Where does your surname come from?

RobbieTheRobber

That site was really helpful to me

Recorded in many spellings as shown below, this surname is either English, Manx or Ashkenasic Hebrew. It has three possible origins.

Three possible origins woohoo(3 is the magic number)

then it says this

As such it is one of the very earliest of all names to be recorded anywhere, with that of <some crazy name not like mine> in the Old English Bynames Register for the year 1010 a.d..

Eh you might think it would be slightly older though if it was hebrew eh.

So now I know exactly less about my name than i did before.

Pyr0

All I know about my surname is that it isn't Irish, more than likely Welsh.

cosmic

Apparently I am a descendent of a buccaneer - AWESOME!

Yarrrrr! :pac:

moonflower

Surname: Dooley

Recorded as O'Dooley, Dooley and Dooly, this is a famous Irish surname. It originates from the 12th century Gaelic O' Dubhlaoich meaning 'The male descendant of the Dark Hero' and as such a reference to the first chief of the clan. He may have been Celtic or Breton, as the early history of the clan may suggest that they were 'comer ins'. Nevertheless the clan chiefs were also known as the Lords of Fertullagh in County Westmeath, in medieval times. Arguments over land tenure with the O'Melaghins and the Tyrrells, lead to a migation to the lower slopes of the Slieve Mountains, where some nameholders remain today. In the Census of Ireland in 1659 they were also shown to be numerous in Counties Leix and Offaly, and over the centuries the latter county has become the main centre. The name is now rarely found as O' Dooley. The surname is familar world-wide through Mr Dooley, a fictional humourous Chicago character created by Finlay Dunn in the early part of this century. One of the earliest refugees from the dreaded Irish Potato Famine of 1846 - 1851, was Patrick Dooley aged eighteen. He left Dublin bound for New York on May 11th of that year.

Cupcake_Crisis

Mine apparently originates from france, and somewhere along the line it means descended rim the dark one. Nice!

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

BennyLava

The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th century 'beorht' meaning 'bright' or 'shining'. It may also be a short form of the Olde English personal name Beorhthelm - a compound of the elements 'beorht' - bright and 'helm' a helmet.

It explains a lot

GarH

"Sorry we have yet to research the origin of the surname..."

Oh noes. I don't exist

/sob

Abi

Load of kack. I've a double barreled surname , and it says both of them are Irish. I know neither of them are.

stovelid

Great link, OP.

Earthhorse

This is a really nice idea for a thread OP and beats the usual tabloid, celebrity or "controversial" topic threads that are much the norm in here these days. Thanks for starting it.

LenaClaire

That was funny. Mine is Anglo-Saxon but they listed one of my known ancestors as an example of the name

BigDuffman

"Son of the Dark One" Sooo much cooler than English version. Debating changing my first name to Damien to be uber devilish.

WindSock

There is nothing in the database for my surname. It is not that common.

Imhof Tank

Mine:-

This interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is one of the earliest surnames recorded. The name derives from a Germanic word used to describe something round and plump, used in Olde English pre 7th Century as a byname or nickname for such a person,

Dudess

Darlughda wrote: »

Me too on the mothers side. Apparently the wolf people were outlawed and many tried to anglicize their name to avoid persecution

So my ancestors were wolf people?

Awesome!

stovelid

Dudess wrote: »

So my ancestors were wolf people?

Hells Belle

A very powerful and outstanding sept in Irish history, one of Ireland's leading aristocratic families!!! If this was the UK I'd be ruling all your asses

itsallaboutheL

WindSock wrote: »

There is nothing in the database for my surname. It is not that common.

Ditto........... Dad?? :eek::pac:

Oink

Thought I was Breton, turns out I'm English.

=> **grabs himself in an awkward headlock and escorts himself out cursing and swearing**

Dravokivich

This noble and distinguished Irish surname is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "Mac Mathghamha", meaning "son of the Bear"....
Two distinct septs of this name exist in Ireland. The first belong to County Clare, and are descended from Mahon, son of Murtagh Mor O'Brien, King of Ireland (deceased 1119). Their territory was Corcabaskin in West Clare where the name is still most numerous. The last inaugurated Chief of the Name fell at the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. The second great sept of M(a)cMahon became lords of Oriel in the 13th Century, Oriel being an ancient territory comprising Counties Armagh, Monaghan and parts of South Down, Louth and Fermanagh.

