De-Anglicisation of Names

[Big Paul]

How about Murray?

[wsk]

This is a brilliant thread! Careful or we'll grind you down. But, hoping that I get in before that happens, my mother's maiden name is Scotten. Rumor has it that her father's family came from the North of England and that the name Scotten means "of the Scots." Can you confirm or deny?

[slohairt]

This is a brilliant thread! Careful or we'll grind you down. But, hoping that I get in before that happens, my mother's maiden name is Scotten. Rumor has it that her father's family came from the North of England and that the name Scotten means "of the Scots." Can you confirm or deny?

Dia Dhuit, wsk,

SCOTTEN: Sounds probable, if the "en" corresponds to the more modern English "an" denoting a nationality (i.e. Mexican). A Gaelic translation would be Mac an Albanaich (pronounced MAC AN AL-u-BAN-EE) meaning "son of the Scot."

[MacSimoin]

Seán,

It's refreshing to read an interesting and informative topic such as this. I don't suppose you could allow me a confirmation (or correction) on the following?

Sara Róisín Fitzsimmons = Saráid Róisín Mhac Síomóin

This is the name of my 6-week old daughter and also the reason why I haven't been around.

Sláinte.

[slohairt]

Seán,

It's refreshing to read an interesting and informative topic such as this. I don't suppose you could allow me a confirmation (or correction) on the following?

Sara Róisín Fitzsimmons = Saráid Róisín Mhac Síomóin

This is the name of my 6-week old daughter and also the reason why I haven't been around.

Sláinte.

Dia Dhuit, A Mhac Shíomóin,

That's okay, mine is quite rusty when it comes to grammar. (And thus practical application!) My vocabulary is still fairly good, though!

Congratulations on the wee one! I have a 2-year-old daughter named Siobhán Éama.

"Saráid Róisín Nic Shíomóin" (pronounced SAR-AWD ROESH-EEN NIK HyEE-MOAN) would be the correct form. Saráid, I believe, is a pet form variant of Sara, as I don't think there is really an Irish form of Sara, other that Sara itself, which still works within the rules of the language. In times past, the name "Sorcha" was often used as an "equivalent" of Sara, though it is completely unrelated.

[MacSimoin]

Dia Dhuit, A Mhac Shíomóin,

That's okay, mine is quite rusty when it comes to grammar. (And thus practical application!) My vocabulary is still fairly good, though!

Congratulations on the wee one! I have a 2-year-old daughter named Siobhán Éama.

"Saráid Róisín Nic Shíomóin" (pronounced SAR-AWD ROESH-EEN NIK HyEE-MOAN) would be the correct form. Saráid, I believe, is a pet form variant of Sara, as I don't think there is really an Irish form of Sara, other that Sara itself, which still works within the rules of the language. In times past, the name "Sorcha" was often used as an "equivalent" of Sara, though it is completely unrelated.

I'm amazed at your daughter's name---my wife and I once considered the exact same name for our daughter! We decided upon Sara not only because we both love the name but it's also my mother's favorite. I chose (demanded, ha-ha) Róisín (from the Latin rosa, meaning little rose) for her middle name since I was adamant she possess a Gaelic name.

By the way, I completely blanked on feminizing her surname in my first post. See? I told you my Irish was rubbish.

Thanks for the reply.

[slohairt]

How about Murray?

Dia Dhuit, A Phóil Móir

MURRAY: You're joking, right? I think I covered this one awhile ago. Anyway, here's a refresher:

Murray can be an anglicised form from a variety of names: Mòireibh (pronounced MORE-AY, meaning ?); Mòireach/Mac Mòirich (pronounced MOR-yAKH/MAC MORE-EE) meaning "son of the great one" or Mac Murchaidh (pronounced MAC MURKH-EE), meaning "son of the sea warrior."