Appearance of Elements in Multiple Functions
The following table shows the distribution of elements (excluding the
women's given names) according to context-language and function. Numbers
are given for English/Latin respectively. Numbers are for unique
individuals only.
Most of the particulars of distribution are simply a matter of statistics -- the most popular names are the ones most likely to appear in multiple categories. (Needless to say, a name that only appears twice could hardly appear in three categories!).
There is a clear correlation between function and name-origin in many cases. Unmarked patronyms are all of Gaelic origin (or are Irishized versions of names, such as Seán). Patronyms using Welsh ap are all of Welsh origin (suggesting that they are most likely fixed surnames, not true patronyms). Patronyms using fitz are all of English origin (although Patrick is tough to call, its use in Ireland as a given name derives from English practice, not Irish). Patronyms using ó are all Gaelic, but those with mac may be either Gaelic or English. Unmarked patronyms overwhelmingly come from the Latin records, while, as noted previously, Gaelic given names overwhelmingly come from the English records.
Several of these trends lend strong support to the theory that given names in the Latin records (the only elements, recall, that are given Latin inflections) may conceal a number of Gaelic given names for which English substitutions have been made -- perhaps for the very purpose of ease of Latinization. If so, it is difficult to guess which names may be substitutions for what, with the exception of Thadeus for Tadhg -- which was commonly done and stands out because of the rarity of true examples of Thadeus in the period.
Given Patronym
Name Mac Ó Fitz ap -s - Total
3 or more categories
John 2/4 11 (both) Seán 1-2/ 1/ /2 Niall 1/ 5/ 1/ 7 William /1 1/1 2/1* 1/ 7
*Almost certainly a fixed surname, however.
Two categories
Artt 1/ 1/ 2 Brian 3/ /1 4 Ceallach 1/ /1 2 Feidhlim 1/ 1/ 2 Henry 1/ 2/ 3 Hugh 1/ 1/ 2 Laoiseach 1/ 1/ 2 Muchadh /1 1/ 2 Patrick 1/1 1/ 3 Thadeus /1 2 (both) Tadhg 1/
One category
given
English & Latin
Richard 2/3 5 Jacob /3 4-5 (both) James 1-2/ Michael 2/1 3English
Eoghan 3/ 3 Barnaby 1/ 1 Conn 1/ 1 Donnchad 1/ 1 Maredudd 1/ 1 Toirdhealbhach 1/ 1Latin
Edmund /2 2 David /1 1 Edward /1 1 Failghe /1 1 Luke /1 1 Oliver /1 1 Raymond /1 1 Robert /1 1 Solomon /1 1 Walter /1 1mac
Aodhagán /1 1 Odhar 1/ 1 Randolph 1/ 1ó
Conchobhar 1/ 1 Díomasach 1/1 2 Donn /1 1 Suileabhan 1/ 1 Tuathal /1 1fitz
Gerald /1 1ap
Hywel /1 1 Rhys 1/ 1unmarked
Bréanainn /1 1 Connall? /1 1 Dubhchú /1 1 Séaghdha /1 1
Bynames - in patronym
Baron 1/ Beare 1/ Bretenaugh /1 Buidhe 1/ Dubh /1 Fionn? /1 Fionnghlas 1/1 Gallda 1/ Galtrim /1 Mór 1/1 1/ Og /1 Ruadh 2/1
English Surnames
Brandon /1 Butler /1 Dowdall 2-3/1 Lombard /1 Miller 1/ Pentheny 1/ Plunkett /1
| g | given name | b | descriptive byname |
| l | locative | t | title |
| m | mac | o | ó |
| a | ap | z | fitz |
| d | de |
| gs | (Domina) Elionora Buttler |
| Janeta Plouncket | |
| Katerina Lumberte | |
| gg | Margareta Shene |
| 7 | unmarked (names in patronyms are all Gaelic) |
| 3 | ó (following names are all Gaelic) |
| 2 | mac (following names both Gaelic and English) |
| 2 | fitz (following names both English, these are most likely fixed surnames rather than true patronyms) |
| 1 | ap (following name is Welsh, this is almost certainly a fixed surname rather than a true patronym) |
It is worth noting that the entries that are recorded with Gaelic given names have either mac or ó patronyms -- the men with unmarked patronyms are all recorded with English given names, even though the father's names are all Gaelic. There are two possible interpretations: either the unmarked group come from families that have undergone more Anglicization (both stripping the patronymic markers from their surnames -- and most likely using fixed surnames -- as well as shifting to the use of English given names); or the two groups represent different levels of Anglicization in the recording process, with any Gaelic given names being replaced by English "equivalents" as well as having patronymic markers being stripped out. Note that several of the unmarked patronyms clearly derive from the genitive form of the root name, rather than the nominative (e.g., Kellie) so we don't seem to be seeing a shift to the use of true patronyms that are simply unmarked.