I think my old man's old man's from Sligo so I'd be of the second "sept". What ever the hell a "sept" is...

Tar.Aldarion

Recorded as Kildea and Gildea, this interesting surname is Irish. It originates from the Gaelic Mac giolla Dhe, meaning the servant of god from the elments Mac meaning son of, Giolla, a servant, and Dhe, God. The surname in some places it has been corrupted to Gay, whilst in others by a curious semi-translation it has been changed to Benison. It is primarily a Donegal sept, but like so many of the followers of the O'Donnells some of its families migrated to Mayo, where, with Donegal, it is chiefly found today. In 1624, Daniel Guilday was vicar-general of the diocese of Killaloe, Co. Clare, whilst Ballykildea in County Clare and Ballykilladea in County Galway are named from this clan. James Gildea (1838-1920), co-founder of St. John's Ambulance Association, was born in County Mayo.

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

So basically...it's what I thought! Servant of god, yes! Some weird spellings..people adding in U's and everything...
Can't believe we've been corupted to the ghey too!

Darlughda

Dravokivich wrote: »

I think my old man's old man's from Sligo so I'd be of the second "sept". What ever the hell a "sept" is...

In pre-Norman Ireland there were about 150 kings over each area known as a tuatha. These tuathas were comprised of a tribe made up of various members of a common kin group known as a sept; common descent was usually through the male line of the same great-grandfather.

owenc

mines is scottish or english but id say scottish heres the definition.. dont say its norman lol most of them are norman or french as there is no native scot or english people "This very interesting Scottish surname is probably Norman-Breton in origin. It was introduced initially into England, by the followers of William the Conqueror at or after the battle of Hastings in 1066. The derivation is from either a pre 7th century personal name, originally 'Cumine' or 'Comyn', and thought to derive from the Breton/Celtic element 'can', meaning 'bent, crooked', and a common element in such surnames as 'Campbell' and 'Cameron', or from the French town of Comines. In Scotland, the family founded by William Comyn (see below), grew to be one of the most powerful in the country. In so doing they held at one time the Earldoms of both Angus and Atholl, although they were not only to lose them, but by the 14th century it was recorded that 'this great house of four earls and thirty two knights was so utterly overthrown, that there is no memorial in the country save the orisons (?) of the monks of Deer (A monastery). Be that as it may the surname remained popular, and there are now a very wide range of spelling forms including Cumming, Cummings, (patronymic), Cuming, Cumine, Cummine, Camings, Kaman, Camin, Kaming, Kemmons (!), Keming, Kimmons, Kimmins, Kimmings, and no doubt many others. Recording examples include Simon Comyn of Coldingham, in 1483, Barabara Keminge, christened at St Margarets, Westminster, in January 1st 1579, and Johes Kemmin, the son of George and Annae, christened at St Martins in the Field, Westminster, on May 2nd 1641. The coat of arms has the blazon of a blue field charged with three golden wheatsheaves, banded in red. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Willelmus Comyn (Chancellor of Scotland), which was dated 1133, in the records of Kelso Abbey, Scotland, during the reign of King David 1 of Scotland, 1124 - 1153. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling." then here is my mothers surname "Generally recorded as MacWilliam, McWilliam and McWilliams, this ancient surname is Scottish but of Norman-French origins. It derives from the 11th century Gaelic "Mac Uilleim" meaning the son of William, and it is said that the clan originate from William fitz Duncan, the son of Duncan 11nd of Scotland, and his son Duncan Ban MacWilliam, who was killed at the battle of Man Garvia, in Morayshire in 1187. William was originally a compound personal name of the pre 5th century, consisting of the Germanic and French elements "Wil", meaning will or desire, and "helm", a helmet or protection. It was popular mainly through Duke Willam of Normandy, William 1st of England, who may not have actually introduced it into the British Isles, but who in the spirit of "political correctness", ensured its long term future. It is said that the MacWilliams were powerful claimants for the Scottish throne against King William the Lion (1165 - 1214), since all claimed descent from King Malcolm 111rd of Scotland, 1057 - 1093. The MacWilliam's seem to have lost the arguement as most of their leaders were dead in battle by the year 1215. MacQuilliam and MacKilliam are also current forms of this name, and earlier but now extinct spellings included MacWillzam in 1506, McWilzeme 1527, McWilliame 1548, and M'William 1678. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling." so they are both scottish.

