Have you come upon surnames in your family tree and thought, “wonder where that came from?” In my research for my ever elusive Irish family I came across different and unexpected surnames. We know there are surnames based on your appearance: Kennedy “helmet headed” or O’Sullivan “dark eyed.” Maybe it was an occupation that your Irish ancestry last name came from such as: Clery/Cleary meaning clerk or McEntee meaning scholar. However, have you thought about those surnames that were given because your ancestors were so-called “strangers” in Ireland?
Have you ever gone to a foreign country and felt self conscious because you cannot blend in because you dress differently or sound different? In all honesty you can stay in the United States and people can know you are not from their area. Well there are surnames that are known as toponymic surnames that are based on a person's place of origin. But what about surnames that are based on a person's country of origin. These types of names were usually given to “strangers” by the locals of the area they were visiting. What are some of these surnames in Ireland? They include Walsh, English, French, Scott, Fleming and Ireland. Let’s look at each of these:
Walsh - In Munster it can also be spelled Welsh/Welch but this name means “man from Wales.” The Normans originally arrived in Ireland through Wales from the 1200’s on and brought with them servants and soldiers from Wales. Walsh is the fourth most common surname and is mostly found in the south-east counties of Ireland.
English - Some people came to Ireland with this surname. If they came from Scotland it designated them as Englishmen living in Scotland, and if they were from England it was an old name for Angles. Today this surname is mostly found in Ulster, Tipperary and Limerick.
French - Old English nickname for someone from France. The name arrived in Ireland with the Normans through a few specific families that settled in the southeast of Ireland including Roscommon.
Scott - Mostly came from the area between Scotland and England and originally assigned to those coming from the Highlands of Scotland. It is a frequent name in Ulster.
Fleming - Those with this name were Flemish people from Flanders. They arrived in Ireland with the Normans in the 1200s. This name is found in many areas in Ireland.
Ireland - This surname was given to those from Ireland who settled in parts of England, Scotland and Wales in the early 12th century. When the plantation settlers returned to Ireland, the surname Ireland was brought to the island. It is mostly associated with Antrim, Down and Armagh.
Do you have any of these surnames on your family tree? While some of these names are self-evident of where they come from, it is always helpful to have some background information to help in your search. Maybe you can find a few new leads in your research.
We can help
If you need any help finding your ancestors, just let us know.
Sourceshttps://www.aletterfromireland.com/irish-surnames-that-say-where-you-came-from/
https://www.wlrfm.com/drive-time/100-most-irish-surnames-revealed-80532
