De-Anglicisation of Names

**slohairt** · 5th October 07, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by Big Homestead

Wow, amazing thread! We all owe you a pint.

How about the names MacHuish (Norman Welsh/Scot?) Schmidt (which is germanic for Smith), and Hauck(swiss or german).

Blessings to you and yours!!!

MACHUISH I did some searching on this one, and found nothing at all. Based on sound approximation, it could be Anglicised from many possibilities: Mac Cuis, Mac Ois?

Frankly this method fails more often than not. The Gaelic languages are vastly different than English, and have many silent letters and letter combinations that weren't represented when these names were Anglicised. Gaelic also has many sounds which simply don't exist in English. Furthermore, while some people say that pronunciation was preserved through Anglicisation, this is patently untrue. Most Anglicisations of Gaelic names were done by Anglophone scribes who had little knowledge (or regard) for Gaelic. Most of the versions we now know bear minimal resemblance in sound to the original.

Here's an example. The Irish surname Mulryan (pronounced today as MULL-RYE-AN) was originally Ó Maoilriain (pronounced O MEEL-REE-UN)

SCHMIDT The Gaelic for smith is Gobhann (SCOTTISH GAELIC) and Gabhann (IRISH). Both are pronounced as GOW-AN or GOE-AN, depending on dialect. There is a surname already based on this name: Mac a' Gobhainn (SCOTTISH GAELIC) and Mac Gabhann (IRISH). Both mean son of the smith. We recognise it today Anglicised as MacGowan.

HAUCK ? German names are obviously a little out of my area of expertise. A Gaelicised spelling (for amusement sake) could be Hác.

**Big Homestead** · 5th October 07, 02:15 PM

Hey, how about the name Plestead.

Thanks again so much. You Rock!

**Retro Red** · 5th October 07, 02:46 PM

Wow, this is a GREAT thread, slohairt!!! How did I miss this?

I'd sure appreciate a wave of your linguistic wand over these names -

My maternal family name: Reed

Paternal: Saylors (I think this is some kind of Anglecized German name)

First Name: Craig

Thanks for sharing this talent of yours!

.

**Ozman1944** · 5th October 07, 03:04 PM

This is such an interesting thread. My maternal great grandfather was a Stewart (not likely decended from the famous ones, but was curious?)

**slohairt** · 5th October 07, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Big Homestead

Hey, how about the name Plestead.

Thanks again so much. You Rock!

Go raibh maith agat! (thank you!)

PLESTEAD I would guess this to be of English origin. As to its etymology, I couldn't tell you. A Gaelicised spelling (for amusement sake) could be de Pleistéid.

**slohairt** · 5th October 07, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Retro Red

Wow, this is a GREAT thread, slohairt!!! How did I miss this?

I'd sure appreciate a wave of your linguistic wand over these names -

My maternal family name: Reed

Paternal: Saylors (I think this is some kind of Anglecized German name)

First Name: Craig

Thanks for sharing this talent of yours!

.

REED From the Anglo-Saxon read meaning red. This would of course be in reference to red hair. In Scotland it is usually rendered Reid. Some Reids are of Highland origin, their names having been originally Mac Gille Ruadh (pronounced MAC GILL-A ROO-A) or Mac an Ruadh (pronounced MAC AN ROO-A). These names mean son of the red-haired youth and son of the red respectively.

SAYLORS Could be German. There is a German name Sailer. There exists the possibility that it is simply from Sailor, the occupation. An Irish translation would be Mac an Mairnéalaigh (pronounced MAC AN MARN-AILEE) meaning son of the sailor.

CRAIG This name is from the Gaelic creag meaning rock or cliff.

**slohairt** · 5th October 07, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Ozman1944

This is such an interesting thread. My maternal great grandfather was a Stewart (not likely decended from the famous ones, but was curious?)

STEWART There was a saying from James V, "Aw Stewarts are nae sib tae the king." All Stewarts are not related to the King. There is also the expression used by the Gaels to refer to the House of Stewart, "Cinne nan righ's nan ceard." The race of kings and tinkers. The "official" Gaelic forms of Stewart are Stiùbhart (SCOTTISH GAELIC - pronounced STEW-ART) and Stíobhard (IRISH - pronounced STEE-WARD).