TPD

Haven't got mine on record :mad:

ClutchIt

brummytom wrote: »

Recorded in several spellings as shown below, this surname is of early medieval Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic O' Miadhachain, meaning the male descendant of the son of the honourable one! Traditionally, Gaelic family names are taken from the heads of tribes, and were usually prefixed by O' in Ireland, and sometimes Mac, the latter denoting "son of". The main O' Meehan sept was a branch of the illustrious MacCarthys of Munster, but by the end of the 11th Century, they had migrated to County Leitrim, at Ballaghmeehin in the parish of Rossinber. From there they spread into the adjacent counties of Sligo, Fermanagh and Clare. Early nameholders were Thomas and Denis O'Meehan, successively the bishops of Achonry, County Sligo, between the years 1251 and 1285, and from early times the sept were erenaghs of Devenish, County Fermanagh. Erenaghs were hereditary holders of church property. The family also preserved a manuscript of the 6th Century St. Molaise of Devenish for over a thousand years: the document is now in the National Museum of Ireland. Now generally recorded as Meehan, Meegan, Meighan, and others, the first recorded spelling of the family name and one of the earliest on record, is that of Edru O'Meighan. This was dated 1152, in Ecclesiastical Records of Kells, County Meath, during the reign of Turlough Mor O'Conor, High King of Ireland, 1119 - 1156. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was som,etimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.



So yeah... I'm a descendant of the 'honourable one' Jesus' lovechild FTW

Snap!

the keen edge

It surprises me how much pride people take from their surname. Your as much descended from your mothers maiden name as your father. Take another step back and you'll see that your equality descended from each of your grandparents surnames, and so on back through time. Obvious point, but people never seem to take it on board.

HalloweenJack

Did someone already say my dad?

Celtic on my dad's side and Norman on my mam's side.

Jesus Wept

The first recorded spelling of the family name was dated 1337 :cool::cool::cool:

Descended from sea rovers, which is code for PIRATES.

:cool:
:cool:
:cool:

UpCork

I am Anglo Saxon too, unfortunately.

My mother's maiden name is Irish (I think).

Rebelheart

I'd be a bit circumspect of many of these supposedly "English" or "Anglo-Saxon" names. A guy I know is called Smith but he can only trace that name back to 1822; before that his family surname was Mac Gabhann, or "McGowan" as it was recorded in English language sources.

Gabha is a "smith" in Irish.

Also, it is untrue to say that all "Fitz" surnames are of Norman origin. Fitzpatrick, according to all historical sources, is most definitely not of Norman origin but rather of Gaelic-Irish origin: Brían Óg Mac Giolla Phádraig became Barnaby Fitzpatrick in the 1540s. This is the very first record of the surname Fitzpatrick, and is easily verified.

WIZE

The Byrne surname is Wicklow i thinks

prinz

Rebelheart wrote: »

I'd be a bit circumspect of many of these supposedly "English" or "Anglo-Saxon" names..

:pac: Give it a rest, do you ever take a holiday?

As for Fitzpatrick... indeed the website acknowledges it is an anglicisation of the MacGiolla Phadraig. However Fitz is of Latin and French origin, the Normans brought it to Ireland.

Earlier Anglicizations of the name have included MacGilpatrick and MacKilpartrick. This is the only surname in Ireland with the Norman-French prefix "Fitz" which is of native Irish origin, the others being Norman

Rebelheart

prinz wrote: »

:pac: Give it a rest, do you ever take a holiday?

