Irish name

Last updated

A formal Irish name consists of a given name and a surname. In the Irish language, most surnames are patronymic surnames (distinct from patronyms, which are seen in Icelandic names for example). The form of a surname varies according to whether its bearer is a man, a woman, or a woman married to a man, who adopts his surname.

Contents

An alternative traditional naming convention consists of the first name followed by a double patronym, usually with the father and grandfather's names. This convention is not used for official purposes but is generalized in Gaeltachtaí (Irish-speaking areas) and also survives in some rural non-Gaeltacht areas. Sometimes the name of the mother or grandmother may be used instead of the father or grandfather.

Epithets

A first name may be modified by an adjective to distinguish its bearer from other people with the same name. Mór ("big") and Óg ("young") are used to distinguish parent and child, like "senior" and "junior" are used in English, but are placed between the given name and the surname, e.g. Seán Óg Ó Súilleabháin corresponds to "John O'Sullivan Jr." (anglicised surnames often omit ⟨O'⟩, leaving no trace of original Ó).

The word Beag ("little") can be used in place of Óg. This does not necessarily indicate that the younger person is smaller in stature, merely younger than their parent or in some cases to imply a baby was small, possibly premature, at birth.

Adjectives denoting hair colour may also be used, especially informally, e.g. Pádraig Rua ("red-haired Patrick"), Máire Bhán ("fair-haired Mary").

Traditional Gaeltacht names

Colloquially in Gaeltachtaí (Irish-speaking areas) and some other areas it remains customary to use a name formed by the first name (or nickname), followed by the father and the paternal grandfather's name, both in the genitive case, e.g. Seán Ó Cathasaigh (Seán O'Casey), son of Pól, son of Séamus, would be known to his neighbours as Seán Phóil Shéamuis. Occasionally, if the mother or grandmother was a well-known person locally, her name may be used instead. If the mother's name is used, then the maternal grandfather or grandmother may follow it, e.g. Máire Sally Eoghain.

This system can be particularly useful for distinguishing people who live in the same area and who share a common surname but are not closely related, e.g. two people named John McEldowney might be known as "John Patsy Dan" and "John Mary Philip" respectively. Even the Irish forms sometimes survive in parts of the Sperrins, so that among the principal families of Glenullin some branches are known by father/grandfather forms such as Pháidí Shéamais or Bhrian Dhónaill.

Surnames

Ó and Mac surnames

A man's surname is generally formed by Ó ("descendant"; historically Ua) or Mac ("son") followed by a name or definite noun (often a profession) in the genitive case, e.g. Ó Dónaill (literally "descendant of Dónall") and Mac Siúrtáin (literally "son of Jordan"). When Ó is followed by a vowel, a (lowercase) ⟨h⟩ is attached to the vowel, e.g. Ó hUiginn (O'Higgins) or Ó hAodha (Hughes).

A woman's surname replaces Ó with Ní (reduction of Iníon Uí "descendant's daughter") and Mac with Nic (reduction of Iníon Mhic "son's daughter"). In both cases the following name undergoes lenition, except for when Nic is followed by ⟨c⟩ or ⟨g⟩. Thus the daughter of Seán Ó Dónaill has the surname Ní Dhónaill and the daughter of a Pól Mac Siúrtáin has the surname Nic Shiúrtáin. In Ulster it is common for a woman who adopts her husband name to just use Ní or Nic rather than the forms seen below.

If a woman marries a man, she may choose to take his surname. In this case, Ó is replaced by Bean Uí ("descendant's wife") and Mac by Bean Mhic ("son's wife"). In both cases Bean may be omitted, which results in Uí or Mhic. In both cases the following name undergoes lenition, except for when Mhic is followed by ⟨c⟩ or ⟨g⟩. Thus a woman marrying Seán Ó Dónaill may choose to adopt Bean Uí Dhónaill or Uí Dhónaill as her surname and a woman marrying Pól Mac Siúrtáin may choose to adopt Bean Mhic Siúrtáin or Mhic Siúrtáin as her surname.

