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Ireland

Naming Customs

Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Tools

• Republic of Ireland Surname Distribution Map
• UK Surname Distribution Map
• Irish Surname Maps Based on the 1901 and 1911 censuses of Ireland
• Irish Surnames Surname distribution maps. ($)
• Behind the Name: Irish Given Names
• Behind the Name: Irish Surnames
• Latin Names in English
• Irish name Wikipedia
• Varieties and synonymes of surnames and Christian names in Ireland : for the guidance of registration officers and the public in searching the indexes of births, deaths, and marriages, e-book.
• FamilySearch's surname experience - enter your last name to find its meaning and origin

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.

Epithets--Jr. and Sr.

A first name may be modified by an adjective to distinguish its bearer from other people with the same name. Mór ("big") and Óg ("young") are used to distinguish father and son, like English "senior" and "junior", but are placed between the given name and the surname: Seán Óg Ó Súilleabháin corresponds to "John O'Sullivan Jr." (although anglicised versions of the name often drop the "O'" from the name).

The word Beag/Beg, meaning "little", can be used in place of Óg. This did not necessarily indicate that the younger person was small in stature, merely younger than his father. Sometimes beag would be used to imply a baby was small at birth, possibly premature.

Adjectives denoting hair colour may also be used, especially informally: Pádraig Rua ("red-haired Patrick"), Máire Bhán ("fair-haired Mary").

Traditional Gaeltacht Names

In Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas, it remains customary to use a name composed of the first name, followed by the father's name in the genitive case, followed by the name of the paternal grandfather, also in the genitive. Thus Seán Ó Cathasaigh (Seán O'Casey), son of Pól, son of Séamus, would be known to his neighbours as Seán Phóil Shéamuis. Occasionally, if the mother or grandmother was a well-known person locally, her name may be used instead of that of the father or grandfather. If the mother's name is used, then that of the maternal grandfather (or potentially grandmother) follows it, for example, Máire Sally Eoghain.

These names are not used for official purposes. Often a nickname or English version of a name is used in their composition where the person would use a standard Irish form in formal circumstances. For example, the prominent sean-nós singer Seán Mac Donnchada is perhaps better known as Johnny Mhairtín Learaí.

This naming system also survives to a certain extent in rural areas outside the existing Gaeltacht. The system can be particularly useful for distinguishing individuals who live in the same locale and who share a common surname but are not closely related. For example, two individuals named John McEldowney might be known as "John Patsy Den" and "John Mary Philip" respectively. Even the Irish forms sometimes survive in parts of the Sperrins, so that among the principal families of Glenullin some branches are known by father/grandfather forms such as Pháidí Shéamais or Bhrian Dhónaill.

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.

Latin Names

• In Roman Catholic records, the names were often written in their Latin form. Often you can figure out what the name was by looking at the root of the name, for example, “Patricius” in Latin is “Patrick” in English.
• See Latin Names in English.

Traditional Naming Pattern

A traditional naming pattern was often used by Irish parents until the later 19th century:

• First son usually named for the father's father
• Second son usually named for the mother's father
• Third son usually named for the father
• Fourth son usually named for the father's eldest brother
• Fifth son usually named for the mother's eldest brother
• First daughter usually named for the mother's mother
• Second daughter usually named for the father's mother
• Third daughter usually named for the mother
• Fourth daughter usually named for the mother's eldest sister
• Fifth daughter usually named for the father's eldest sister.

Ireland Nicknames

Most given names have at least one associated nickname. When names are recorded in civil registration of birth, marriage, and death or in church records, a nickname may have been used instead of the more formal given name (Kate for Catherine or Con for Cornelius, for example). Many nicknames are easy to spot, but others are not. The nicknames used for Bridget include Bedelia, Bedina, Beesy, Bess, Bessie, Biddy, Breda/Breeda, Briddy, Bride, Brideen, Bridie, Cordelia, Dillie/Dilly, Dina, and Phidelia.

Nicknames can lead the researcher astray if used incorrectly. While many people assume that Anty is a nickname for Anthony (a male), it is, in fact, most often a nickname for Anastasia (a female). Lou is both a nickname for male children named Aloysius, Lewis/Louis, and Ulysses as well as female children names Louise or Lucinda.

One further complication is the use of the same name for both males and females. Giles is one example, with Giley and Jiley (as well as several other derivatives) being nicknames for both sexes. Another example is the given name Florence. In this case, nicknames sometimes make it easier to distinguish between the male (Flo, Florrie/Florry and Flurry) and the female (Flo, Flora, and Flossie).

