List of people with surname O'Brien
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
O'Brien is a surname of Irish origin. It has many variants in the Irish diaspora worldwide, such as Brien, O'Bryan, O'Brian, Brian, O'Brine and O'Bryen, which all claim a general common ancestry. The original Gaelic surname is Ó Briain (feminine maiden form: Ní Bhriain; plural form and feminine marital form: Uí Bhriain).
Notable people with the name include:
As surname
A
- Aidan O'Brien (born 1969), Irish racehorse trainer
- Aiden O'Brien, Irish football player
- Alan O'Brien, Irish association football player
- Alex O'Brien (born 1970), American tennis player
- Ambrose O'Brien (1885–1968), Canadian founder of the National Hockey Association
- Andrew O'Brien (politician) (fl. 1990s-2010s), US Department of State official
- Andrew O'Brien (rugby) (1897–1969), New Zealand rugby footballer
- Andy O'Brien (footballer) (born 1979), Irish footballer
- Andy O'Brien (hurler) (born 1988), Irish hurler
- Andy O'Brien (journalist) (1910–1987), Canadian sports journalist
- Andy O'Brien (politician) (1915–2006), Irish Fine Gael senator
- Anne O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Arthur O'Brien (1878–1951), New Zealand rugby union fullback
- Austin O'Brien (born 1981), American actor and photographer
B
- Barry O'Brien (born 1957), American TV screenwriter and producer
- Billy O'Brien (baseball) (1860–1911), American baseball player
- Billy O'Brien (footballer), Welsh association football player
- Brendan O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Brenna O'Brien (born 1991), Canadian actress and voice actor
- Brock O'Brien (born 1988), Australian rules footballer with Fremantle
- Buck O'Brien (1882–1959), pitcher with the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox
- Burton O'Brien (born 1981), Scottish football player
C
- Casey O'Brien (b. 2001), American ice hockey player
- Cathy O'Brien (athlete) (b. 1967), American long-distance runner
- Cathy O'Brien (conspiracy theorist) (b. 1957), American purported child-abuse victim
- Cecily O'Bryen (1899–1984), British diving champion
- Charles O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Christian O'Brien (1914–2001), British geologist, author & historian
- Ciaran O'Brien (born 1987), American soccer coach and player
- Cinders O'Brien, John F., or Darby O'Brien (1867–1892), American baseball pitcher
- Clinton O'Brien (born 1974), Australian rugby league footballer
- Conal O'Brien (born 1956), American television director
- Conan O'Brien (born 1963), US comedian and talk show host
- Connor O'Brien (disambiguation) or
- Conor O'Brien (disambiguation), various people
- Cubby O'Brien (born 1946), American drummer and original Mouseketeer
D
- Daniel O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Danielle O'Brien (born 1990), Australian ice dancer
- Danny O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Darcy O'Brien (1939–1998), American true crime author
- Daryl O'Brien (b. 1941), Australian rules footballer
- Dave O'Brien (actor) (1912–1969), American film actor
- Dave O'Brien (sportscaster), American sportscaster
- David O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Doug Brien (born 1970), American football placekicker
- Don Brien (born 1959), Canadian sprint canoer
- Declan O'Brien (1965–2022), American film and TV writer and producer
- Declan O'Brien (footballer) (born 1979), with Drogheda United
- Dennis O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Derek O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Dermod O'Brien (1865–1906), Irish painter
- Donald O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Doug O'Brien (born 1984), Canadian ice hockey defenceman
- Dylan O'Brien (b. 1991), American actor
E
- Ed O'Brien (b. 1968), English musician
- Edmond O'Brien (1915–1985), American actor
- Edna O'Brien (1930–2024), Irish novelist
- Edward O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Edwin Frederick O'Brien (born 1939), American Catholic prelate
- Eileen O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Elaine O'Brien (1955–2014), American politician
- Erin O'Brien (writer), American writer
- Erin Joanne O'Brien (1934–2021), American actress
- Eugene O'Brien (disambiguation), various
F
- Fergal O'Brien (born 1872), Irish professional snooker player
- Fergal O'Brien (trainer) (born 1972), Irish National Hunt trainer
- Fergus O'Brien (1930–2016), Irish politician
- Fitz James O'Brien (1826–1862), American SF and fantasy writer
- Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan, 1911–1966), Irish novelist and satirist
G
- Gareth O'Brien (born 1991), English rugby league footballer
