De-Anglicisation of Names

**The Wizard of BC** · 25th August 07, 04:19 PM

My last name "Ashton" is totally English. The family took the name From the midlands town of Ashton upon Tyne some time around 1780 prior to embarking for the colonies.

Which leads me to 1) Family left Scotland for some reason requiring a name change. 2) Arrived in the new world and settled in first NC, IN and finally IL. 3) I left the US and moved to Canada. 4) My line has been kicked out of virtually everywhere.

So can you come up with a Scottish sounding name meaning "A town with an Ash tree"?

**slohairt** · 25th August 07, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

**slohairt** · 25th August 07, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC

My last name "Ashton" is totally English. The family took the name From the midlands town of Ashton upon Tyne some time around 1780 prior to embarking for the colonies.

Which leads me to 1) Family left Scotland for some reason requiring a name change. 2) Arrived in the new world and settled in first NC, IN and finally IL. 3) I left the US and moved to Canada. 4) My line has been kicked out of virtually everywhere.

So can you come up with a Scottish sounding name meaning "A town with an Ash tree"?

Dia Dhuit, Wizard of BC,

A translation would be "Baile na Fuinseann" (pronounced BAL-yA NA FWIN-SHAN) meaning "Town of the Ash."

There is (or was) a Norman-Irish family named Ashton. The Gaelic transliteration they used was d'Aistiún (pronounced DASH-TOON). A little nicer looking than Baile na Fuinseann, and less of a mouthful!

**MacHummel** · 25th August 07, 06:46 PM

How about Hummel ?

**MacSimoin** · 25th August 07, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by slohairt

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** · 25th August 07, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by MacHummel

How about Hummel ?

Dia Dhuit, MacHummel,

Hummel is German, right? Topographical? If so, it could be rendered "de Humal."
The prefix "de" was almost always applied to foreign names in Gaelic Ireland. It means "of" or "from" just as it does in French.

However...the "h" sound disappears when said quickly so maybe we should stick to the Mac prefix and make it a pseudo-patronymic: Mac Humail.

P.S. I went to school with some Hummels in the Clinton (Huron County) area. Are you related to them?

**MacHummel** · 26th August 07, 06:00 PM

I might be I have meet many Hummels in my day.

**MysticMead** · 30th August 07, 05:26 AM

if you feel up to it...

West or Billingsley

**slohairt** · 30th August 07, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by MysticMead

if you feel up to it...

West or Billingsley

Dia Dhuit, Mystic Mead,

Billingsley: As in Barbara Billingsley?

Definitely Anglo-Saxon and topographical in origin. Ley (or Leigh) means "field" or "meadow." So, we have Billing's Field. (Whoever Billing was). A Gaelic transliteration would be de Billínslidh (pronounced DE BILL-EENS-LEE).

West: Obvious meaning, "one who is from the West." Iarthar (pronounced EE-UR-HAR) is the Irish word for "west." Iartharach (EE-UR-HAR-AKH) means "westerner." Two pseudo-patronymic could be created: Mac an tIarthair meaning "son of the West" (MAC AN TEE-UR-HER), or Mac an tIartharaigh "son of the westerner" (MAC AN TEE-UR-HAR-EE).