The word pict is a derivation of picti meaning painted or figured and was the expression Roman soldiers nicknamed those who tattooed themselves. [3][note 1] Other early records show patronyms using forms of the Welsh ap, meaning "son"; and the Gaelic mac, meaning son (for example, the names of Macrath ap Molegan, and Gilmychel Mac Eth appear in the same document). At the end of the second century following the governor, Clodius Albinus, death across on the continent trouble flared up with a new tribal confederacy, the Maetae. DOUGHLAS: "dwells by the dark stream. Also Douglas . On the contrary, their survival highlights the tenacity and staying power in these people that would consistently manifest itself, the tangible results of which would be the undoing of other would-be conquerors in later ages. The small fortlet here suggests a continuing Roman caretaker presence, clearly, this is an ancient training camp like its modern equivalent at Warcop firing ranges in Stainmore. Bump into someone in Brechin town centre today for instance and its a fairly good chance that you have just met a descendant of the Picts and the front ranks at Mons Graupius. Fun Fact: Niamh was the daughter of an Irish sea god. [7][note 3] Patronyms were still common in Shetland in the first half of the 19th century. Fun Fact: In Arthurian legend, Nimue was the sorceress who stole Lancelot away as an infant. It was Agricola who set his sights on Scotland, though it should be noted that Bolanus and Cerealis may have made minor inroads within southern Scotland prior to this. When the bans were lifted once and for all, some of the clan resumed using forms of MacGregorbut not all. Gender Sort by Style Search 100 Strong Scottish Boy Names Get started on our list of the best and most stylish Scottish boy names. Many diminutive suffixes were introduced with the Normans (for example, -el, -et, -ett, -ot, -at, -en, -in, -oc, -on, -uc, and -cock). Many Scottish surnames are the names of Scottish clans that were once powerful families dominating large swaths of territory. Another is Walsh (Irish: Breatnach), meaning Welsh. To the north-west of the Selgovae were the Dumnonii the diggers. Also Annwfn . CATHAL: "strong in battle. Also Cahal, Conall, and Connell. Verywell Family's content is for informational and educational purposes only. She was also the mother of Taliesin the bard, so her name is often associated with poetry. FINIAN: "handsome" FINN: myth name. This is confirmed by their often prominent coastal locations and the clusters of habitations around their base. Fun Fact: Glenys could also be used as a female variation of the name Glenn meaning "of the valley.". The Northumbrian Angles would subsequently move into the dynastic void left by the Goddodins defeat and would give south-east Scotland a Germanic ruling elite until the Northumbrian Angles, in turn, were bloodily eradicated by the Scots and Strathclyde Britons at Carham in 1018 AD. Republic of Ireland. [1] One of the earliest sources for surnames in Scotland is the Ragman Roll. Fun Fact: Cormac mac Airt was one of the legendary High Kings of Ireland. 100 Celtic Baby Names: Meanings & Origins. Scotland is an ancient country, older than most other modern European countries including England but as an understood named identity early Scotland (Alba-pronounced Alpa) did not exist until King Constantine IIs reign sometime around 920 AD, some 840 years after 79 AD when Agricola and his legions marched over the line of the modern border between England and Scotland intent on conquest, glory and assimilation. This period saw Scotlands historical repositories infamously plundered and their records deliberately destroyed. ANCIENT CELTIC NAMES - the-red-thread.net SUGN: myth name of a son of Sugnedudd TADHG: myth name of a prince of Munster TALIESIN: myth name of a bard TANGUY: "fighter" TARAN: "thunder" TEAGUE: "bard. Also Teaghue . Aodh Obviously a Gaelic boy name, Aodh just looks cool. In post-Roman Scotland the Brythonic language was to be submerged as the language of the common people under the languages of the conquering elites: Gaelic speaking Scots from Ulster in the north-west, Old English by Anglian invaders in the south-east though Brythonic survived well into the 11th century AD in the military powerhouse that was the British Kingdom of Strathclyde. CARNEY: "fighter. Also Car, Carr, Cathair, and Cathaoir. They are traditionally thought to be Irish in origin the