De-Anglicisation of Names

[slohairt]

Here's something that relates directly to kilts. Below I have listed some Irish language terms for kilts and their accessories.

Kilt: Filleadh Beag (FILL-AY BEG)
Great Kilt/Belted Plaid: Filleadh Mhór (FILL-AY WORE)
Sporran: Sparán (SPAR-AWN)
Ghillie Brogues: Bróga Ghiolla (BROEG-A YILL-A)
Kilt Hose: Stocaí (STOCK-EE)
Argyll Jacket: Casóg Earraghaidheal (CASS-OAK ER-A-GAEL)
Prince Charlie Jacket: Casóg Phrionsa Shéarlais (CASS-OAK FRIN-SA HyARE-LISH)
Garter Flash: Gairtéar (GERT-yAIR)
Plaid Brooch: Dealg Pluid (DELL-IK PLID)

[smaughazard]

I'm familiar with the history behind Clan Kincaid, but I'm unsure what the name is derived from. Can you help?

[Improv1]

Thanks for the great work Slohairt!
It's interesting to know that both sides of my family were tied in with moors! I guess we like our solitude...

[Richland]

Landry: French I believe

Lyons: Irish

[slohairt]

Dia Dhuit, A Richland,

LANDRY Yes, Landry is a French name. That name is quite common here in Canada, especially in Québec! Occasionally, it can be a Cornish name derived from Landre meaning farm enclosure. A Gaelic transliteration of either would be de Láindridh. (Pronounced DE LAUNDRY, as in the clothes!)

LYONS Lyons is an Irish name, despite there being a French place name Lyon. Lyons can be an Anglicisation of two separate Irish surnames:

1) Ó Laighin (pronounced OH LY-IN) meaning descended from Laighean. Laighean is a personal name meaning spear.

2) Ó Liatháin (pronounced OH LEE-U-HAUN) meaning descended from Liathán. Liathán is a personal name meaning little grey one.

[Bill]

Hello Everyone!

A truly fasinating thread I must say.

Here's my inquiry: there are two names in my family that I am interested in knowing the entomology, the first is the name Murrah which is on the maternal side The other is Oard or Ord as it is currently spelled my Mother's maiden name.. The paternal name Hines I am told was anglisized from the German Heinz sometime before WWI after the family had been here for sometime by my Grandfather whose parents came to the States from Germany.

Many Thanks!
Bill

[macwilkin]

Landry: Yes, Landry is a French name. That name is quite common here in Canada, especially in Québec!

It's also quite common among the Cajuns in Louisiana.

Regards,

Todd

[David White]

My 5xGrandfather was born in Scotland. Surname White.
My mothers name was Henry.

[Matthew Siegmann]

I have a few names from my ancestry though I'll keep it to the ones that I believe to originate in the British Isles.

Stringer
Keith
Teasley
Boyer
Cole
Lane
Rathburn (My grandmother says there are a few variations of this name and the original was Rathbone)

[slohairt]

Dia Dhuit!

Hume: There probably still is a legitimate connection to the MacDuffs. It may be a matter of intermarriage with Danes or adoption of a separate name. Who knows? Your point about Danes being referred to as "dark" is certainly valid. Dubhghall, for instance, means "dark foreigner" and referred specifically to someone of Danish ancestry. Conversely, those of Norwegian origin were referred to as "fair." THus, Fionnghall would mean "fair foreigner."

Wemyss: Wymss is anglicised from Uamhais, which means "at the cave." It would really have been pronounced OO-AV-ISH or OO-OW-ISH but was likely rendered this way by an Anglophone scribe.

OK, the next list (which was kinda long...)

Stringer: I'm stumped, to tell you the truth. My guess would be English. A Gaelic transliteration would Stringéir (STRING-YAIR)

Keith: From Old Brythonic "coed" meaning "woods." This was later Gaelicised as Caith (pronounced KAY).

Teasley: Probably English. The last part is probably from leigh, Anglo-Saxon for "meadow" or "field." A Gaelic transliteration would be de Tíoslaidh (DE TEES-LAY)

Boyer: Probably English, and likely derived from Bowyer=bowmaker. A Gaelic translation would be Mac an Boghaire (MAC AN BOY-ER-EE) "son of the bowmaker."

Cole: If English, this is a diminutive of Nicholas. If Irish, it is anglicised from Mac Giolla Chomhghaill (MAC GILL-A COLE) meaning "son of the servant of St. Comhghall."

Lane: If English, the meaning is just as it appears, someone who lived by a lane. If Irish, it is anglicised from Ó Laighin (OH LY-IN) "descended from Laighean." Laighean was a personal name meaning spear. See Lyons from a previous post.

Rathburn: This name is really a combination of Gaelic and Lallans. The first element is from the Gaelic "rath", a circular fort. The second is the Lallans word for stream. So, it could be interpreted as "one who lived at the circle fort at the stream(?)."

Whew! I have noticed that a number of people are posting names which are most certainly English (or other). While I can decipher many of these, it is certainly not my area of expertise. I studied the etymology of Celtic names, not Germanic or Romance (via Norman-French). But I will still try!