De-Anglicisation of Names

[Carolina Kiltman]

A Fhrainc,

MCFADDEN This is an Anglicisation of Mac Phaidein, meaning son of Paidean, a pet form of Pàdruig, the Scottish Gaelic form of Patrick.

BOYD I think I covered this awhile ago, but it is an Anglicisation of Bòid, as in the Isle of Bute. It would mean 'one from Bute' although I would think the more correct Gaelic form would have been Bòideach.

ROSS Topographical in origin, the element 'ros' often means woodland and sometimes 'high point'. I believe it is usually rendered as Rosach in Gaelic.

LESLIE Also topographical in origin, though to be derived from Lios Liath meaning 'grey palace/fort/habitation.'

Frainc (IRISH) and Fraing (SCOTTISH) are the Gaelic forms of Frank, while Proinnsias (pronounced PRAWN-SHEE-US) is the Gaelic form of Francis. This is the Irish form, I can't recall if the Scottish Gaelic form is the same. I've seen Frangan used before, but it look like another pet form to me.

Caitrìona (pronounced CAT-REEN-A or CATCH-REEN-A) is a Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine.

thanks

[Madadh]

How about Maloy

[Erikm]

Thanks for the those slohairt

[slohairt]

I have two more of my ancestral names for you; Noble and Anglin.

NOBLE I would guess this to be a descriptive name (perhaps with a bit of irony), from Norman-French via Latin Nobilis. The Gaelic (both Irish and Scottish) word for 'noble' is uasal, pronounced OO-AS-AL. A pseudo-Gaelic patronymic (for entertainment purposes) could be Mac an tUasail (IRISH) or Mac an t-Uasail (SCOTTISH GAELIC). ;) Both are pronounced as MAC AN TOO-AS-ILL)

ANGLIN From the Irish Ó hAngluinn, meaning 'descendant of Anglonn', a personal name meaning 'champion'.

[slohairt]

Paige Muir!

PAIGE Probably occupational, from the term page, meaning attendant. A corresponding Gaelic word would be giolla (IRISH) or gille (SCOTTISH GAELIC-which is rendered in Lowland Scots as Ghillie).

MUIR Sometimes topographical from the Scots word muir, cognitive with English moor, or from the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Mòrdha meaning son of the great one.

[slohairt]

I'm gonna take a bold leap forward and reveal my "shoot" name here.

Mattingly.

MATTINGLY I would say this is of English topographical origin, maybe meaning 'Matting's field'?

[slohairt]

If you have the time, I'd would appreciate your take on my name:

Geoffrey Leigh Withnell (there have been a bunch of us with that moniker in the family, although it traditionally in our family is not passed from father to son, e.g. I am named after an uncle.)

I am told Geoffrey is the same name as Godfrey and means "Peace of God"

Leigh is as has been noted earlier a term for a field or meadow.

According to family tradition, Withnell is derived from "Willow Hill" (withy knoll), and is Welsh. There are a lot of Davies and Jones in the geneology, so I tend to believe the Welsh bit.

Geoff Withnell

I believe that Geoffrey and Godfrey do stem from the same Germanic compounds. It is also interesting to note that Geoffrey and Jeffrey have been interchangeable as spelling throughout history.

Some Irish forms of Geoffrey are Seafraidh, Siofraidh, or Seathrún (pronounced SHAF-REE, SHIF-REE and SHA-ROON respectively). The Irish form of Godfrey is usually Gothfraidh, or Gofraidh (both pronounced as GAWF-REE). I believe a Scottish Gaelic form is Goiridh, pronounced GAWR-EE, this is used for both Geoffrey and Godfrey.

Leigh is indeed the Anglo-Saxon term for 'meadow' or 'clearing'.

Withnell would appear to be a North of England name, there is a Withnell in Lancashire, and the place is believed to originally mean willow hill, as it was recorded in earlier times as Withinhull.

[slohairt]

WOW! THIS is an amazing thread! Slohairt--thank you! I have 2 manes for you:

Corathers (Sometimes interchanged with Carruthers for some reason)

McElewain/McElwain (Second 'e' seems to come and go)

CORATHERS/CARRUTHERS Found mainly in the Lowlands, it is apparently from the Brythonic (Celtic) place name Caer Rhythr, meaning Rhythr's fort.

MCEL(E)EWAIN Usually Anglicised from Mac Gille Bheathain meaning 'son of the servant of St. Beathan'. It can also be from Mac Gille Bhàin meaning son of the fair youth' or son of the servant of the fair youth'.

[slohairt]

How about Maloy

MALOY Usually Anglicised from the Irish Ó Maolmhuaidh (roughly pronounced O MAIL-OO-EE) meaning 'descended from (the) Maolmuadh', a name or term meaning 'great leader'.

[Robert Lamb]

This is one of if not the best tread I have followed yet.
I think I know LAMB is a danish first name and was used by one of the Clan Lamont chiefs sones in the 1200s. He moved to England
Do you have more on the name Lamb?