De-Anglicisation of Names

[slohairt]

Ah, more tricky ones!

Three methods are usually taken when performing "de-Anglicisation"

1) Straightforward de-Anglicisation: taking a name and its variants and reverting to its original form: i.e. MacDonald, MacDonnell, MacDaniel, Donaldson = Mac Domhnuill
2)Translation of a name that was not originally Gaelic: i.e. Smith = Mac a' Ghobhainn
3) Transliteration. representing the sound of the name according to Gaelic orthography. i.e. John Brown = Seán de Brún

And now for the names:

OAKLEY To the best of my knowledge, Oakley is an English name which could also mean it was found in Lowland Scotland as well. Ley or Leigh is an Anglo-Saxon word for field. Oak, is of course, oak! So, a Gaelic translation would more or less be Gort na Dara meaning field of the oak. Pronounced much as it looks. Sorry it doesn't look all that great!

BALLARD Norman-French, I'm guessing. In which case, a Gaelic transliteration would be de Ballárd.

PASSMORE I'm not really sure on this one. A translation could be Thar Mhóinteach? Not that great looking, I know.

MUIR The Lowland Scots version of the English word moor. Gaelic translation would be Móinteach (IRISH) and Mòinteach (SCOTTISH GAELIC). If you really like the Mac prefix you could render it Mac an Móintigh (IRISH) or Mac a' Mòintich (SCOTTISH GAELIC) Both mean son of the moors.