De-Anglicisation of Names

[Jack Daw]

My grandmother's maiden name was Person. I've asked the MacPhersons if this is a derivation of their name and I get head-scratches.

Two more: Humphries, I know is Welsh, but don't know the origin; and, Earle, I understand is Irish.

[slohairt]

My grandmother's maiden name was Person. I've asked the MacPhersons if this is a derivation of their name and I get head-scratches.

Two more: Humphries, I know is Welsh, but don't know the origin; and, Earle, I understand is Irish.

PERSON There are at least three possibilities I can think of for this name. 1) English patronymic meaning Pier's son. Piers is the Norman form of Peter. 2) English occupational name indicating a parson. 3) An Anglicisation of Mac a' Phearsain (MacPherson) meaning son of the parson.

HUMPHRIES This can be found many areas of the Isles but is usually associated with Wales. In Welsh, i believe it is Ap Wmffre.

EARLE This is most often an Anglo-Saxon name with the same meaning as the title earl (cognitive with jarl). Occasionally, it can be Irish. However, in this case it is not an Anglicisation, but a 'translation' of the Irish, Ó Maolmhochóir (pronounced O MAIL-VUH-KHORE or O MAIL-UH-KHORE) meaning 'descended from Maolmhochór, a personal name denoting 'one who is devoted to early risings'