| Patronymic-style Bynames | |
| gag | Waltero Aphoell |
| gg | Edwardo Shane |
| Davido Connell | |
| Roberto She | |
| Edmoundo Brenan | |
| Iohanne Brian | |
| Iohanne Doughan | |
| Iohanne Kellie | |
| gmg | Morgho McWilliam |
| Salemon McKegan | |
| gog | Willelmo Odoyne |
| Luca Othole | |
| Phallie Odempsie | |
| gzg | Edmoundo Fitzgerald |
| Olivero Fitzwilliams | |
| Non-Patronymic Bynames | |
| gb | Ricardo Roe |
| Michaele More | |
| Remoundo Oge | |
| Iacobo Bretenaugh | |
| Ricardo Fian | |
| Thadeo Duf | |
| gl | Ricardo Galtrim |
| Johanne Fynglas (possibly a byname instead) | |
| gs | Iacobo Dowdall |
| Iacobo Brandon | |
| gstdl | Patricio Hussie Barone de Galtrym |
| Patronymic-style Bynames | |
| In the English-language records, about two-thirds of the individuals have patronymic-style bynames (including those using ap and fitz which are most likely fixed surnames). Compared with the Latin records, there is a drastic decrease in unmarked patronyms and a corresponding increse in mac and ó patronyms, with the former slightly outnumbering the latter. One category not found in the Latin records have a patronym without a given name. Based on context, these appear to be references to the chief of the clan bearing that name. One name in each of these categories is more complex -- either a complex clan-name indicating a particular branch of the family, or a multi- generation patronym (also including a clan-name). | |
| gag | John Apprice |
| gg | John Neale |
| gmg | Owen Mac Hughe |
| Con Mc Henry | |
| Owen Mac Thighe | |
| Richarde Mc Gwilliam | |
| Leyso Mc. Moroughe | |
| Nele Mac Leyshe | |
| Bryan Mc Felym | |
| gmgmgog | Brian Mc Henry Mc Shane Oneyle |
| gog | Henry Oneyle |
| Calloghe o Conner | |
| Shane O Nele | |
| Hewgh Odempsie | |
| Tirrillawghe Oneyle | |
| gogmt | Art Onele Mc Baron |
| gzg | Barnabee Fytz Patrycke |
| Bryan Fitzwylliams | |
| Michaell Fitzwilliams | |
| mg | Mc Guyre |
| mgb | Mac Randolphe Boye |
| mgog | Mc Art O More |
| ogb | O Sullevan Beer |
| Non-Patronymic Bynames | |
| The only major difference between the Latin and English records in this category is a strong decrease in the relative number of descriptive bynames. Of particular interest is the last, with an English (presumably hereditary) surname followed by an Gaelic (presumably personal) descriptive byname. | |
| gb | Owen Roe |
| Shane Galte | |
| Phelim Roe | |
| gl | Richard Finglas |
| gs | James Dowdale |
| Patrick Dowdall | |
| Myhell Pentenye | |
| Meredethe Wylliams | |
| Donnawghe Myller | |
| gsb | James Dowdale More |
Most duplicate references differ only in spelling variation, if they differ at all, e.g., Edward[us] Shane vs. Edward[us] Shene or Brian Mc Phelim vs. Bryan Mac Felyme. The Latin records are considerably more consistant in spelling, even for Gaelic name elements.
Since none of the Latin records has more than a single byname (unless one counts Baron de Galtrym), there is no scope there for variations based on addition or omission of elements. However three individuals in the English records appear to be recorded with variants of this type. In the case of James Dowdale (More) it is possible that the variants represent two different individuals (possibly even a father and son, given that Mór may sometimes be used in the sense of "senior"). In the case of Art Oneyle (Mac Baron), the omitted part identifies a particular branch of the O'Neills, and is not acting as a patronym. The case of Brian Mc Henry (Mc Shane Oneyle) is somewhat more typical, where the first mention of the individual gives a fuller (more formal?) version of the name -- presumably including two generations of patronym as well as the clan-name -- while a second mention within the same section of the text gives a shorter, two-element version. It is not certain whether John Neale and Shane O Nele are the same individual. At the very least, the two citations demonstrate how the same name elements can appear both in transcription and "translation" in the same document. (Alternately, if John Neale is a different individual, he may simply come from a more Anglicized background.)
Longfield, A.K. Fitzwilliam Accounts 1560-65 (Annesley Collection). Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission, 1960.
MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1980.
Ó Corráin, Donnchadh & Maguire, Fidelma. Irish Names. Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990.
Reaney, P. H. & Wilson, R. M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. New York: Routledge, 1991.
Layout, editting, and publishing Arval Benicoeur.