- Geraldine O'Brien (1922–2014), Irish botanical illustrator
- George O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Ger O'Brien (born Gerard O'Brien, 1984), Irish footballer
- Gerard O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Geoffrey O'Brien (born 1948), American poet, editor, and film critic
- Glenn O'Brien (1947–2017), American writer, "The Style Guy"
- Gray O'Brien (born Gerard O'Brien, 1968), Scottish actor
- Gavin O'Brien (born 1993), Irish hurler
H
- Harry O'Brien, later Héritier Lumumba (born 1986), Australian rules footballer
- Harry J. O'Brien "Shorty" (1884–1955), American football, basketball, baseball coach
- Helen O'Brien (1925–2005), British nightclub owner and spy
- Henry O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Hod O'Brien (1936–2016), American jazz pianist
- Hugh O'Brien (1827–1895), mayor of Boston
I
- Iain O'Brien (born 1976), New Zealand cricketer
- Ian O'Brien (born 1947), Australian breaststroke swimmer
- Ignatius O'Brien, 1st Baron Shandon (1857–1930), Lord Chancellor of Ireland, 1913–1918
J
- Jack O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Jake O'Brien (ice hockey) (born 2007), Canadian ice hockey player
- Jake O'Brien (fighter) (born 1984), American MMA fighter
- Jake O'Brien (footballer) (born 2001), Irish footballer
- James O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Jamie O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Jeremiah O'Brien (1744–1818), US Navy officer of the American Revolutionary War
- Jesse O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Jim O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Joan O'Brien (1936–2025), American actress and singer
- Joanne O'Brien, portrait and documentary photographer
- Joe O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Joey O'Brien (born 1986), Irish football player
- John O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Joseph O'Brien (disambiguation), various
K
- Kate O'Brien (disambiguation)
- Katharine O'Brien, American film director
- Katharine O'Brien (disambiguation), other people of that name
- Katherine O'Brien (born 1963), Canadian pediatric infectious disease physician
- Kathleen O'Brien (1914–1991), Australian illustrator and fashion artist
- Katie O'Brien, British tennis player
- Keith O'Brien (1938–2018), Scottish Roman Catholic prelate
- Ken O'Brien (born 1960), American football quarterback
- Kerry O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Kevin O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Kieran O'Brien (born 1973), English actor
- Kim O'Brien, American film and television actress
- Kirsten O'Brien (born 1972), British TV presenter
- Kitt O'Brien (born 1990), American football player
- Kitty Wilmer O'Brien (1910–1982), Irish landscape painter
L
- Larry O'Brien (1917–1990), American politician
- Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1949), businessman, mayor of Ottawa
- Laurence O'Brien (1792–1870), Irish merchant and politician in Newfoundland
- Lawrence O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Lawrence D. O'Brien (1951–2004), Canadian politician representing Labrador
- Leighton O'Brien (born 1976), American soccer player with the Seattle Sounders
- Lévis Brien (born 1955), Quebec politician
- Leo O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Leonora O'Brien, Irish pharmacist and entrepreneur
- Leslie O'Brien (1908–1995), Governor of the Bank of England
- Leslie O'Brien (cricketer) (1905–1967), played for New South Wales
- Liam O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Lucy O'Brien (born 1961), writer on women in music
- Lucy O'Brien (philosopher) (born 1964), at University College, London
- Lucy O'Brien (doctor) (1923–2006), Irish missionary in Africa
- Luke O'Brien (born 1988), English footballer with Bradford City
M
- Margaret O'Brien (born 1937), American actress
- Margaret O'Brien (politician) (born 1973), Michigan Republican
- Maria O'Brien (actress) (1950–2026), American actress and acting coach
- Mariah O'Brien (born 1971), American actress and interior designer
- Mark O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Mary Eileen O'Brien, American academic administrator
- Matthew O'Brien (mathematician) (1814–1855), Irish mathematician
- Maureen O'Brien (born 1943), English actress in the Doctor Who series
- Michael O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Michele O'Brien (born 1980), soccer coach and player for Chicago Red Eleven
- Mick O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Mike O'Brien (hurler) (born 2011) with Glenroe and Limerick
- Miles O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Mollie O'Brien (born 1952), a folk singer from West Virginia
