cerball mac Dúnlainge. Recent surname evaluations highlighted the geographic consistency of this lineage in the barony of Idough.
The Irish surname Ó Braonáin, means "descendant of Braonán". The personal name Braonán is derived from a word which means "moisture", "drop". The Irish surname Ó Branáin, means "descendant of Branán". The personal name Branán means "little raven". Brennan is also a given name.
Notable people with the surname include:
A
- Aaron Brennan, fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
- Ad Brennan, pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Alastair Brennan, British ice hockey player
- Allison Brennan, American writer of romantic thriller novels
- Amanda Brennan, content and community associate at Tumblr
- Andrew Brennan
- Angela Brennan, Australian painter.
- Anna Teresa Brennan, Australian lawyer
- Anne M. Brennan, acting United States General Counsel of the Navy
- Arthur Brennan, Australian rules footballer
- Ashleigh Brennan, Australian gymnast
B
- Barbara Brennan, American author and spiritual healer
- Barry Brennan , Irish Gaelic footballer from County Galway
- Barry Brennan, Irish Gaelic footballer from County Laois
- Bernie Brennan, Canadian Football League player
- Beth Brennan, fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
- Bishop Len Brennan, fictional character from Irish sitcom Father Ted
- Brent Brennan, American college football head coach for San José State University
- Brian Brennan , Irish-Canadian author and historian
- Brian Brennan, former professional American football player
- Bríd Brennan, North Irish actress
- Bridin Brennan, Irish pop singer
- Biko Bradnock-Brennan, Irish-English footballer
C
- Cait Brennan, American singer
- Judith Tarr , American fantasy and science fiction author
- T. Casey Brennan, American comic book writer
- Cecily Brennan, Irish artist
- Charles Brennan, Professor of Food Science at Lincoln University, New Zealand
- Chris Brennan, American mixed martial artist
- Chrisann Brennan, American painter and writer
- Christine Brennan, sports columnist for the USA Today
- Christopher Brennan , Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War
- Christopher Brennan, Australian poet and scholar
- Ciarán Brennan, Irish singer and musician
- Cindy Brennan, co-owner and managing partner of Mr. B's Bistro
- Claire Baker, Scottish Labour Party politician
- Colleen Brennan, American pornographic actress
- Colt Brennan, American football player
- Conor Brennan, Northern Irish footballer
- Cormac Brennan, Irish rugby union player
D
- Dan Brennan, Canadian NHL player
- Daniel Brennan, Baron Brennan, British Labour life peer and barrister
- Darren Brennan, Irish hurler
- Dean Brennan, Irish footballer
- Debbie Brennan, British Paralympian athlete
- Denis Brennan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferns
- Don Brennan
- Donal Brennan, Gaelic footballer
- Doreen Brennan, Irish camogie player
- Doug Brennan, Canadian professional hockey defenceman
- Duncan Brannan, voice actor sometimes credited as Duncan Brennan
E
- Eddie Brennan, Irish hurling manager, sports broadcaster and former player
- Eddie Brennan, Gaelic footballer
- Edward A. Brennan, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
- Eileen Brennan, American actress
- Ella Brennan, American restaurateur
- Enya Brennan, Irish singer
F
- Fanny Brennan, French-American surrealist painter
- Fran Brennan, Irish soccer player
- Frank Brennan
- Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, American screenwriter
- Fredrick Brennan, American computer programmer
G
- Garth Brennan, Australian professional rugby league football coach
- Gary Brennan, Manager of St. Patrick's G.A.A. Under 15's
- Gavin Brennan, Irish footballer
- Geoffrey Brennan, professor of philosophy
- Georgianna Brennan, American journalist
- Ger Brennan, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Gerald Brennan , Australian rules footballer
- Gerard Brennan, Justice and later Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
- Gloria Brennan, Aboriginal community leader and public servant from Western Australia
- Gomeo Brennan, Bahamian boxer of the 1950s, '60s and '70s
H
- Harold Brennan, Australian politician
- Howard Brennan, witness to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
I
- Ian Brennan
- Ivy Brennan, fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street
J
- J. Keirn Brennan, American songwriter
- Jack Brennan
