Irish history has contributed to many variations in Irish names. Understanding these variations will help you as you trace your Irish ancestors.

Surnames

Irish surnames of Gaelic origin were commonly used until England laid claim to Ireland in the fifteenth century. Legislation under English rule led to the anglicization of many Irish names and to the adoption of many English names. Many different forms of Irish surnames resulted. For example, the Irish surname Houlihan or O'Houlihan may have taken on the anglicized form Holland.

Surname variations also resulted from an Irish form of patronymics that used the prefixes Mac'', meaning son of, and O'', meaning grandson of. Many descendants of Anglo-Norman invaders, who became assimilated into the Irish culture, also used patronymics but substituted Fitz' (as in Fitzgerald) for the prefix Mac'. English law, for a period of time, forbade the use of O' and Mac' in Irish surnames. Fitz was allowed. Not all members of Irish families chose to conform to English laws, hence several forms of a surname often emerged within a single family.

By the end of the nineteenth century, use of prefixes resumed. However, prefixes were added or dropped at will, again producing different surnames within the same family. Irish who emigrated during the nineteenth century often dropped the prefixes in their new countries of residence.

Some sources that can help you with Irish surnames include:

MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 6th ed. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1985. (FHL book Ref 941.5 D4mc 1985; computer number 0347166.)

Matheson, Sir Robert E. Special Report on Surnames in Ireland [Together with] Varieties and Synonyms of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland. 1901. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968. (FHL book Ref 941.5 Dsma; computer number 0167712.)

Given Names

Irish given names are also Gaelic in origin and were affected by the same English influences. As with surnames, many given names were anglicized, producing many given name variations. Darby, Dermot, and Jeremiah, for example, are all variations of the same name.

Other challenges with Irish given names are (1) that some given names are used for both males and females—Florence, Sydney, and Evelyn for example—and (2) that some given names have nicknames that little resemble the original name. Delia, Phidelia, Bidelia, Biddie, and Bride, for example, are all used as nicknames for the name Bridget.

Two books that can help you with Irish given names are:

Coghlan, Ronan. Irish First Names. Belfast: Appletree Press, 1985. (FHL book 941.5 D4cri; computer number 0687400.)

Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, and Fidelma Maguire. Irish Names. 2nd ed. 1990. Reprint. Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1992. (FHL book 941.5 D4og 1990; computer number 0687046.)

Other sources on Irish names available at the Family History Library are listed in the Locality Search of the catalog under IRELAND - NAMES, PERSONAL.

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