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Language Facts

  • 25-09-2012 12:03pm
    #1
    Alex152
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23 ✭


    The O' prefix of Irish surnames means 'grandson of'

    Found is to be an interesting fact so thought I would share it :)


Comments

  • #2
    somairle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 92 ✭✭somairle


    Alex152 wrote: »
    The O' prefix of Irish surnames means 'grandson of'

    Found is to be an interesting fact so thought I would share it :)

    Technically it means more 'from' or 'descendent of' but yeah grandson more loosely


  • #3
    franc 91
    Closed Accounts Posts: 401 ✭✭franc 91


    And if you want to be even more authentic, try and place the fada over the 'O' rather than a ' next to it - and for ladies it's Ni (with a fada on the 'i') and then there's Nic and Mac......


  • #4
    An Sionnach Glic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 134 ✭✭An Sionnach Glic


    It should never be spelt O' in Irish, which is a common mistake made (or even worse, as Ó'). It should only be spelt as O' in English, as the English misinterpreted the Ó sound to be an abbreviation of 'of' i.e. will o' the wisp, sheaf o' wheat, cat o' nine tales etc.

    So Patrick O'Connell, but Pádraig Ó Conaill.


  • #5
    dubhthach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭dubhthach


    In middle Irish you would see "Ua" used instead of Ó
    eg.
    Ua Dubhthaigh vs. Ó Dubhthaigh

    ua = grandchild
    iarua = great-grandchild


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