later ruling elite under Fergus Mor Macerc`s Dal Riata migration around 500 AD certainly were principally as they later imposed Q Celtic Gaelic on the P Celtic Brythonaid. In the first group can be placed surnames such as MacMurrough and MacCarthy, derived from patronymics, or O'Brien and O'Grady, derived from ancestral names. The Welsh names are similar, including Ioan and Ifan. BRICE: Unisexual name. NIECE: "choice. Also Neese . At Mons Graupius Tacitus reveals in good detail the fighting techniques of the Caledonians and it can be readily assumed that in most respects this would be the same as those of the rest of Scotland. Also Bryce . The Celts practised ritual human sacrifice to the gods, typically near water (lake, river, spring) and/or in forest groves. While some have been fairly common, such as Erin, others are more exotic. Braithnoch, Bratney, Bratnie, Bretnoch, Calbraith, Brewster, Gruer, MacGruer, MacGruther, Magruder, Darach, Darroch etc., Reoch, Revie, Riach, Beaton, Bethune, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacBey, MacWalter, Qualtrough, Watson, Watt, Watters. Pytheus had famously sailed Britains waters in 325 BC and Claudius would have been well aware of his findings. Both Macrath, and Gilmychel, were recorded as being from. Like the Christian clergy in the Middle Ages, Druids were usually from noble extraction, and trained from boyhood. Fun Fact: Fearghal Gadhra was considered a king and was lord of Coolavin in the 1600s. TORREY: "lives by the tower. Also Tory . Fun Fact: Maureen is another form of Maura and Moira. This is dramatized in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In many cases, the families that originally lived on the lands acquired by powerful clans (such as the Campbells, Gordons, Macdonalds, and Mackenzies) adopted the names of their new lords. 50 Scottish Baby Names: Meanings & Origins - Verywell Family Also Avaron, Avarona, and Avilon. Baby Name Trends in Scotland Since 1974. nrscotland.gov.uk. Shaped like an upturned plant pot these impressive drystane structures again probably acted as positions of refuge in times of trouble and their great height would allow lookouts good views allowing plenty of warning when coastal raiders and Roman slavers approached. Following this came Beltane, now May Day. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies. How far they reached in the first year is open to speculation, the Taus river recorded by Tacitus is nowhere else recorded and it is more likely to have been the Teith at Doune where an early Agricolan bridgehead fort was built. Early pan Scottic ethnicity and settlement in the west of Scotland is likely to have long preceded Fergus`s famous settlement and this is recorded by the people the Romans knew as Attacotti, clearly a Scottic people who almost certainly inhabited the western seaboard of Scotland in the late Roman period. Celtic society did not in general record their history in writing, the recollection of events and deeds was the preserve of the bard. Nice. By the end of the 3rd century AD another new name appears in the historical record- the Picts. Much unnecessary academic confusion surrounds the origin of the Picts, in the main due to fictional dark age Irish and medieval Scots foundation mythology. "[15] Macpherson means "son of the parson",[16] from the Gaelic surname Mac a' Phearsain. The earliest surnames found in Scotland occur during the reign of David I, King of Scots (1124-53). Vitrification, or at least signs of conflagration occur at many suggesting long and violent histories. Euan is a former soldier, a retired architect, amateur historian and re-enactor with decades of experience. Celtic onomastics - Wikipedia Fun Fact: In the ninth-century poem The Meeting of Ladain and Curithir, Ladain is a doomed heroine. Baby Names. Fun Fact: In Irish legend, Finn mac Cool was a great hunter/warrior whose hair turned prematurely white, leading to him being called Finn. Clan map of Scotland The following is a list of Scottish clans (with and without chiefs ) - including, when known, their heraldic crest badges, tartans, mottoes, and other information. This was probably done in several stages, Agricola had ordered one such exploration of the western seaboard in 81 AD, and also seems to have looked to complete the exploration from the east after Mons Graupius in 83 AD. Scotland is an ancient country, older than most other modern European countries - including England - but as an understood named identity early Scotland (Alba-pronounced Alpa) did not exist until King Constantine IIs reign sometime around 920 AD, some 840 years after 79 AD when Agricola and his legions marched over the line of the modern border . Through the course of time, Gaelic names have become associated with English names. BRASIL: "battle. Also Basil, and Breasal. 