Ó Comáin

The Irish surname Ó Comáin is rooted in an Irish chiefdom. Its anglicised forms include Comain(e), Coman, Comeens, Comin(s), Commane, Comman(s), Commin(s), Common(s), Commyn, Comyn(e), Cowman(s), Cummane, Cumings, Cummin(s), Cumming(s), Cumyn, Cummyn, Kimmons, MacSkimmins, McCowman. It is sometimes incorrectly mistranslated as Hurley due to the superficial resemblance between the unrelated Gaelic words comán and camán, the latter referring to a hurling stick.

The names are derived from the Gaelic personal name Comán (meaning "noble" or "steadfast") or Commán ("companion" or "communion"), a name from early Irish history.

The surname is rooted in the provinces of Connacht (sept: Ó Cuimín) and Munster (sept: Ó Comáin), particularly in County Clare, and the 8th and 9th century chiefdom of Tulach Commáin. a burial and inauguration site for chieftains, and their capital Cahercommaun ("The Dwelling of Commaun/Commane") also in Clare.

The various spellings can largely be attributed to the lack of Standard Irish until 1948, and the historical practice of English-speaking officials transcribing Irish names phonetically, often based on how the names were pronounced. In many cases, English officials transcribed names they were already familiar with, for example writing down Comyn or Cumming, well-known Scottish surnames of Norman origin, despite having no connection to the Irish name Ó Comáin.