Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.

Translating Surnames

  • 13-03-2011 08:00AM
    #1
    elspecia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 116 ✭✭


    Can anyone help me in tranlating a fewsecond names from english into Irish, it would be a great help

    The names are

    Wallace
    Walsh
    Terry
    Fyffe

    Cheers in advance


Comments

  • #2
    Toyota_Avensis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 215 ✭✭Toyota_Avensis


    Walsh - O/Ní Breathnach
    Wallace - De Bhailis
    Terry - Mac/Nic Toirealaigh
    Fyfee - Ó/Ní Fiacha (alternative spelling maybe)

    Ó/Mac apply for men whilst Ní/Nic apply to unmarried women. The use of 'De' in De Bhailis is not gender specific, thus, it is suitable for each gender.


  • #3
    Gael
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,286 ✭✭✭Gael


    Breathnach never takes Ó/Ní. It's a adjectival surname which describes a characteristic of a person, namely that they are of Welsh origin (Walsh is just a variation of Welsh/Welch).

    It's Breathnach if it's a male and Bhreathnach if it's a female. i.e.

    Pól Breathnach but Niamh Bhreathnach.

    'Wallace' is de Bhailís (note fada)

    'Fyfee' is Ó Fiacha/Ní Fhiacha/Uí Fhiacha (depending on gender)

    'Terry' is Mac Toirealaigh/Nic Thoirealaigh/Mhic Thoirealaigh (depending on gender)


Advertisement