89 Celtic Names Inspired By Druids And Fairies | Kidadl Nearly all the surnames brought to Britain by the Normans were territorial names derived from lands on the continent. Fun Fact: In Irish mythology, Fionnula, or Fionnaghuala, is one of the daughters of Llyr who is turned into a swan for 900 years. Behind is another figure again suggesting a body of men (or youths?) Alan is derived from a Celtic word meaning "rock." A notable bearer is Ailean Maclean, one of the last Viking pirates of Scotland. The term Scotland, like England, is used in this work as a convenience to enable the reader to readily locate the places being described within the text. OWEN: "young fighter. Also Owin, and Owyn. [4][note 2], There are several prefixes and suffixes that may indicate whether a modern surname originated from a patronym: the English suffixes -son, and -s; and the Gaelic prefix Mac-. Tristan, the Arthurian legend, signifies love and loyalty. Interestingly this same DNA is still prevalent in the indigenous population proving the incoming named elites who settled over the eras Irish Scots, Angles, Danes and Normans, for instance, were a hierarchical imposition over a pre-existing population base that survives in many ways little altered to the present day. Baby Names of Ireland 1964 - 2018. Featuring articles, reviews, historic attractions, places to visit, and events. AINE: "Happiness." AINGEAL: "angel" ALASTRIONA: "defends mankind." Also Alastrina and Alastrine. Do you want your baby to have a name that reflects Celtic heritage? This was claimed to be an error by southern academics for many years until archaeology unearthed Roman goods of the Claudian era on Orkney. Koch, JT. By Agricolas tenure in 77 AD only minor mopping up was required in Wales and in the north of England, both areas had been effectively brought to heel by previous governors. It was, however, to be 82 AD before Agricola was in a position to undertake serious campaigning north of central Scotland, Camelon probably being his forward mustering point. [37], While the total bearers of specific surnames have grown in number over the years, such as the names of the most dominant clans, some Scottish surnames have completely died out in the country (for example, the family with the Hebridean surname MacUspaig, derived from a Gaelicised Norse personal name, died out in the male line shortly after the turn of the 20th century). Also Bowyn . Welcome brother or sister, to a corner lovingly dedicated to the mysterious ANCIENT CELTS (and general Celtic stuff too), serving as an online archive. Office for National Statistics. All will have been places of refuge in times of trouble. Paddy Mary John ("Paddy, son of Mary, daughter of John"). Also, the prefixes Mac- and Mc- are interchangeable, although individuals may have a preference as to which form is used in their own surname. [35], The name Fraser (Gaelic Friseal) has a unique etymology; it originally derives from the French fraise, meaning strawberry. AIGNEIS: "pure AILIDH: kind AINE: Happiness. AINGEAL: angel ALASTRIONA: defends mankind. Also Alastrina and Alastrine. KILLIAN: "blind. Also Kilian . Thus the Celtic mother goddess, often portrayed as a beautiful and mature woman, was associated with nature and the spiritual essence of nature, while also representing . Brennus was a Gallic leader of the 4th century BC who attacked and sacked Rome. EGOMAS: meaning unknown EINION: anvil ELIDOR: myth name of a monk EMRYS: Celtic form of Ambrose, meaning "immortal. ERIM: meaning unknown EVAN: "young fighter" EVNISSYEN: meaning unknown EWEN: "young. Also Eoghann, Eoin, Ewan, and Ewyn. Scottish Names - Behind the Name The little Bettelbhl stream on the Danube River was completely unknown, except to local residents. This was used to unsettle the opposition and from it a hail of missiles could be launched at the ranks of static opponents. Of the earlier Roman period however we are entirely reliant on what the Romans themselves wrote on the subject predictably this is rarely an impartial record and with the meagre and scanty