Origin of the Family name

CuLT

Does anybody know a good source for finding out the origins of family names?

I'd love to have some info on my surname as it's a fairly old one from what I can tell, I'd like to know any significant history on it .

I saw a newsgroup on genealogy under boards.ie->newsgroups but nobody has posted there and newsgroups scare me as I've never used one .

So any useful link or info would be great, thnx .

Dun

Hmm - somehow I don't think there's nobody posting on soc.genealogy.ireland - there's always tons! That's why I don't go on there anymore, just too much nonsense.

Give me your surname (PM it to me if you prefer), and I'll have a look in Edward MacLysaght's Surnames of Ireland book, and if it's there I'll post in here or pm it to you.

There's actually a thread in the Gaeilge forum where people are giving their names and the meanings.

loveheartsandnicotine

Originally posted by dun_do_bheal
Hmm - somehow I don't think there's nobody posting on soc.genealogy.ireland - there's always tons! That's why I don't go on there anymore, just too much nonsense.

Give me your surname (PM it to me if you prefer), and I'll have a look in Edward MacLysaght's Surnames of Ireland book, and if it's there I'll post in here or pm it to you.

There's actually a thread in the Gaeilge forum where people are giving their names and the meanings.

ok i KNOW this..but tell me anyway..Giolla Easbuig

Dun

Originally posted by loveheartsandnicotine
ok i KNOW this..but tell me anyway..Giolla Easbuig

Mac Giolla Easpuig - Son of the follower of the Bishop At least I presume that's the one you're talking about.

MacLysaght:

This family belongs by origin to Down but was early established in Donegal. Synonyms of the name are Clusby and Glashby in Co. Louth, Clasby in Co. Galway and also by translation, Bishop.

Dazzer

How about Mooney?

Mark

Mind having a gander for Egan if youve the time?

Bard

If yours is an Irish (Gaeilge) surname then there's an interesting thread over on the Gaeilge (Irish) forum that deals with origins and meanings of Irish surnames which you might find useful.

Trebor

i had some one contact me from england who was doing his famliy history thingy, turns out i am decendant from an english prince who married a commoner and forfieted his right to the throne

the other side of the family is jones so very little hope in tracking that donw

Dun

I'm really going to have to get a copy of MacLysaght's book

Anyhow, here's what Woulfe says:

Ó Maonaigh - (O') Mooney/Moony/Money des. of Maonach (wealthy); the name (1) of a Roscommon famil who were anciently chiefs of Clann Murthuile; (2) of a family of the Uí Fiachrach who were seated on the southern shore of Sligo Bay, in the barony of Tireragh; and (3) of a branch of the Siol nAnmchadha, in the south-east of Co. Galway. At the end of the 16th century, the name was found in all parts of Ireland.

Egan could be one of two. I guess it figures on where your family came from:

Mac Aodhagáin - Mac Egan, Egan, Heagan - 'son of Aodhagán' (a diminutive of Aodh (=Hugh))The name of a distinguished brehon family. They originally belonged to the district of Ui Maine in Connacht, but in the 14th and 15th centuires, branches of the family settled in Ormond, Desmond, and many other parts of Ireland where they became brehons to the local chieftains. They also kept schools of law, and many learned men and eminent professors of the same name are mentioned in the Irish annals.

also

Ó hAodhagáin - Heagan, Hagan, Egan, Eakin, Higgans - 'des of Aodhagán' (same translation as above); the name of (1) an Oriel family who, in the 10th and 11th centuries were lords of Dartraighte, in Co. Monaghan, and of Ui Niallain, in Co. Armagh, and to which belonged Ivor O'Hegan, the tutor of St. Malachy and founder of the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Armagh; and (2) of a family of Ely-O'Carroll, in the present Offaly. This surname, owing to the different dialectial prouniciations of the syllable 'Aodh' is variously anglicised in different parts of Ireland. In Ulster, it frequently became Ó Faodhagáin.

Dun

MacLysaght:

(O) Mooney Ó Maonaigh. According to Prof. M. A. O'Brien this is from moenach, dumb; Woulfe gives maonach, wealthy. Mooney is widely distributed, being of several distinct septs. That of Co. Sligo uses the form Meeney. Meaney or Mainey is the Munster form.

(Mac) Egan Mac Aodhagáin (son of Egan). An important brehon family originally of Uí Maine, settled in Ormond. The prefix Mac is now seldom retained with this name.

loveheartsandnicotine

Originally posted by dun_do_bheal
Mac Giolla Easpuig - Son of the follower of the Bishop At least I presume that's the one you're talking about.

MacLysaght:

servant or son of a bishop i believe...personally i prefer the son of a bishop....makes me feel i have decadent heritage somewhere....
Tho as Im female its Ni Giolla Easbuig...tho I have heard it called Nic Easbuig (probably cos of that bishop and his son and the shame factor LOL)
Tho I knew YOU would know anyhow Dun.
You never fail to impress...love ya much hon:)) talk soon