N
- Niall O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Natasha O'Brien, an Irish woman attacked by an active-duty Irish soldier
- Nick O'Brien (born 1993), Australian rules footballer for Essendon
O
- Olivia O'Brien (born 1999), American singer and songwriter
P
- Paddy O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Parry O'Brien (1932–2007), American shot put champion
- Patricia Salas O'Brien (born 1958), Peruvian sociologist and Minister of Education
- Patrick O'Brien (disambiguation), for people with the forename Patrick or Pat
- Pat O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Paul O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Peter O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Phil O'Brien (disambiguation), various
R
- Raymond O'Brien (born 1944), American Roman Catholic priest
- Raymond Moulton O'Brien (1905–1977), British-born American businessman
- Richard O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Riley O'Brien (born 1995), American baseball pitcher
- Robert O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Ron O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Roy O'Brien (born 1974), Irish football player
S
- Saylor O'Brien (born 2003), American para-alpine skier
- Scott O'Brien (born 1957), American football player, coach and scout
- Sean O'Brien (disambiguation)
- Sean Patrick O'Brien (1988–2023), American professional wrestling referee
- Shane O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Shannon O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Sicele O'Brien (1887–1931), Irish woman aviation pioneer
- Simon O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Soledad O'Brien (born 1966), American woman television journalist
- Stephen O'Brien (born 1957), UK conservative politician for Eddisbury
- Stuart O'Brien (1906–2004), American film editor
- Stuart O'Brien (stage) (1833–1883), Australian actor
T
- Terence O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Thomas O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Tim O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Timothy O'Brien (theatre designer) (1929–2022), British theatre designer
- Timothy O'Brien (endocrinologist), Irish professor
- Timothy L. O'Brien (born 1961), American journalist
- Tina O'Brien (born 1983), English actress
- Tom O'Brien (actor) (b. 1965), American film actor
- Tom O'Brien (American football) (b. 1948), coach at North Carolina State University
- Tom O'Brien (outfielder) (1873–1901), baseball outfielder
- Tom O'Brien (second baseman) (1860–1921), 19th-century baseball player
- Tom O'Brien (trade unionist) (1900–1970), British trade unionist and Member of Parliament
- Tommy O'Brien (baseball) (1918–1978), baseball outfielder
U
- Una O'Brien, British civil servant
V
- Vincent O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Virginia O'Brien (1919–2001), American actress and comic, "Frozen Face" singer
W
- Walter O'Brien (born 1975), Irish businessman and computer specialist
- Walter A. O'Brien (1914–1998), American Progressive Party politician
- William O'Brien (disambiguation), various
- Willis H. O'Brien (1886–1962), American motion picture special effects pioneer
Z
- Zach O'Brien (born 1992), professional ice hockey player
Irish Gaelic surname
- Aoife Ní Bhriain, Irish violinist
- Doireann Ní Bhriain (born 1952), Irish radio producer
- Eibhlín Ní Bhriain (1925–1986), Irish journalist
- Dara Ó Briain (born 1972), Irish comedian and presenter
- Donnchadh Ó Briain (1897–1981), Irish politician
- Liam Ó Briain (1888–1974), Irish linguist
- Niamh Uí Bhriain (born 1970), Irish lobbyist and campaigner
As first or middle names
- O'Brien Alston (b. 1965), American former football linebacker
- O'Brien Schofield (b. 1987), American former football linebacker
- O'Brien Smith (c. 1756–1811), Irish-American political figure
Fictional characters
- O'Brien, a character in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
- Lady Cassandra O'Brien, a fictional character, Doctor Who antagonist
- Chloe O'Brian, a fictional character played by actress Mary Lynn Rajskub on the US television series 24
- Graham O'Brien, a companion of the Thirteenth Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who
- Keiko O'Brien, a fictional character, wife of Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
- Miles O'Brien, a fictional character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine
- Sarah O'Brien, a fictional character on the ITV series Downton Abbey
See also
- O'Brien dynasty, the royal dynasty that ruled Thomond
This page lists people with the surname O'Brien.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.