findings, archaeology provides us with. Father of Isolde. Bridget f Irish, English Anglicized form of the Irish name Brighid, Old Irish Brigit, from old Celtic *Brigant meaning "the exalted one".In Irish mythology this was the name of the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom, the daughter of the god Dagda.In the 5th century it was borne by Saint Brigid, the founder of a monastery at Kildare and a patron saint of Ireland. Authors note:Before we proceed, we would like to offer a quick explanation of the title of this article and the thoughts driving the articles production. Fun Fact: Saint Bln was a missionary to the Picts in northern and eastern Scotland the sixth century. However recent DNA testing proves the ethnic stock of the inhabitants of Scotland then was the same as that of the original hunter-gatherers who inhabited Scotland after the retreat of the glaciers and ice caps at the end of the last ice age. Fun Fact: In Arthurian legend, Enid is the wife of Geraint, one of the Knights of the Round Table. Oaks were of primordial importance in Celtic religion. These names come from Gaelic, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish roots or are those commonly used for Celtic equivalents for English names. Fun Fact: Iona is an island off the coast of Scotland where Saint Columba founded Iona Abbey in 563. LEITH: "meadow LESLEY: "from the gray fortress. Also Leslie . Fun Fact: Seamus Finnigan is a character in the Harry Potter series. Clearly the tribal elders had concluded a form of treaty agreement with the Romans, a fact that Tacitus celebratory eulogy for his deceased father-in-laws conquests glossed over for better effect. Saitada was a Celtic goddess from the Tyne Valley in England whose name may mean "goddess of grief." Sources and Further Reading Monaghan, Patricia. FLOYD: "gray" FORSA: meaning unknownGALL: "stranger" GALVIN: "sparrow. Also Galvyn . 2. Like the other renditions, Alastair means defender of men. 100 Celtic Baby Names: Meanings & Origins - Verywell Family The religious practices of the tribes and the Druids are known by reference to other Celtic cultures. There are only eight Scottish cities; [1] they are Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling. This confirms that operations against the tribes in central and southern Scotland were more prolonged than many simplistic modern renderings of Tacitus account allow, these usually in error focus purely on Agricolas lightning advance through Votadini territory in 79 AD, a seemingly brilliant and rapid advance that Tacitus was clearly keen to make the most of. And it is. TEIRTU: Myth name. The Celts were long considered a barbaric and violent society. C Chulainn (born Stanta), a warrior defending Ulster, embodies strength. The earliest patronyms recorded in Scotland are written in several different languages. This process, well documented elsewhere in the Empire and successful south of the border relied on maintaining tribal magnates obviously, those willing to bend the knee to the conquering Romans- and use their current tax-raising infrastructure to rule the population, all in return for protection by the army in the Pax Romana. This was done with the coldly premeditated aim of eradicating a sense of Scottish national identity which historical records would only bolster during a determined attempt of national take-over by a larger and well organised predatory southern neighbour that would probably have been instantly recognisable to the tribes of Scotland in the late 1st century AD Scotland. [17] These names were used in areas where there were few names in circulation, and the bynames were added onto the name of person, in order to distinguish them from others who bore the same name. Many Celtic names are also used for both boys and girls, such as Sean and Quinn. Like Germanic names, early Celtic names are often dithematic . Fun Fact: In The Mabinogion, Branwen (Bronwyn) is the daughter of Llyr, the sea god. These Welsh stories were compiled in the 14th century. Fun Fact: In Welsh folklore, Madoc was a prince (son of Owain Gwynedd) who sailed to America in 1170. Alexander Alexander is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Alasdair meaning "defender of man." A common name among Scottish Highlanders, there have been three Scottish kings named Alexander. At this time the Romans inexplicably enough as yet do not seem to have been entirely certain that Britain was an