WHAT IS A SURNAME?WHAT IS A SURNAME?

Diploma in Family History

WHAT IS A SURNAME?WHAT IS A SURNAME?

Name added to a "given" name, in many cases inherited and held in common by members of a familyEuropean modelRelatively recentWord

OTHER VARIETIESOTHER VARIETIES

Icelandic and NorwegianWelshRussian (Krasnoshtanov to Orlov)Jewish (Rosenthal, Eselkopf)Swedish (berg, blom)

TYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMESTYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMES

Occupational

TYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMESTYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMES

Locational

TYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMESTYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMES

Descriptive

or

nicknaming

TYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMESTYPES OF EUROPEAN SURNAMES

Patronymic

Patronymic

IRISH SURNAMES?IRISH SURNAMES?

What is “Irish”? Racial? Ethnic? Geographic? Political?Gaelic = Patronymic

BEFORE IRISH SURNAMES BEGANBEFORE IRISH SURNAMES BEGAN

Pre 10th century - “Ua”, grandson - “Mac”, son

Not hereditary in the modern senseThe Uí Néill

BEFORE IRISH SURNAMES BEGANBEFORE IRISH SURNAMES BEGAN

From: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/uineill.htm

WHEN DID IRISH SURNAMES BEGIN?WHEN DID IRISH SURNAMES BEGIN?

Tigherneach Ua Cleirigh, lord of Aidhne in Co. Galway in the year 916

WHY DID IRISH SURNAMES BEGIN? WHY DID IRISH SURNAMES BEGIN?

Multiple originsAll Ó or Mac/McTop downEurope-wide processWhy?

THE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMESTHE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMES

PrefixesGil-, Kil-, Gilly-:Giolla (servant/devotee)Mull-, Mol -: Maol (bald,tonsured)

THE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMESTHE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMES

DescriptivesDuff, Duffy:Dubh (black/dark)Tracy (Ó Treasaigh) : Treasach (war-like)Traynor (Mac Threinfhir): Treán (strong)+fear (man)

THE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMESTHE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMES

OccupationsCleary (Ó Cléirigh): cleireach (clerk)Ward (Mac an Bhaird): bard

McGowan (Mac Gabhainn): gabhann (smith)Breheny (Mac an Bhreithiún): breithún (judge)Murphy (Ó Murchú): mura (sea) + cú (hound)

THE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMESTHE ROOTS OF IRISH SURNAMES

Locational (rare)Yourell (d'Oirghialla): OrielBrosnan (Ó Brosnacháin): BrosnaCorbally (de Corbaile)Cultra (Cúil Trá):Back strandGalbally(de Gallbhaile): Gall (foreign)+Baile (homestead)

MURPHYMURPHY

Murchadh (sea-warrior)Mac Murchadha (Ulster)Ó Murchadha (elsewhere)

KELLYKELLY

Ceallach (bright?, trouble?)Ó Ceallaigh

MOLONEYMOLONEY

Ó Maol Dhomnaigh (Clare)

Mac Giolla Dhomnaigh (Ulster) - (McEl)Downey

Ó Maolfhachtna (Tipperary - Loughney)

Ó Maolanfaidh (Cork - Molumby)