Sláinte!

As everyone and their auntie knows, today is St Paddy’s day.

And as Patrick is Ireland’s patron, it’s a day as much about celebrating Ireland as commemmorating him.

Although many contend that his feast day of March 17 is because it is the anniversary of his death, many others propose it has more to do with the approaching equinox and Pagan celebrations which marked the arrival of spring.

Of course, it might well be both.

Saturday has become the day when I generally look at great surnames which have not yet seen much use as first names. I plan to take a detailed look at Irish surnames — and surnames from the other Celtic lands — after I’ve finished the English ones, but to mark the special occasion, I thought I’d take a look today at the very best and most wearable contemporary options that Ireland has to offer.

All are Anglicized forms of  the original Irish Gaelic.

• Bardon — Ó Bardáin “son of the little bard.” Also Barden and Bardane.
• Bradigan — Ó Bradagáin probably “descendant of the spirited one.”
• Branigan — Ó Branagáin “descendant of Branagan” (“little raven”).
• Branley — Ó Branghaile “descendant of Branghal” (“raven-valour”). Also Brannelly.
• Brannagh — Breathnach “a Breton.”
• Brannan — Ó Branáin “descendant of Branan” (“little raven”).
• Cafferty — Mac Eachmharcaigh “son of the steed-rider.”
• Cassily — Ó Caisile, possibly “descendant of the one from Cashel” or a variant of Ó Caiside — the Irish Gaelic form of the well-known Cassidy.
• Connan — Mac Canann “son of the little wolf cub.”
• Coveney — Mac Coibheanaigh “son of the trooper.”
• Darragh — Mac Dubhdara “son of the black oak” (Darragh is a popular boy’s name in the Republic of Ireland).
• Donnelly — Ó Donnghaile “descendant of Donnghal” (“brown-valour”).
• Drennan — Ó Draighnáin “descendant of the blackthorn.”
• Finnerty — Ó Fionnachta “descendant of Fionnachta” (“white-snow”). Also Finaghty.
• Flaherty — Ó Flaithbheartaigh “descendant of Flaithbheartaigh” (“bright ruler”). Also Flaverty.
• Foylan — Ó Faoileáin “descedant of Faoileán” (“little wolf”).
• Gallinagh — Ó Gailínigh possibly “descendant of the flattering one.” Also Gallina.
• Gilligan — Mac Giollagáin “son of the little lad/devotee.”
• Guinevan — probably Mac Dhuinnebháin “son of Donnadubhán” (“little brown-black one”).
• Hanley — Ó hÁinle “descendant of the dainty one.”
• Hanlon — Ó hAnluáin “descendant of Anluan” (probably “great champion” — intensifying prefix an + luan “champion”).
• Helehan — Ó hAiolleacháin ” descendant of the little joyful one.”
• Henelly — a variant of FENELLY.
• Hennessy
• Kendrigan — Ó Cinndeargáin probably “descendant of the little red-headed one.”
• Kerrigan — Ó Ciaragáin “descendant of the little black one.”
• Kinneally — Ó Cinnfhaolaidh ” descendant of the wolf’s-head” (i.e. “outlaw”).
• Kitterick — Mac Shitric “son of Sitric” (Irish form of the Norse Sigtrygg “true victory”).
• Larrissey — Ó Learghusa “descendant of Learghus” (“sea-vigour”). Also Laracy.
• Lafferty — Ó Laithbheartaigh. Essentially a variant of FLAHERTY.
• Lynagh — Laighneach “Leinsterman.” Also Leynagh.
• Madigan — Ó Madagáin “descendant of the little hound.”
• Marron — Ó Mearáin “descendant of the little lively/quick one.”
• Mellerick — Ó Maoilgheiric, probably “descendant of a devotee of St Cyriac.”
• Merrigan — Ó Muireagáin “descendant of Muireagan” (probably a diminutive of muir “sea”).
• Milligan — Ó Maoilegáin, a variant of Ó Maolagáin “descendant of the little bald one/devotee.”
• Morrissey — Ó Muirgheasa “descendant of Muirgheas” (“sea-action”).
• Neligan — Ó Niallagain “descendant of Niallagán” (a derivative of the well-known Irish name Neil, essentially “little Neil”).
• Neylan — Ó Niallain “descendant of Niallán” (also “little Neil”). Also Nealon and Neilon.
• Olice — perhaps eolgasasch “knowledgeable.” Also Olis.
• Olisagh — a variant of OLICE.
• Rafferty
• Ronaghan — Ó Reannacháin “descendant of the litte sharp-pointed/starry one.”
• Rogan — Ó Ruadhagáin “descendant of the little red one.”
• Ruane — Ó Ruadháin “descendant of the little red one.”
• Solan — Ó Sochlacháin “descendant of the little renowned one.”
• Soran – Ó Soracháin “descendant of the little bright one.” Also Sorahan.
• Tansey — Mac an Tanáiste “son of the heir presumptive.”
• Thoran — Ó Toráin “descendant of the little lord.”
• Timoney — Ó Tiománaidhe “descendant of the driver.”
• Toran — variant of THORAN.
• Traynor — Mac Thréinfhir “son of the strong man.”  Also Treanor.
• Tynan — Ó Teimhneáin “descendant of the dark one.”
• Varrelly — Mac an Bhearshúiligh “son of the sharp-eyed (man).”
• Veigh — Mac an Beatha “son of life.” Also MacVey and MacEvoy.

Mine’s a guinness .