List of people with surname O'Brien

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 (plural, Uí Briain). 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
• Andy O'Brien (disambiguation), various
• 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
• Dara Ó Briain, Irish comedian and presenter
• 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

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 (–1811), Irish-American political figure

Fictional people named O'Brien

• 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
• Shelia O'Brian, a character from the animated TV series Dungeons and Dragons
• Mr. O'Brien, Mrs. O'Brien and Jack O'Brien, fictional characters in the film The Tree of Life film

See also

• O'Brien dynasty, the royal dynasty that ruled Thomond