Given Name Equivalents

Gender	Formal Name	Nicknames	Names Used Interchangeably	Latin	Irish
female	Abigail	Abbie, Abby, Gail, Gubbie, Libby, Nabby, Webbie	Abina	--	Abaigeal, Gobnait
female	Abina	Abbie, Abby, Bina	Abigail	--	--
female	Agnes	Aggie, Nancy, Nanny, Nessie	--	Agna	Aignéis, Mór, Úna
male	Aedan, Aidan		Moses	--	Aodhán
female	Aileen, Eileen	Eily, Ellen, Ellie, Eveleen, Lena, Nel, Nellie, Nelly	Ellen, Eveleen, Evelyn, Helen	--	Eibhilín, Eibhlín
male	Albert	Alby, Alvy, Bert, Bertie, Burt	--	Albertus	Ailbe
female	Alberta	Aubrey, Berta, Bertha, Bertie	Roberta	--	--
male	Alexander	Alaster, Alex, Alick, Allister, Elick, Sandy	--	--	Alsander
male	Alfred	Alfie, Fred, Freddie, Freddy	Albert	Alberedus	Ailfrid
female	Alice	Ailse, Alley, Allie, Ally, Elly, Elsie, Lizzie	Alicia	Alicia, Aleysia	Ailis, Ailse
male	Aloysius	Alley, Allie, Ally, Lou, Louie, Louis	Lewis, Louis	Aloysius	Alabhaois, Alaois
female	Amanda	Manda, Mandy	--	--	--
male	Ambrose	Amy	--	Ambrosius	Ambrós
female	Amelia	Amy, Milly	--	--	--
female	Anastasia	Anastasse, Anastese, Annis, Anstace, Anty, Any, Atty, Stacia, Stasia, Steise	--	Anastasia	Annstás
male	Andrew	Andy	--	Andreas	Aindréas, Aindrias, Aindriú
female	Ann, Anne	Anna, Annie, Nan, Nancy, Naney, Nanie, Nanno, Nanny	Anna, Anne, Hannah, Johanna, Nancy	Anna	Áine, Eithne, Nainsí
female	Annabel, Annabella	Anable, Anna, Bel, Bella, Belle	Anabilia, Arabella	Anabilia	Annábla, Nábla
male	Anthony	Anthy, Antony, Anty, Oney, Owney, Oynie, Tony	--	Antonius	Anntoin, Antoin, Antoine
male	Arthur	Airt, Art	--	Arcturus, Artorius, Arturius	Art, Artúr
male	Archibald	Archie, Archy	--	--	Easpuig, Giolla
male	Augustine	Austey, Austin	Austin	Augustinus	Ághuistín, Águistín
female	Barbara	Bab, Babbie, Babe, Babs, Barb, Barbary	--	--	Báb, Báibin, Báirbre
male	Barnabas, Barnabus	Barnaby, Barney	--	Barnabus	--
male	Bartholomew	Barbel, Bartholomy, Bartle, Bartley, Bartly, Bartw, Bat, Batt, Batty	--	Bartholomous	Beartlaidh, Parthalán, Parthlán, Pártlán, Partnán
male	Benjamin	Ben, Bernie	Bernard	--	Beircheart
male	Bernard	Barney, Bernie, Berny	Benjamin, Brian, Bryan	Bernardus	Bearnárd, Brian
female	Bertha	Bertie, Berty	Alberta, Roberta	--	--
male	Brian, Bryan		Bernard		Brian
female	Bridget, Brigid	Bedelia, Bedina, Beesy, Bess, Bessie, Biddy, Breda, Breeda, Briddy, Bride, Brideen, Bridie, Cordelia, Delia, Dillie, Dilly, Dina, Phidelia		Brigida	Bríd, Bríghid
female	Catherine, Katherine	Cassie, Cassy, Cate, Cathy, Catty, Caty, Kate, Katie, Katty, Katy, Kay, Kit, Kitty, Trina	Kathleen	--	Cáit, Caiti, Caitilín, Cáitín, Catraoine, Caitrín, Caitríona
female	Cecilia	Cecil, Cecily, Celia, Cicely, Cis, Sheela, Sheila, Sia, Sis, Sissy, Syly	Celia	Cecilia	Síle
male	Charles	Cahal, Cahir, Carl, Carol, Carroll, Charley, Cormac, Karl, Sorley	Cahal, Cahir, Carl	Carolus	Carlus, Cathair, Cathal, Cathaoir, Cearbhall, Cormac, Séarlas, Séarlus
female	Charlotte	Lotta, Lottie, Lotty	--	--	Séarlait
female	Christina, Christine	Chris, Chrissy, Christie, Christy, Tena, Tina	--	Christina	Cristin, Cristíona
male	Christopher	Castor, Chris, Christy, Kit, Kitty	--	Christophorus	Chíostal, Chíostóir
male	Clotworthy	Tatty	--	--	--
male	Constantine	Con, Conn, Connie, Conny	--	--	Conn, Consaidín
male	Cormack, Cormick	Cor, Corly, Cormac, Mac, Mack, Mick	Charles	--	--
male	Cornelius	Con, Coneily, Connie, Connor, Conny, Cor, Corly, Neal, Neil, Neily, Nohor	--	Cornelius	Conchobhar
male	Daniel	Dan, Danny, Donal, Donny	Donald	Danielus	Domhnall, Dónal
male	Darby	--	Dermot, Jeremiah, Jerome	Dermicius	Diarmaid
male	David	Dahy, Davy	--	Davidus	Dáibhidh, Dáithí
male	Denis, Dennis	Denny, Ditty, Donat, Donough	Donogh, Donough, Duncan	Dionysius	Donnchadh
female	Debora, Deborah, Debra	Debbie, Gobnet, Gubbie	--	--	Gobnait
male	Dermot	--	Darby, Jeremiah	--	--
male	Dominic, Dominick	Dom, Domic, Nick	--	Dominicus	Damhlaic, Damhnaic, Doiminic
male	Donald	Don, Donal, Donat, Donnel, Donny, Donough	Daniel	Donaldus, Duvenaldus	Domhnall, Dónal
male	Donogh, Donough	Donaghy, Donal	Denis, Duncan	--	Donnchadh
female	Doreen	Dora	Dorothy	--	Doireann
female	Dorothea, Dorothy	Dolly, Dora, Dot, Dotty	Doreen	Dorothea	Doireann
male	Duncan	--	Denis, Donogh	--	--
female	Edith	Eddy, Edie, Edy	--	Eadgitha, Editha	--
male	Edmond, Edmund	Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Mundy, Ned	Edward, Edwin	Eadmundus, Edmundus	Éamon, Éamonn
male	Edward	Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Ned	Edmond, Edmund, Edwin	Eadwardus, Edwardus	Éadbhárd
male	Edwin	Ed, Eddie, Eddy	Edmond, Edmund, Edward	--	--
female	Eleanor	Elena, Ella, Ellie, Lean, Lena, Nora	Aileen, Eileen, Ellen, Evelyn, Helen	Elleanora	Eiléanóir
female	Elizabeth	Bess, Bessie, Beth, Betsy, Betty, Elsie, Eliza, Libby, Liz, Lizzie, Sheela, Sheelagh, Sheila	Eliza	Elizabetha	Eilís, Eilíse
male	Elias	Ellis	--	Elias, Elyas	--
female	Ellen	Eily, Ella, Ellie, Elly, Lean, Lena, Nel, Nellie, Nelly	Aileen, Eileen, Eleanor, Evelyn, Helen	Elena, Elleanora	Eibhilín
female	Emily	Emma, Emmie, Milly	Emelina, Emma	--	Eimíle
female	Esther	Essie, Essy, Hessie, Hessy	Easter, Hester	--	Eistir
male	Eugene	--	Eion, Oin, Owen	Eugenus, Oenus, Owenus, Owinus	Eoghan
male	Eustace	Eustice, Eustie, Eusty	--	Eustachius	--
female	Evelyn	Eva, Eve, Lena	Aileen, Eileen, Eveleen	--	Eibhilín
male	Farrell	--	Fergal	--	Fearghal
male	Felix	--	Felim, Phelim, Philip	--	Feidhlim, Feidhlimidh
male	Ferdinand	Ferdy, Fergus, Ferty	Fergus	--	Fearadhach, Feardorocha, Fearganainm
male	Fergal	--	Farrell	--	Fearghal
male	Fergus	Fergy	Ferdinand	--	Fearghus
male	Festus	Festy	Fachnan	--	Fachtna, Feichín
female	Florence	Flo, Flora, Flossie	--	--	Bláth, Bláthnaid

