Ó Faoláin (), or O'Faolain, is an Irish surname meaning "

wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...

", anglicized as Phelan or

Whelan The family name Whelan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname Ó Faoláin. The surname originates from the Middle Irish (plural ''Uí Faeláin'') the name of the 10th to 11th century ruling dynasty of the Déisi, a population group inhabitin ...

. Notable people with this surname include: *

Seán Ó Faoláin Seán Proinsias Ó Faoláin (27 February 1900 – 20 April 1991) was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century Irish culture. A short-story writer of international repute, he was also a leading commentator and critic. Biography Ó ...

(1900–1991), influential figure in 20th-century Irish culture *

Eugenius Ó Faoláin Eugenius Ó Faoláin was Bishop of Kilmacduagh during 1409–1418. Appointed 23 September 1409 (papal bulls expediated 25 May 1410), he was translated to Killaloe on 6 July 1418. His surname is anglicised as Whelan and Phelan. Though mainly ...

, Bishop of Kilmacduagh during 1409-1418 *

Julia O'Faolain Julia O'Faolain (6 June 1932 – 27 October 2020) was an Irish novelist and short story writer. Early life and education O'Faolain's parents were Irish writers Seán Ó Faoláin and Eileen Gould. She was educated at University College Dublin, Sa ...

(1932–2020), London-born Irish novelist and short story writer *

Nuala O'Faolain Nuala O'Faolain (; 1 March 1940 – 9 May 2008) was an Irish journalist, television producer, book reviewer, teacher and writer. She became well known after the publication of her memoirs ''Are You Somebody?'' and ''Almost There''. She wrote a bi ...

(1940–2008), Irish journalist

References

{{Surname, O Faolain Irish-language surnames