De-Anglicisation of Names

[Vagabond_Aero]

GG-dad came over from Ireland with the name Rowan. When I looked into an Irish geneology book, it said the Rowan's came from Scotland. I haven't found a reference for Rowan in Scotland, so any pointers you might have...

[slohairt]

Nice work! Perhaps you could give your opinion on the name McAbee? Would it be a variation on McPhee or something else? Thanks for all your work on this thread!

MCABEE If I were to guess (and I have to!) I would say it is Anglicised from either:

Mac an Aba, 'son of the Abbot' (IRISH or SCOTTISH)
Mac an Buí (IRISH), 'son of the yellow(-haired)'
Mac an Buidhe (SCOTTISH) as above
Mac Cába, 'son of Cába (cloaked one)' (IRISH)
Mac Càba (SCOTTISH) as above

[slohairt]

How about O'Keefe and Welch?

O'KEEFE This is Anglicised from Ó Caoimh (pronounced O KEEV). It means 'descendant of Caomh', a personal name meaning 'gentle'.

WELCH Just what it implies: 'Welch' or 'Welsh'. However, most modern bearers of this name (along with Walsh, Walshe etc.) are usually Irish. When the Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland they came via Wales and brought many Welsh retainers with them. The native Irish referred to these people as Breathnach. This surname was later Anglicised as Brannagh, and translated as Welch/Welsh/Walsh/Walshe.

[slohairt]

This has been a very informative thread. I've learned a lot.
I wonder though, what you could do with
Kerr: Paternal
Marshall: Maternal

KERR From either:

1) Ciar, adjective for dark (as in hair or complexion), pronounced KEE-UR
2) Mac Gille Chiar, 'son of the servant of the dark', pronounced MAC GILL-A HyEE-UR
3) Kerr, a Lowland Scots topographical name of unknown origin
4) Irish; Anglicised from Ó Ciardha (modern Irish: Ó Ciara) 'descendant of the dark one'.

MARSHALL Norman occupational name, from French maréchal, meaning 'horse-servant'. I believe a Gaelicisation of the name is Marascal.

[slohairt]

GG-dad came over from Ireland with the name Rowan. When I looked into an Irish geneology book, it said the Rowan's came from Scotland. I haven't found a reference for Rowan in Scotland, so any pointers you might have...

ROWAN Not a very good Irish genealogy book! While the surname Rowan may occasionally be derived from the tree of the same name or a corruption of Roland, it is usually an Anglicisation of the Irish, Ó Ruadháin (Modern Irish: Ó Ruain) meaning 'descendant of Ruadhán', a personal name meaning 'little red or ruddy one'.

[Vagabond_Aero]

Thanks. My wife says the "...ruddy one..." fits me

[ChattanCat]

How 'bout Catanach (ok scottish), Hood (my mother's madien name), Metcalf (my wife's madien name), Nichols (my wife's father's mother's madien name)

[David Dubh]

My mum gets pissy when I tell her that I can't find any Scots background for her mum's maiden name Laird. Care too enlighten me? ps her maiden name is O'Brien

[Downix]

Um, Laird is scottish:
http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Laird
No de-anglicisation needed, it's already in pure Gaelic.

[Glen C]

Let's see, Chisholm is Siosal is there any correlation between the lowland place name and the highland gaelic name.