Mag, Nig, and Mhig are sometimes used instead of Mac, Nic, and Mhic before a vowel or ⟨fh⟩ (which is silent) followed by a vowel.

Other surnames

Norman surnames formed by de (always lowercase; "of") followed by a name, e.g. de Búrca (Burke), de Paor (Power), or de hÍde (Hide, Hyde).

Some names consist of Mac Giolla ("servant's son") or Ó Maoil ("follower's descendent") followed by a name in the genitive case, e.g. Mac Giolla Phádraig, Ó Maoil Eoin.

Summary of section contents
IrishAnglicisationExample
BasePerson Case Meaning
nom. gen./voc.
ÓManÓUídescendentO' or omittedPól Ó Murchú
Wife[Bean] UíBhean Uídescendent's [wife]Mairéad [Bean] Uí Mhurchú
WomanNídescendent's daughterGráinne Ní Mhurchú
MacManMacMhicsonMc, Mac, M', Mag, or omittedSeán Mac Mathúna
Wife[Bean] MhicBhean Mhicson's [wife]Máire [Bean] Mhic Mhathúna
WomanNicson's daughterAoife Nic Mhathúna
deAlldeofde or omittedSéamus de Búrca

Examples of first names and surnames

Notable examples of first names and surnames

Many Irish people use English (or anglicised) forms of their names in English-language contexts and Irish forms in Irish-language contexts. The Irish names of some people more famous under their English names include:

English/Anglicised nameIrish nameNotes
Thomas Ashe Tomás Ághas Gaelic League member
Moya Brennan Máire Ní Bhraonáin [1] Irish-language spelling as birth name
Turlough O'Carolan Toirdhealbhach Ó CearbhalláinIrish harpist and composer
Michael Collins Mícheál Ó Coileáinsigned Anglo-Irish Treaty with Irish-language name
Patrick S. Dinneen Pádraig Ua Duinnínwas an Irish lexicographer and historian, and a leading figure in the Gaelic revival
Enya (Enya Patricia Brennan)Eithne Pádraigín Ní BhraonáinIrish singer, songwriter and musician
Arthur Griffith Art Ó Gríobhtha Gaelic League member; Sinn Féin founder and leader; bilingual signature on Anglo-Irish Treaty
Michael D. Higgins Micheál Ó hUigínn9th President of Ireland
Douglas Hyde Dubhghlas de hÍde1st President of Ireland; CnaG founder
Mary McAleese Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosanée Mary Leneghan/Máire Ní Lionnacháin
Liam Mellows Liam Ó Maoilíosa [2]
Kevin O'Higgins Caoimhín Ó hUiginn [3] Minister for Justice and Vice-President
Seán T. O'Kelly Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh [4] Vice-President, first Tánaiste, President of Ireland
Thomas Francis O'Rahilly Tomás Phroinsias Ó Rathaille [5] scholar of Celtic language and culture; sometimes also "Rahilly" or "Rahily"
Patrick Pearse Pádraig Mac Piarais CnaG; An Claidheamh Soluis editor; St. Enda's School founder
Joseph Plunkett Seosamh Máire Pluincéad[ citation needed ] Gaelic League member; an Easter Rising leader
Mary Robinson Máire Bean Mhic Róibín(née Máire de Búrca)
Gerard Toal Gearóid Ó Tuathail [6]

Other people are generally better known by their Irish name than by their English name, including the following:

Irish nameEnglish/Anglicised formNotes
Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh Dudley Forbesthough neither Dubhaltach or Fibrisigh correspond to the Anglicised forms
Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh Roderick O'Flaherty
Flaithrí Ó Maolconaire Florence Conry (1560–1629, Archbishop of Tuam)
Gráinne Ní Mháille Grace O'Malley many other Irish-language and English-language respellings of her name also exist
Seán Bán Breathnach "White" John Walsh
Séamus Ó Grianna James Greenethough Grianna does not correspond etymologically to the English name "Green" or "Greene"
Gráinne Seoige Grace Joyce
Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin Ellen Cullen
Antoine Ó Raifteiri Anthony Raftery
Proinsias De Rossa Frank Ross
Pádraig Harrington Patrick HarringtonGolfer; three-time major winner
Pádraig Ó Riain Patrick Ryan
Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha Patrick O'Sugrue
Padraig Ó Síocháin P. A. Sheehan
Pádraig Ó Fiannachta Patrick Finnerty
Lorcán Ua Tuathail Laurence O'Toole
Dara Ó Briain Darragh O'Brien
Doireann Ní Bhriain Doreen O'Brien
Cathal Brugha Charles William St. John Burgess
Éamon de Valera Edward De Valera2nd Taoiseach (1937–1948, 1951–1954, 1957–1959); 3rd President (1959–1973)
Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Mairead Mooney"Margaret", another English equivalent of "Mairéad", is rarely used.

