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Surname Prefix

  • 08-09-2017 12:03pm
    #1
    Smiley283
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 110 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    Just a question regarding prefixes for surnames as gaelige. (excuse the lack of fadas in this post)

    I always thought that 'Ui' was used for married women but a guy i know spells his surname Ui Ceallaigh when I have only ever saw it spelled O'Ceallaigh for men? Although I think O'Neill is Ui Neill?! (why is this?)

    Just wondering why the majority of men on google use the prefix 'O'' and not 'Ui' or 'Ua' and how might one know what prefix they are supposed to use?

    I'm very confused!


Comments

  • #2
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,972 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    It should be Ó (or Ua for an old-fashioned approach). Also, if writing in Irish with a fada over the O (i.e Ó) then you don't put in the apostrophe. Therefore Ó Ceallaigh.

    Uí is used for the genitive case.

    For example, Máirtín Ó Direáin. His poetry would be "filíocht Mháirtín Uí Dhireáin".


  • #3
    ezra_pound
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,497 ✭✭✭ezra_pound


    Insect Overlord wrote: »
    It should be Ó (or Ua for an old-fashioned approach). Also, if writing in Irish with a fada over the O (i.e Ó) then you don't put in the apostrophe. Therefore Ó Ceallaigh.

    Uí is used for the genitive case.

    For example, Máirtín Ó Direáin. His poetry would be "filíocht Mháirtín Uí Dhireáin".

    Also for the vocative case!

    A Mháirtín Uí Dhireáin!


  • #4
    dubhthach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭dubhthach


    Historically as well terms such as Uí Néill are not surnames but dynastical names. In this case due to Uí been historically the nominative plural of Ua

    So for example:
    Uí Néill = dynastical grouping consisting of Northern and Southern Branches, claiming descent from Niall Noígiallach (d. 405/455)
    Ua Néill (Ó Néill) = O'Neill surname, surname of the Cenél nEogain of the Northern Uí Néill -- descending from Níall Glúndub (d.919)


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