De-Anglicisation of Names

[slohairt]

Slohairt, I would appreciate to read your findings on my surname Malcolm. Thank you!

MALCOLM From Maol Chaluim (SCOTTISH GAELIC); Maol Coluim (IRISH). The name means follower of St. Columba. Maol literally means bald, and in this sense implies tonsured. A MacCallum (original Gaelic Mac Chaluim) chief anglicised his name to Malcolm and there has been confusion between the two names ever since. Though they are etymologically similar, they are unrelated.

[slohairt]

A fun thread. Patronymic is Albert via French Canadian father. Matronymic is Johnston and given name is Todd. Thanks

ALBERT The Gaelic version (whther Irish or Scottish) is Ailbeart. Pronounced AL-I-ByART. A patronymic based on this would be Mac Ailbeirt.

JOHNSTON A Gaelic translation of this name could be Baile Sheáin (IRISH - pronounced BAL-A HyAUN), Baile Eoin (IRISH - pronounced BAL-A YOE-IN), Baile Iain (SCOTTISH GAELIC - pronounced BAL-A EE-UN), or Baile Eòin (SCOTTISH GAELIC - pronounced BAL-A YOE-IN).

TODD Tod(d) is th Lowland Scots word for fox. The Gaelic for fox is Sionnach, pronounced SHIN-AKH.

[slohairt]

Dia Dhuit, mo charai!

It occurred to me that we have been dealing mainly with the de-anglicisation of personal and surnames. Here are some de-anglicised Irish placenames. The Irish forms are, of course, official. The Irish government is slowly planning to do away with the English/anglicised forms. For instance, postmarks are only in Irish.

Ireland Éire

The four provinces:
Leinster Laighean
Ulster Uladh
Munster Mumhan
Connacht Connachta

The 32 counties:
Antrim Aontroim
Armagh Ard Macha
Carlow Ceatharlach
Cavan An Cabhán
Clare An Clár
Cork Corcaigh
Derry Doire
Donegal Dún na nGall
Down An Dún
Dublin Áth Cliath
Fermanagh Fear Manach
Galway Gaillimh
Kerry Ciarraí
Kildare Cill Dara
Kilkenny Cill Chainnigh
Laois Laois
Leitrim Liatroim
Limerick Luimneach
Longford An Longfort
Louth Lú
Mayo Maigh Eo
Meath An Mhí
Monaghan Muineachán
Offaly Uíbh Fhailí
Sligo Sligeach
Roscommon Ros Comáin
Tipperary Tiobraid Árann
Tyrone Tír Eoghain
Waterford Port Láirge
Westmeath An Iarmhí
Wexford Loch Garman
Wicklow Cill Mhantáin

Cities:
Athlone Baile Átha Luain
Belfast Béal Feirste
Clonmel Cluain Meala
Drogheda Droichead Átha
Dublin Baile Átha Cliath
Killarney Cill Airne
Newry An tIúr
Portstewart Port Stíobhaird

[Ian.MacAllan]

A fascinating thread---many thanks. Would you care to take on McLaughlin (County Longford) and Isbell (allegedly Lowland)?


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[slohairt]

A fascinating thread---many thanks. Would you care to take on McLaughlin (County Longford) and Isbell (allegedly Lowland)?


.

A Iain,

MCLAUGHLIN This is an anglicisation of Mac Lochlainn, meaning son of Lochlann. Lochlann is a personal name denoting one of Viking descent.

ISBELL Can't help you here I'm afraid. A Gaelic transliteration (for amusement) could be Iosbael.

[sarge]

My last name is CULLUM and my mother was CATES. The Cullum's came to the USA from Ireland, yet the spelling Cullum in Ireland is practically non existant, so I imagine it got twisted a bit when entering the USA.

Any thoughts?

[slohairt]

My last name is CULLUM and my mother was CATES. The Cullum's came to the USA from Ireland, yet the spelling Cullum in Ireland is practically non existant, so I imagine it got twisted a bit when entering the USA.

Any thoughts?

CULLUM There are two possibilities: English (the most likely), similar to names like Culham or Cullam. A Gaelicised spelling would be the same, Cullum. The other possibility is that it is Anglicised from MacCallum. MacCallum IS found in Ireland, and the bearers are usually descendants of Scottish Gallowglass. Like most names of Scottish Gaelic origin, when transplanted to Ireland the spelling was altered to conform to the rules of the Irish (Gaelic) language. Thus, Mac Chaluim (original Scottish Gaelic) became Mac Choluim, translated as son of Colm, a personal name meaning dove.
CATES As in Phoebe Cates? My guess would be English and that it is the same name as Keats, derived from the Anglo-Saxon cyta meaning herdsman. A Gaelicised spelling would be Céatas.

[sarge]

Thanbk you very much

[SergeantFirstClass]

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong. Mine is Connell, Scottish, not Irish from Kilmarnock. It would have come from MacDhomhnuill as the "D" whould be changed due to the vocative form, right. Thereby MacConnell pronunciation.

[slohairt]

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong. Mine is Connell, Scottish, not Irish from Kilmarnock. It would have come from MacDhomhnuill as the "D" whould be changed due to the vocative form, right. Thereby MacConnell pronunciation.

You are correct! Mac Dhomhnuill would have originally been pronounced more like MAC GOAN-ILL. Like most Gaelic names, it was sloppily rendered into English.

Connell is almost always from the Irish Ó Conaill or more rarely, Mac Conaill. It should be noted, however, that many Irish migrated to Scotland in the mid-19th Century, and Irish names are quite common particularly around Glasgow.