See also

Related Research Articles

A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather, or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic.

The declension of Irish nouns, the definite article, and the adjectives is discussed on this page.

Irish orthography is the set of conventions used to write Irish. A spelling reform in the mid-20th century led to An Caighdeán Oifigiúil, the modern standard written form used by the Government of Ireland, which regulates both spelling and grammar. The reform removed inter-dialectal silent letters, simplified some letter sequences, and modernised archaic spellings to reflect modern pronunciation, but it also removed letters pronounced in some dialects but not in others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irish initial mutations</span> Word initial consonantal sound changes in Irish

Irish, like all modern Celtic languages, is characterised by its initial consonant mutations. These mutations affect the initial consonant of a word under specific morphological and syntactic conditions. The mutations are an important tool in understanding the relationship between two words and can differentiate various meanings.

The Soghain were a people of ancient Ireland. The 17th-century scholar Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin. Mac Fhirbhisigh stated that the Cruithin included "the Dál Araidhi [Dál nAraidi], the seven Lóigisi [Loígis] of Leinster, the seven Soghain of Ireland, and every Conaille that is in Ireland."

A formal Gaelic language name consists of a given name and a surname. First names are either native or nativized. Surnames are generally patronymic, i.e. they refer to a historical ancestor. The form of a surname varies according to whether its bearer is male or female though for some surnames the adjectival form of a name such as Dòmhnallach can be used for both men and women. However, when used in the female form the first letter is lenited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Irish</span> Irish language dialect

Ulster Irish is the variety of Irish spoken in the province of Ulster. It "occupies a central position in the Gaelic world made up of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man". Ulster Irish thus has much in common with Scottish Gaelic and Manx. Within Ulster there have historically been two main sub-dialects: West Ulster and East Ulster. The Western dialect is spoken in parts of County Donegal and once was spoken in parts of neighbouring counties, hence the name 'Donegal Irish'. The Eastern dialect was spoken in most of the rest of Ulster and northern parts of counties Louth and Meath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connacht Irish</span> Irish language dialect

Connacht Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the province of Connacht. Gaeltacht regions in Connacht are found in Counties Mayo and Galway. Connacht Irish is also spoken in the Meath Gealtacht Ráth Chairn and Baile Ghib. The dialects of Irish in Connacht are extremely diverse, with the pronunciation, forms and lexicon being different even within each county.

Niall Ó Dónaill was an Irish language lexicographer from Ailt an Eidhinn, Loughanure, County Donegal. He was the oldest of the six children of Tarlach Ó Dónaill and Éilis Nic Ruairí from Grial, Loughanure. They had a little land and a few cows. His father would spend June to November working in Scotland and died when Niall Ó Dónaill was 13 years old. Ó Dónaill himself would spend summers working in the tunnels in Scotland.

<i>Comhar</i> Irish-language literary journal

Comhar is a prominent literary journal in the Irish language, published by the company Comhar Teoranta. It was founded in 1942, and has published work by some of the most notable writers in Irish, including Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Seán Ó Ríordáin, Máirtín Ó Direáin, Máire Mhac an tSaoi and Brendan Behan. Comhar also publishes books in Irish.

MacLeòid or MhicLeòid is a masculine surname in Scottish Gaelic. The name translates into English as "son of Leòd", and the feminine form is NicLeòid: a contraction of "Nighean-Mhic-Leòid", meaning "daughter of the son of Leòd." These surnames originated as patronymic names; however, they no longer refer to the actual name of the bearer's father or grandfather. There are numerous Anglicised forms of MacLeòid.