For Further Reading

• A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide
• de Breffny, Brian. Guide on Irish Christian Names and their English equivalents. Article Christian Names in Ireland found for years 1670-1850. The Irish Ancestor, Vol.1 No. 1, pages 34-40 (FamilySearch Library SLC Call number 941.5 B2i). Also WorldCat
• Coghlan, Ronan. Irish First Names. Belfast, Ireland: Appletree Press, 1985. (FamilySearch Library book 941.5 D4cri.) At various libraries (WorldCat)
• Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, and Fidelma Maguire. Irish Names. 2nd ed. 1990. Reprint. Dublin, Ireland: The Lilliput Press, 1992. (FamilySearch Library book 941.5 D4og 1990.) At various libraries (WorldCat)
• Coghlan, Ronan. Irish Christian Names: An A-Z of First Names. (FamilySearch Library book 941.5 D4c.) At various libraries (WorldCat)
• MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. 6th ed. Dublin, Ireland: Irish Academic Press, 1985. (FamilySearch Library book Ref 941.5 D4mc 1985.) At various libraries (WorldCat)
• 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, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968. (FamilySearch Library book Ref 941.5 Dsma.) At various libraries (WorldCat)

FamilySearch Library

• More such books are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog:
  • Ireland - Names, Personal
  • Ireland - Names, Personal - Dictionaries
  • Ireland - Names, Personal - Indexes
  • Ireland - Names, Personal - Maps
  • Ireland - Names, Personal - Periodicals

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