Cartguy found a website (www.surnamedb.com) where you can search your surname and find it’s basis in history.
My surname is Carroll (only one generation ago it was O’Carroll) and this is what the website told me:
O’Carroll is the anglicized form of the Irish name "O'Cearbhaill" which was a byname for either a butcher or a fierce warrior, deriving from "cearbh", which means hacking or to hack. There were six distinct sects of O'Carroll in Ireland, namely in County Kerry (where my parents are from), and County Tipperary.
The hacker/butcher/ fierce warrior bit I do like the sound of and combined with my first name (Louise) which also means warrior, I sound like someone not to be messed with.
I like that!
My new last name: Reddy
ReplyDeleteIn Ireland the surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Rodaigh", composed of the elements "O", descendant of, with "Rodach", a personal name derived from "rod", hearty, lively, spirited. John Rady is noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Essex (1327), and James Reddy was noted as a witness in Perthshire (1549). On January 13th 1652, Margery Reddy married John Walker at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London. The Coat of Arms most associated with the family is a blue shield with three silver swans wings endorsed, the Crest being an arm in armour couped at the shoulders, embowed and resting on the elbow, holding a scymitar all proper.
Intersting! Thanks Lou. Happy St Paddy's Day!
Very cool. Mine means Victorous
ReplyDeleteMy surname means Blackbird and originates from Yorkshire, which is where I live. Coincidence?
ReplyDeleteLove this link, I sent it to my parents.
ReplyDeleteMy dad's (and my maiden) name is there, but not my mom's family name (Italian) Yet. Awww.
I am gonna do this when the Hoc gets home, he'll love finding out about his name.
ReplyDeleteOff Topic:
Lou, any idea where Tim's blog has gone?
Very cool! I'd do mine but Cartguy's my brother so I already know the result. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm also concerned about Tim...he deleted his facebook account, too.