De-Anglicisation of Names

[slohairt]

Slohairt,

I have done a lot of research on my wifes and my surnames. My father was adopted at birth. HIs surname was Gibbs. I may have traced his direct line to the Devon/Cornwall area. Do you know the history of that name?
My mother's maiden name was Harrell. I have traced her paternal line to Newcastle in Northumberland. Do you know how that name came about?
My wife's father was a Waring. Do you know anything about that name? We think he came from Canada. He left her family when she was young.

Thanks for your help.

GIBBS Usually, this is English, from the Norman Gibb or Gibbon, which was a pet form of Gilbert.

HARRELL English topographical or patronymic from the personal name Harold?

WARING English topographical? Perhaps related to Warren?

Sorry, I couldn't be more help. English surnames aren't really my forté!

[long_hand]

Thanks Slohairt,

The interesting thing about my surname is that it is thought that the Rowland spelling(my spelling) is an older Lowlander spelling possibly coming from one of Strathclyde Briton families and used to distinguish them from Norman/English families who typically used the Roland/Rolland/Rollant spelling. At some point the names became fairly interchangeable though. On the bright side, my Rowland line came from Surrey County which was one of the area that the Stratchlyde border clans were "persuaded" to move to and the oldest relative I can find goes back to just before 1600 which would be the right time for the move. As for Seàn, I actually prefer Séan which means "lucky omen"...I know...it's a noun...but hey, maybe it'll catch on. ;-)

[ForresterModern]

Here is one for a friend of mine who is trying to trace his roots. His last name is Keown but is pronounced "Cowan" now where he grew up in Kentucky. He thought it was remotely related to MacEwan but had no documentation of that.

[slohairt]

Here is one for a friend of mine who is trying to trace his roots. His last name is Keown but is pronounced "Cowan" now where he grew up in Kentucky. He thought it was remotely related to MacEwan but had no documentation of that.

On the right track, more or less. Keown or McKeown is usually Anglicised from Mac Eoin (son of John) or Mac Eoghain (son of Eoghan).

[jhockin]

Slohairt said:
"De-Anglicisation of Names"
"I'm good at taking modern-day anglicised Celtic names & surnames and reverting them to their original form......
So, if anyone wants to know the original form of their name, post it, and I'll give it a try for fun"

So, Slohairt,
I've been looking at this thread for some time, and finally thought I'd take advantage of your generous offer, so, how about these: Gerald Douglas Bruce?
thanks, in advance

[slohairt]

Slohairt said:
"De-Anglicisation of Names"
"I'm good at taking modern-day anglicised Celtic names & surnames and reverting them to their original form......
So, if anyone wants to know the original form of their name, post it, and I'll give it a try for fun"

So, Slohairt,
I've been looking at this thread for some time, and finally thought I'd take advantage of your generous offer, so, how about these: Gerald Douglas Bruce?
thanks, in advance

Here ye be:

Gerald: Gearalt (IRISH or SCOTTISH GAELIC) Pronounced GER-ALT. (hard 'G')
Douglas: Dubhghlas (IRISH or SCOTTISH GAELIC) Dhooglass (MANX) Both pronounced DOO-GLASS.
Bruce: Though of Norman origin, Bruce is usually rendered in Scottish Gaelic as de Brùs, Brùs, or Brùiseach. Pronounced DE BROOS, BROOS, and BROOSH-AKH respectively.

[RoadKilt chef]

Slohairt, I just registered largely because of the information available on this forum, but also because of your work on this thread. You're doing a good thing, keep it up. I'm fortunate to know my ancestry (at least back to 1760 or so), but I'd like to know what you have about my surmame-Lowrey. I know enough not to to be concerned with precise spelling. Even today government agencies and newspapers get it wrong. Variations include Lowrie, Lowry, Lawrie, Lowery, and on and on...

[YoungMan]

Here's one: Shanklin (I'm positive we are an Isle of Wight derivatives, but for fun, I've heard it might also have a lowland Scotland heritage with something like Shankland or a similar spelling)

[slohairt]

Here's one: Shanklin (I'm positive we are an Isle of Wight derivatives, but for fun, I've heard it might also have a lowland Scotland heritage with something like Shankland or a similar spelling)

SHANKLIN/SHANKLAND These names would appear to be one and the same. Both are of Anglic topographical origin, which could place them in either England or the Scottish Lowlands. Interestingly, the name appears in great numbers in southwestern Wales. It is from Shank (leg) + land. Shank is used to refer to a part of a hill that stretches over low ground.

[slohairt]

Slohairt, I just registered largely because of the information available on this forum, but also because of your work on this thread. You're doing a good thing, keep it up. I'm fortunate to know my ancestry (at least back to 1760 or so), but I'd like to know what you have about my surmame-Lowrey. I know enough not to to be concerned with precise spelling. Even today government agencies and newspapers get it wrong. Variations include Lowrie, Lowry, Lawrie, Lowery, and on and on...

LOWREY This is one of those names that could be from a few unrelated etymological origins. 1) From Laurie, a diminutive of Laurence, which would indicate a Lowland Scots/Anglic origin. 2) From Scottish Gaelic Mac Labhraidh, meaning 'son of Labhradh', a personal name meaning 'speaker'. Many people have mistakenly thought of Labhradh as cognate with Laurie/Laurence, but that is not the case. Labhrann is the Scottish Gaelic form of Laurence. (as in the surname MacLaren = Mac Labhruinn)