Onomastics is an important source of information on the early Celts, as Greco-Roman historiography recorded Celtic names before substantial written information becomes available in any Celtic language.

Mac Coitir and Mac Oitir are masculine surnames in the Irish language. The names translate into English as "son of Oitir". These surnames originated as a patronyms, however they no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. There are specific forms of these surnames that are borne by married and unmarried females. There are numerous Anglicised forms of these surnames.

Mac Amhlaoibh is a masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "son of Amhlaoibh". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form of the surname for unmarried females is Nic Amhlaoibh. The forms for married females are Bean Mhic Amhlaoibh and Mhic Amhlaoibh. The Irish Mac Amhlaoibh has numerous Anglicised forms. The surname has been borne by several notable Irish families that are unrelated to each other.

Mac Íomhair is a masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "son of Íomhar". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form Nic Íomhair is borne by unmarried females; the forms Bean Mhic Íomhair and Mhic Íomhair are borne by married females. A variant form of Mac Iomhair is Mag Íomhair; the feminine forms of this surname are likewise Nig Íomhair, Bean Mhig Íomhair, and Mhig Íomhair. All these Irish surnames have various Anglicised forms.

Mac Sitric is a masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "son of Sitreac". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form Nic Sitric is borne by unmarried females; the forms Bean Mhic Sitric and Mhic Shitric are borne by married females. A variant form of Mac Sitric is Mag Sitric; the feminine forms of this surname are Nig Sitric, Bean Mhig Sitric, and Mhig Sitric. All these Irish surnames have various Anglicised forms.

Mac Torcaill is a masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "son of Torcall". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form Nic Thorcaill is borne by unmarried females; the forms Bean Mhic Thorcaill and Mhic Thorcaill are borne by married females. Variant forms of Mac Torcaill are Mac Thorcaill and Mac Thurcaill; the feminine forms of these two names are Nic Thorcaill, Nic Thurcaill, Bean Mhic Thorcaill, Bean Mhic Thurcaill, Mhic Thorcaill, and Mhic Thurcaill. All these Irish surnames have various Anglicised forms.

MacAlasdair is a masculine surname in Scottish Gaelic. The name translates into English as "son of Alasdair". The feminine form of the name is NicAlasdair, which translates into English as "daughter of Alasdair". These surnames originated as a patronyms, however they no longer refer to the actual name of the bearer's father. There are numerous Anglicised forms of MacAlasdair.

Mac Amhalghaidh is an Irish masculine surname. The name translates into English as "son of Amhalghadh". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form of the surname for unmarried females is Nic Amhalghaidh. The forms for married females are Bean Mhic Amhalghaidh and Mhic Amhalghaidh. The Irish Mac Amhalghaidh has numerous Anglicised forms. The surname has been borne by at least one notable Irish family.

References

  1. ↑ Coyle, Colin (17 May 2009). "Surge in deed poll name changes". The Sunday Times . London. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  2. ↑ "3. AN ROLLA", Dáil Debates - Díospóireachtaí Dála, vol. F, Dáil Éireann, 21 January 1919, archived from the original on 19 November 2007, retrieved 5 May 2010
  3. ↑ "Limerick City and County Museum". museum.limerick.ie. Signature of Caoimhín Ó hUiginn. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "Beathnaiséisí: Séan T O'Ceallaigh" (in Irish). Dublin: Áras an Uachtaráin/President of Ireland . Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  5. ↑ MacMahon, Michael (1 July 2009). "James Delargy and the Storymen of North Clare". Ennis, County Clare: Clare County Library. Retrieved 5 May 2010. Originally from: MacMahon, Michael (2009). "James Delargy and the Storymen of North Clare". The Other Clare. 33. Shannon, County Clare: Shannon Archaeological & Historical Society: 63–70. ISSN   0332-088X.
  6. ↑ Toal, Gerard (29 November 2006). "Faculty Page: Dr Gerard Toal, Virginia Tech". Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.