As for Fitzpatrick... indeed the website acknowledges it is an anglicisation of the MacGiolla Phadraig. However Fitz is of Latin and French origin, the Normans brought it to Ireland.

There's nothing new there, Prinz. You're merely repeating what I've just said (without even glancing at the website).

Rebelheart

prinz wrote: »

:pac: Give it a rest, do you ever take a holiday

Em, so you are in denial about 'Smith' being used as an English name for the family known as Mac Gabhann, particularly in Cavan where the Smith surname is most common in Ireland?

Let me guess: if a surname sounds English, it is English in origin?

prinz

Rebelheart wrote: »

There's nothing new there, Prinz. You're merely repeating what I've just said (without even glancing at the website).

How did I manage to quote from it without reading it

prinz

Rebelheart wrote: »

Let me guess: if a surname sounds English, it is English in origin?

...and as usual you guess wrong. If a name is English in origin it's English in origin. Doesn't matter how your family came to be known by it hundreds of years ago. This is a thread about names, not politics.

neilthefunkeone

I dont know..

Oh wait i just looked it up..

The name PURDY is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name given to a person who was known for their habitual use of the oath pour Dieu...

First found in Shropshire no doubt...

boscoroxx

This is an anglicized form of the Olde Gaelic name O Cathail. The Gaelic prefix 'O' indicates 'male descendant of' plus the personal name Cathal, a compound of the Celtic elements 'catu-valus' meaning 'battle powerful'. In Ireland, the name is first recorded in the early half of the 10th century (see below). The principal sept of the O'Cahills belonged to Co. Galway Father Daniel Cahill (1796-1864), was a schoolmaster and newspaper editor. He lectured extensively in the United States. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Flan O' Cahill, martyred. which was dated 938 Ancient Irish Records. during the reign of Siol Chuinn, descendants of Conn of the Hundred Battles.

So maybe there's a reason for my feisty nature!!!

BaconZombie

Between Syn and ACK....

brummytom

ClutchIt wrote: »

Snap!

Dad?

chin_grin

Of all the Irish surnames, none has more variations of spelling than this one. In the most recent census it is said that there are only about fifteen hundred nameholders, who between them have over twenty different ways of spelling the name! This would not be so bad if there could be an consensus of agreement on what the name actually means, but there isnt. Many Irish or Gaelic names are patronymic, and this is one of them, and it is probable that the suffix <snip> is a nickname, and probably a development of a Norse-Viking personal name such as 'Uig'. It is not generally known that the Viking conquered most of Ireland before they started on England, and their influence in regard to surname origins is still strong in the North east of Ireland.

Interesting.

Sea Sharp

Originally it was exclusive to the province of Connacht, but is now quite popular in parts of Ulster. The derivation is from the pre 10th century Old Gaelic "O'Gaibhtheachain", meaning the descendant of Gaibhtheachan, a male give name meaning fierce or dangerous!

My scary looking avatar is no coincidence.

fontanalis

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Did someone already say my dad?

Celtic on my dad's side and Norman on my mam's side.

How is it Celtic?

ART6

I am, apparently, a descendant of Norman invaders. My family name means a maker of sword hilts. Not much call for that nowadays so I have had to find other gainful employment.

*F*****G immigrant!*

Mint Sauce

all i know is my great great great grandad was born in scotland and his oul fella gave it to him

RosyLily

This is an Anglicized form of two distinct Gaelic Irish surnames:-O'Braonain and MacBranan. The chief O' Braonain (Brennan) sept belonged to Leinster where they held considerable estates in Co. Kilkenny prior to the 17th Century, after which several clan members became "highwaymen".

Basically a bunch of chancers and thiefs......not much has changed so!:p

theacher

RosyLily wrote: »

This is an Anglicized form of two distinct Gaelic Irish surnames:-O'Braonain and MacBranan. The chief O' Braonain (Brennan) sept belonged to Leinster where they held considerable estates in Co. Kilkenny prior to the 17th Century, after which several clan members became "highwaymen".

Basically a bunch of chancers and thiefs......not much has changed so!:p

is brannigan a derivative of this do you know?