De-Anglicisation of Names

[slohairt]

McManus

Looks like Mac Hand if you took it from Latin. LOL

That would be be Mac Láimh!

MCMANUS This is Anglicised from Mac Mánais (older spelling Mac Maghnuis). Pronounced MAC MAUN-ISH and MAC MINE-ISH respectively. The name means 'son of Mánas/Maghnus.' This is the Gaelic (be it Irish or Scottish) version of the Norse name Magnus. It would have been common among the early Norse settlers who were assimilated into Gaelic culture.

[Andrew Cameron Goodman]

Goodman ? Supposed to have meant a landowner in Scotland family from Angus believes it may have been Goodsman at one point

[Woot22]

Since my family came from the lowlands in the Aberdeen area, how about the gaelicised version of Watt. I am told it was originally short for Walter. Also have done some research and found the name Watt to mainly found in Scotland and Watts with an S to be English. Not sure what that has to do with anything but found it kind of interesting.

[slohairt]

Goodman ? Supposed to have meant a landowner in Scotland family from Angus believes it may have been Goodsman at one point

GOODMAN Obviously not of any sort of Celtic/Gaelic origin, but from the Anglo-Saxon Gode + man 'good man'. The Scots spelling would have originally been Guidman. Very common in England (especially the Midlands), but not particularly common in Scotland. In England, it meant 'head of household' while in Scotland it did indeed refer to a landowner.

[slohairt]

Since my family came from the lowlands in the Aberdeen area, how about the gaelicised version of Watt. I am told it was originally short for Walter. Also have done some research and found the name Watt to mainly found in Scotland and Watts with an S to be English. Not sure what that has to do with anything but found it kind of interesting.

WATT Yes, Watt is a diminutive of Walter. The Scottish Gaelic form of Walter is Bhàltair (pronounced the same).

[Woot22]

Thanks dude, that is pretty cool.

[Erikm]

Hi slohairt would you have anything on Geddy,they used to be Ged. Does this mean Pike? I am not sure if that is right.

[Derek Conley]

What an incredible thread!

I'd like to take the plunge and see what you can come up with for:

Derek Gaige Kavanaugh Conley (I know, a mouthful)

Thanks!

[slohairt]

Hi slohairt would you have anything on Geddy,they used to be Ged. Does this mean Pike? I am not sure if that is right.

GEDDY Not sure about this one. It is probably the same name as Geddie, which appears to be exclusively Scottish. The suspected etymology (from gedd meaning 'pike') could be correct as well. Don't take my word, though, as my expertise (such as it is) is with Goidelic (Gaelic) language based names.

The name Geddes, which some sources claim to be a related name, is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Gead Ais.

P.S. In Canada, when we think of Geddy, we think of Geddy Lee!

[slohairt]

What an incredible thread!

I'd like to take the plunge and see what you can come up with for:

Derek Gaige Kavanaugh Conley (I know, a mouthful)

Thanks!

DEREK There is no Irish (or Scottish or Manx) version of Derek. There is a similar sounding name Darach, which is derived from dara, meaning 'oak-like' referring either to the strength of the oak tree or its Druidic spiritual qualities.

GAIGE Not sure. Likely the same name as Gage, which I believe is of Norman origin.

KAVANAUGH This is an Anglicisation of Ó Caomhánaigh (pronounced O CAVE-AUN-EE), meaning 'descendant of Caomhánach'. Caomhánach (pronounced CAVE-AUN-AKH) means 'gentle person' or 'gentle-like'.

CONLEY Some claim this to be an Anglicisation of Ó Conghaile (pronounced O CON-ILL-EE; usually Anglicised as Connolly), but I think it is more likely to be from Ó Conlaoith (pronounced O CON-LEE) meaning 'descendant of Cú Laoth. Cú Laoth (pronounced COO LAY) is a personal name meaning 'warrior-hound'.