Irish Translation Forum

oisin718 wrote:Nope. De Valera's name is Spanish.

That's right. He wasn't even born in Éire.

Collis the Armstrong wrote:O' = Desended from
Mac/Mc= Son of

are there anyothers?

Fitz is norman i think for son of

Correct me if I am wrong, but Fitz is the prefix used for Royal bastards. Being a bastard was shameful, but being a Royal bastard was an honour as the King recognized you. Maybe used by Dukes, as they themselves are of the Royal line. And William the Conquorer was himself the bastard of the Duke of Normandy. Recognized and inherited the title and everything else as no other legitimate heirs.

queade wrote:
Correct me if I am wrong, but Fitz is the prefix used for Royal bastards. Being a bastard was shameful, but being a Royal bastard was an honour as the King recognized you. Maybe used by Dukes, as they themselves are of the Royal line. And William the Conquorer was himself the bastard of the Duke of Normandy. Recognized and inherited the title and everything else as no other legitimate heirs.

Well, you're not wrong, but you're not right, either. "Fitz" simply meant "son of." One of Henry VIII's bastards was named "Henry FitzRoy" (Henry, son of the king). I think the Duke of Monmouth (Charles II's bastard, who led a rebellion to prevent James VII & II from coming to the throne) also had that soubroquet.

However, this does NOT mean that "Fitz" signified illegitimate birth. It simply means "Son of," either legitimately or not.

Thanks for clearing that one up...won't tell you where I got my information from
Queade

Fitz....... is Mac Giolla......... in irish, meaning son of the servant of............

Sometimes, yes, as in "FitzPatrick" -> Mac Giolla Pádraig.

However, other times it's just plain "Mac."

"FitzGerald" -> Mac Gearailt

"FitzHugh" -> Mac Aodha. srl.

Fitz comes from the Norman French fils (son).

Ní is still quite commonly used here actually, my old Irish teacher herself was surnamed Ní Cathaín.

if a father surnamed Ó Raghailligh had a daughter she would be Ní Raghailligh and if she married a boy surnamed Mac Giolla Fhaoláin, her surname would change to Mhic Giolla Fhaoláin.

is this all right?

páidín wrote:if a father surnamed Ó Raghailligh had a daughter she would be Ní Raghailligh and if she married a boy surnamed Mac Giolla Fhaoláin, her surname would change to Mhic Giolla Fhaoláin.

is this all right?

Looks right.