IRISH SURNAMES

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

IRISH SURNAMES

ORIGIN AND MEANINGS. IN USE BEFORE THE CONQUEST. Ireland was the first country in modern, Europe to enforce the adoption of surnames by law. The Act prescribing their general use was passed more than a hundred years before the Anglo-Nor-man invasion, whereas surnames did not come into general use in England until the days of Queen Elizabeth or in Wales until late in the seventeenth century.

Interesting meanings attach to the mpst common of Irish names. We mention a number with the curious changes which their spelling has undergone since the names originated.

Murphy came from O'Murphy, Morpheyand Morphew, meaning "Superior";: Kelly from O'Kelly, Kiely, Keeley, meaning "For War"; O'Connor from Connors, Conerty, meaning "Helper"; and Dougherty from O'Doherty, Doherty, Daughaday, meaning "Destroyer."

. Sullivan was originally Sillifanf and Sullivant, meaning "Quick-sighted." O'Donncll and . McDonnell and all combinations of the name were Donald, Donnal, Daniel, Dona, meaning "Dark Chief." Maloney was O'Mullowney, Meloney, Mullany, meaning "Thoughful." M'Cormack was O'Cormack, MeCormac, McCormick, meaning "Son of the Crown." Plynn was Flann, meaning "Red." Flanigan was Flanipen, meaning "Druid"; Boyle was Boylan, Boland, Bolan, Boylin, meaning "Benign"; O'Brian was Bryan, Bryant, Brines, Bryon, meaning "Author." Brady was Mcßrady, meaning "Ship Captain"; and Macauley was O'Cawlew, McGawly, McAuly, McAuliff, Cawley, meaning "Echo," or, literally, "Son of the Rock." Casey is Casy, Case, meaning "Hammer" —a name which comes from Tipperary; Donovan was Doneven, meaning "Destroying"; Connolly was Conncally, meaning "A Light"; O'Toole was Towle, meaning "Left-handed"; Dooley was ITooley, Dowlcy, meaning "Defiance"; Ryan was Orion, Mulryan, Mulrehan, Rehan, iiieaning "Country Boy"; Haggerty was Hegarty Haggart, Haggard, meaning "Bevengeful"; Hennossy was Hinsey, Hinchey, meaning "Despair"; Cassidy was Considine, Considy, meaning "Rapid"; Cummings was Crimmins, Crimmons, Commons, meaning "Soldier"; Hcaly was Haley, Ilally, meaning "Nimble"; Mahone was Mahan, Manni meaning "Fiery"; McMahon comes from the same root; Tracy comes from Treacy, meaning "Warrior"; and O'Rourke is from Rorke, meaning "Sovereign Prince." '