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IRISH Surnames - Origins etc.

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 20 Feb 2011 22:51

think you'll find we've already done Kenny and Cain if you look back

Rachel

Rachel Report 20 Feb 2011 22:37

Hi,

I am trying to find more information on my Irish roots, the surnames being:Kenny, Cain and Foster. I know the Fosters came from County Cavan, but do not know anything about the Kenny or Cains.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Rachel

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Report 15 Oct 2010 01:34

I am attempting to trace my irsh roots from Hilltown, County Down Ireland.
Names are
McComish
Murphy
O'Hare
McComiskey
They all lived around the Leod Townlands!
any help would be greatly appreciated.

ivy

ivy Report 28 Aug 2010 04:52

my mothers name was omahoney and she was born in limerick

Shannon

Shannon Report 24 Apr 2010 06:19

Hi there Ann of green gables. just spotted this thread and was going to add a couple of surnames to the list and interestingly enough two names in my tree are in the first request. i have not previously had any info on origins of the names however I think you have helped me with research on "Toner" and maybe also " McCarthy ". These names were listed back in the first request and you mentioned they were familiar to you. Coincidence ( maybe ). Gets the juices flowing though. I will try to message the poster also. The two names are on different sides of the family ( McCarthy mine, Toner hubby.) Would be pretty funny if they were looking at the same families!

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 22 Apr 2010 23:04


This most interesting surname is a variant of the Irish surname Lawlor, which is of Old Gaelic origin, as the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Leathlobhair", composed of the Gaelic prefix "O", male descendant of, and a personal name composed of the elements "leath", half (meaning "somewhat, fairly"), and "-labor", leprous, sick. Hence the name seems to have been originally a byname for a man of unhealthy constitution. The name is also found as Lalour and Lalor, and the prefix has been almost entirely dropped in the present day. The surname itself is widespread in the province of Leinster, especially in County Leix (Laois). The O'Lalors were one of the Seven Septs of Leix, and were located near the famous Rock of Dunamase in County Leix, from where they were driven by English invaders during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. Peter Lalor (1823 - 1889) led the insurgent miners at Eureka, Australia, in 1854, and subsequently became a minister and speaker of the Legislative Council of Victoria. Catherine, daughter of William Lawler, was christened at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, on August 18th 1633. A Coat of Arms granted to the family depicts a red lion rampant guardant on a gold shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Harry Lalor, Hero of the massacre of Mullaghmast, which was dated 1577, in "Records of County Leix", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.


Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Lawler#ixzz0lrx6SN00

BRC

BRC Report 22 Apr 2010 21:37

Hi Tereasa
My Irish 2x g grandfather's surname was Lawler born in Tipperary, I would be interested in anything you can find.
Regards Brenda

 Sue In Leeds

Sue In Leeds Report 5 Apr 2010 08:55

nudge for Morag

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 22 Mar 2010 15:51


Recorded in several spellings including Brassill, Brazil, and Breazeall, this surname has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the South American country. It is Irish, and was formerly only recorded in ancient times in the County of Wexford, in the south east cormer of the country. It derives from the pre 10th century Gaelic O' Breasail, which translates literally as "The descendant of the one involved in strife". Almost all true Gaelic surnames have a nickname as the base, and usually from ten centuries or more ago. These base names referred to the real or supposed characteristics of the then chief. Some of these characteristics were very robust indeed, and included such meanings as "ugly head" or "fickle", which not everybody would regard as complimentary. This does not seem to have worried the people of ancient times, suggesting perhaps that to them the meaning at the time, may have been different from today's interpretation. Early examples of the surname recording taken from authentic surviving records and charters include William Braseile, the son of John Braseile, christened at the church of St John the Baptist, Dublin, on November 7th 1652, Thomas Brazil, a witness at the town of Waterford, on October 19 1863, and Hannah Brassell, a witness at the town of Newmarket on Fergus, on July 22nd 1864.