- Jacob Brennan, Australian rules footballer
- James Brennan
- Jamie Brennan, Irish Gaelic footballer
- Jane Brennan, Irish actress
- Jared Brennan, Australian rules footballer
- Jason Brennan, American philosopher and political scientist
- Jody Brennan, Irish hurler
- John Brennan
- Jon Brennan, Jersey rugby player
- Joseph Brennan
K
- Kathleen Brennan, American musician
- Katie Brennan, Australian rules footballer
- Keith Brennan, Australian diplomat
- Kevin Brennan
- Killian Brennan, Irish professional footballer
- Kim Brennan, Australian rower
- Kip Brennan, Canadian professional hockey enforcer
- Kitty Brennan, American jurist
- Kate Lord-Brennan, member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man
L
- Lee Brennan, singer
- Liam Brennan, president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Bishop Len Brennan, fictional character from the television series Father Ted
- Len Brennan, Australian rugby league player
- Les Brennan, Australian rugby league footballer
- Les Brennan
- Lesley Brennan, Scottish Labour Party politician
- Louis Brennan, 19th century inventor
- Luke Brennan, Australian rules footballer
M
- Mac Brennan, American professional racing cyclist
- Maeve Brennan, Irish short story writer and journalist
- Margaret Brennan
- Marie Brennan, American fantasy author
- Mark Brennan
- Martin Brennan
- Mary Brennan, Member of the Florida House of Representatives
- Matt Brennan
- Maureen Brennan, English educator
- Maurice Brennan, British aerospace engineer
- Maurice B. Brennan, American politician
- Max Brennan
- Megan Jane Brennan, Postmaster General of the United States
- Michael Brennan
- Micky Brennan, English professional footballer
- Mitch Brennan, Australian rugby league footballer
- Moya Brennan, singer and the sister of Enya
- Murray Brennan, New Zealand surgeon, oncologist, cancer researcher, and academic
N
- Nash Brennan, fictional character on the American drama One Life to Live
- Natasha Brennan, English rugby union player
- Neal Brennan, American writer, stand-up comedian, television director and producer
- Nelly Brennan, Manx washerwoman
- Nick Brennan, British cartoonist
- Nickey Brennan, Irish hurler, manager and Gaelic games administrator
- Nigel Brennan, Australian photojournalist and author
- Norman Brennan, serving police officer in London
O
- Owen Brennan, New Orleans restaurateur
- Owen Brennan , Australian rules footballer
P
- Paddy Brennan, Irish jockey
- Patricia Brennan, Australian medical doctor
- Patricia Flatley Brennan, director of the National Library of Medicine
- Patrick Brennan
- Paudge Brennan, Irish Fianna Fáil politician
- Paul Brennan
- Peter Brennan
- Philip Brennan
- Pól Brennan, Irish singer, songwriter and producer
R
- Reed Brennan, fictional character from the book series Private
- Richard Brennan
- Robert Brennan
- Ralph Brennan, New Orleans restaurateur and head of The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group
- Rory Brennan, Irish poet
- Rose Brennan, Irish singer
- Rosie Brennan, American cross country skier
- Rowan Brennan, Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer
S
- Samantha Brennan, British-born philosopher and scholar of women's studies
- Sarah Rees Brennan, Irish writer
- Scott Brennan
- Séamus Brennan, Fianna Fáil politician
- Síle Ní Bhraonáin, television presenter
- Shane Brennan, American and Australian television writer and producer
- Shay Brennan, Irish footballer
- Stella Brennan, New Zealand artist, curator, and essayist
- Stephen Brennan
- Stuart Brennan, British actor, writer, producer and director
T
- T. Corey Brennan, associate professor of Classics at Rutgers University
- T. J. Brennan, American professional ice hockey defenseman
- Temperance "Bones" Brennan, fictional character from the television series Bones
- Terrance Brennan, Chef-Proprietor of the restaurants of The Artisanal Group
- Terry Brennan, American football player and coach
- Terry Brennan , Irish Fine Gael politician
- Thomas Brennan
- Tim Brennan, member of the Celtic punk group Dropkick Murphys
- Timothy M. Brennan, Compton police officer
- Tony Brennan, Irish hurler
- Tony Brennan , Irish Gaelic footballer
- Trevor Brennan, Irish rugby union player
- Tyler Brennan, fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours
U
- Ursula Brennan, British civil servant
- Úna Brennan, Irish republican and feminist
V
- Vincent M. Brennan, US Representative from Michigan
W
- Walter Brennan, American actor
- William Brennan