The Emerald Isle is steeped in a tapestry of history, and one of the fascinating threads that weaves through its past is the rich tapestry of Irish place names and family names. The majority of Irish place names, particularly townland names, find their roots in the Gaelic, or Irish, language. Components like Bally (town), more (big), or beg (small) are commonly found, making these names distinctly Irish. To delve into the origins of these intriguing names, scholars often turn to works like P.W. Joyce’s seminal volumes, “Irish Names of Places” (1893) and “Irish Local Names Explained” (1884), reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Company in 1979. However, due to the ancient nature of these names, variations in spelling are not uncommon, especially in earlier historical documents. For instance, one might observe spelling differences between the names of certain parishes and those of their corresponding Catholic parishes, such as Killadysert versus Kildysert.
For researchers seeking their ancestors’ places of origin, the path is not always straightforward. Many may have knowledge of their ancestors’ hometowns, only to find that these names are not listed in traditional guides. This discrepancy can be attributed to the phonetic spelling of the names as remembered or transcribed by illiterate or Irish-speaking ancestors. For example, Mallah might represent Mallow, and Carsaveen might correspond to Cahirciveen. In such cases, a touch of imagination and a familiarity with local accents can be valuable assets in deciphering these names and relating them to their accepted modern forms.
Thankfully, there are several valuable sources to aid in the quest for place names. Censuses conducted over the last century compiled indexes of townlands, some of which have been published and are accessible to researchers. Notable among these resources are “The Alphabetical Index to the Towns and Townlands of Ireland” (Dublin: Alexander Thorn and Company, 1877), which presents an alphabetical list of townlands alongside their corresponding parishes, baronies, counties, and Poor Law Unions, and the “General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland . . . 1851” (Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1984), based on the 1851 census and offering similar information.
Once the ancestral hometown has been identified, researchers may desire a deeper understanding of the local background. Valuable insights can be gleaned from historical publications like Samuel Lewis’s “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland” (London, 1837), which provides an exhaustive list of parishes, baronies, towns, villages, and counties in Ireland, complete with local administrative details, agricultural practices, industries, notable estates (“seats”), and their owners. William Shaw Mason’s “A Statistical Account, or Parochial Survey of Ireland” (Dublin, 1814-1819) and the “Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland” (Fullerton and Company, 1846) are also excellent sources of local information. Additionally, local history journals offer valuable insights into specific counties and regions.
In cases where place names prove particularly challenging, the Irish Place Names Commission in the Ordnance Survey Office in Phoenix Park, Dublin, can be a valuable resource in identifying accepted variants for these elusive names.
To supplement historical research, maps provide essential visual aids in exploring various periods and regions of Ireland. Griffith’s Variation maps, available as photocopies from the Valuation Office in Dublin, showcase the boundaries of land holdings as listed in the Griffith’s Valuation survey. The National Library of Ireland (NLI) houses an extensive collection of nineteenth-century maps of varying scales, while modern maps in metric sizes, particularly the 1:50,000 series, equivalent to the old “half-inch” maps, can be obtained from the Ordnance Survey Office in Phoenix Park or the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Switching focus to Irish family names, the intricate interplay of Gaelic, Norman, English, and Scottish influences becomes evident. Huguenot, Palatine, and Jewish names also find their place in the Irish tapestry. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw many Irish families adopt English surnames to discourage the use of Irish names, leading to transformations like MacGowan becoming Smith and McDarra becoming Oakes due to their resemblance to English words.
The “O” or “Mac” prefix is a common feature in Irish names, signifying descent from a grandfather (O’) or a father (Mac). As the Irish language waned during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the “O” and “Mc” prefixes were gradually dropped, only to be reintroduced during a later cultural resurgence of Gaelic heritage. Consequently, researchers should be diligent in exploring both forms of a name, such as Sullivan and O’Sullivan or Neill and O’Neill.
Adding to the complexity, the spelling of Irish surnames varies significantly. While some variation is expected in Ireland, Irish emigrants overseas exhibit even greater diversity in
the spelling of their surnames. Establishing the accepted local spelling of a name becomes crucial for fruitful research. Modern Irish telephone directories serve as valuable references for identifying currently accepted forms. Generally, the spelling used in contemporary Ireland tends to align with the spelling used in eighteenth and nineteenth-century records, though this is not always the case.
To decipher the many facets of Irish family names, researchers can turn to esteemed works like Edward McLysaght’s “Surnames of Ireland” (Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1958), which provides valuable insights into the various name variants. Additional resources include McLysaght’s other works, “Irish Families” and “More Irish Families,” Robert Bell’s “Book of Ulster Surnames” (Belfast, 1988), Robert E. Matheson’s “Special Report on Surnames in Ireland together with Varieties and Synonyms of Surnames and Christian Names” (1901), reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore (1968), and Rev. Patrick Woulfe’s “Irish Names and Surnames” (1923), also reprinted by the same company in 1993.
The exploration of Irish place names and family names opens a captivating window into Ireland’s past, revealing the influences of language, history, and migration on the country’s heritage. As researchers dive into these intricacies, they unveil a myriad of stories embedded within these names, each contributing to the rich narrative of Ireland’s enduring legacy. Whether deciphering ancient place names or tracing the evolution of family names, this journey through Irish history remains a rewarding and enlightening endeavor for scholars, genealogists, and history enthusiasts alike.