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 22 Mar 2010 15:49

this thread is just for the origin of names - is that what you want? if you are looking for assistance with research you should post this on Trying to Find

Marilyn Elizabeth

Marilyn Elizabeth Report 22 Mar 2010 14:53

Hello

I hope you can help me - My great grandfather name was James Brazil Born 1836 somewhere in Ireland he came to England and married Isabella Briggs and lived in 36 Dock St East Monk Wearmouth Durham

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 17 Feb 2010 22:10

If you are looking for other than the meaning of a surname, start a posting of your own - this thread is just for Irish surname meanings



This interesting surname has two distinct possible origins, each with its own history and derivation. Firstly, the name may be locational from the Old French "Pohier", indicating a native of Pois, a town in Picardy, North France, so called from the Old French "pois", fish, because of its well-stocked rivers. Locational surnames were originally given to the lord of the manor, or as a means of identification to those who left their place of origin to settle elsewhere. The surname from this source was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It entered Ireland in 1170 when a bearer of the name le Poer took part in Strongbow's invasion of Wexford. The name, initially Gaelicized "de Paor", and later Anglicized "Power", became one of the most completely Hibernicized of the surnames introduced at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Poore may also have originated as a nickname for a poor man, or ironically for a miser, from the Middle English and Old French "povre, poure", poor. In the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1296 to 1332, the name appears as "le Poer, le Power", and "Power", and Richard le Poor, Poore or Poure (deceased 1237), was successively bishop of Chichester, Salisbury, and Durham. A Coat of Arms granted to the Poore family of Oxfordshire, is a silver shield with three black bars nebulee, over all a gold bend. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Drogo Poher, which was dated 1127, in the "Ancient Charters of Gloucestershire", during the reign of King Henry 1, known as "The Lion of Justice", 1100 - 1135. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 17 Feb 2010 14:09

my pleasure!!

Patricia

Patricia Report 17 Feb 2010 13:06

Hi,

Thanks for that information very interesting, my ancestor was Ann Brady from Cavan, so this hits the spot.

Patricia

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 16 Feb 2010 18:17


Recorded in many spellings including Brady, Brody, Brodie, Broady, and no doubt others, this is a surname of Anglo-Irish origins, of which it has no less than four, each with its own history and derivation. Firstly, it may derive from the Gaelic surname Mac Bradaigh meaning the male descendant of the thieving and dishonest chief!! Be that as it may the Brady's were a powerful clan in Ireland, their chief holding control over a large territory lying to the east of Cavan, and probably deserving of his reputation. Surprisingly the earliest recorded namebearer as Gilbert MacBrady, the bishop of Ardagh from 1396 to 1400. The second origin is English and a nickname given to a person with excellent eyesight. This is from the pre 7th century "brad-eage", meaning broad eye. The earliest recording as shown below is from this source. The third origin is habitational from a lost place known as "Broad island" and somewhere in England, whilst lastly the name may be topographical for a dweller by a wide piece of land through a forest cleared for agriculture or "brad gehaeg". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Bradeie. This was dated 1170, in the cartulary of Oseney Abbey, Oxfordshire, whilst more recently (relatively) in 1615, Edwardus Broadey married Elizabetha Yarwoode at Sandbach in Cheshire, on November 10th of that year. 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

Patricia

Patricia Report 16 Feb 2010 17:38

HI

Could you look up Brady for me, Thank you.

Patricia

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 25 Jan 2010 21:19

McGorley

This most interesting name with variant spellings Kerley, Turley, Terry and McTerrelly, found particularly in the counties of Galway and Roscommon, is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Thoirdealbhoigh". This is composed of the Gaelic prefix "mac", meaning "son of", and the personal name "Toridhealbhach", having as its first element the Scandinavian name "Thor" (God of Thunder) and the second element "dealbhach", "in the shape of". The name has also been Anglicized as "Terence" and "Terry". In the 1750 Census of Ireland, both MacTerlagh and MacTurlough, appear among the principal Irish names in County Limerick. The places Ballymacurley and Curleys Islands are both found in Roscommon, thus emphasising the connection of the name with that area. The name is also recorded in London Church Registers on October 21st 1621 when Sara Curley was christened at St. Botolph without Aldgate, London. At St. Peters, Drogheda, Louth, Gerald Curley married Mary White on February 5th 1748. Nicolas Curley aged 24 yrs., a labourer was one of the many Irish immigrants who left Ireland for New York, aboard the "Tassie", which departed from Galway on June 8th 1874. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Syslay Kerley which was dated February 18th 1569, who was christened at St. Andrew, Holborn, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Renee

Renee Report 25 Jan 2010 20:56

Hi Teresa,Could you look for the name McGORLEY please? Thanks

lexi

lexi Report 19 Nov 2009 13:10

hi
thank you so much for that.. great stuff!!!

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 18 Nov 2009 16:51

nothing on Mulhair sorry