island, or how far it extended, compelling proof indeed that Mons Graupius did not take place in the extreme far north all but in sight of the waves. In the Roman period, souterrains or weems associated with roundhouses are known. Clan Map of Scotland - Vivid Maps DILLION: "faithful DINSMORE: "from the hill fort" DOANE: "from the sand hill" DONAT: stranger. Also Donal, Donall, Domhnall, Doran, and Dorran. While not individually named, this Orcadian king is by reference the earliest recorded person from ancient Scotland. The tribes noted in northern Scotland are clearly the names of those coastal peoples, not necessarily large tribal groupings who the Roman navy encountered during exploration. These large hillforts are the minority, the great majority being smaller and most were originally built in the first millennium BC in the Celtic takeover noted above, an indication of warlike and troubled times. After reading about the history and pronunciation of Celtic baby names used for boy names and girls' names. BRETT: "a Breton. Also Bret . Druids being both judges and priests, it was a way of combining judicial or military executions with the honouring of the gods. Many of the first surnames recorded in Scotland were those of nobles, or great landowners, whose surnames derived from the lands they possessed. This list of Scottish Gaelic surnames shows Scottish Gaelic surnames beside their English language equivalent. It was a vital and key strategic location right in the middle of the difficult waist of Scotland and the junction between several tribal lands. Fun Fact: Domhnall mac Raghnaill was the 12th-century founder of the Scottish Clan Donald, the MacDonald line. From an English surname that was from a place name: either Annesley in Nottinghamshire or Ansley in Warwickshire. Balgair Marching camp(s) at Girvan point to where these separate battlegroups met. The language spoken by these tribes was old British, correctly known as Brythonic or commonly know now as Old Welsh. Fun Fact: Bedwyr (Sir Bedivere) was one of King Arthur's knights. Her name is derived from *trebo-meaning "house, dwelling place", and potentially the Lepontic and Ligurian word pala meaning "sacred stone" or "flat land". St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. 2019. Logic suggests that the tribes will have prudently melted away and vanished into the mist in the face of an invading well organised Roman army and it seems likely that this indeed did happen and prevented easy and rapid iron-fast conquest by the legions. The male name 'Douglas' has become very popular throughout the commonwealth countries, and is derived from the Douglas clan. Sometime around this time sea raiders from the west made sufficient impact on events to merit a mention in the Roman sources. Fun Fact: Owen Tudor was the Welsh ancestor of the Tudor kings of England. The frequency and geographic distributions of UK surnames", "Recording Changes of Forename(s) and Surname(s) in Scotland", "Leaflet RCN1: Recording changes of forename(s) and surname(s) in Scotland", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scottish_surnames&oldid=1155346590, This page was last edited on 17 May 2023, at 19:29. A Complete List of Gaelic First Names + Meanings This is the traditional time for cattle and sheep fairs with grass fattened beasts sold for breeding or slaughter. These names have Celtic roots or are the forms used in Celtic lands for names from other roots. Fun Fact: Gallagher is an Irish first name derived from a last name. In some cases, surname changes are allowed if the person receives a decree, or certificate of change, from the Lord Lyon King of Arms; or if certain certified wills, settlements, or deeds of trust, contain conditions where a person must take a surname different from the one which they were registered at birth; or when a male has married and changed his surname following his marriage, and has received a decree or certificate from the Lord Lyon King of Arms. MALCOLM: servant of Saint Columba MALVIN: "leader. Also Malvyn, Melvin, Melville, and Melvyn. ANDRASTE: "victory" ANNWN: myth name for the Otherworld. Next year 81 AD however, sees further expansion into the southwest of Scotland, aimed ultimately to control the Novantae in mountainous Galloway very difficult country. ARDRA: "noble" ARIENH: "oath" ARTHURETTA: feminine form of Celtic Arthur, meaning "bear" or "rock." Also Arthurina, Arthurine, Artice, Artina, Artis, and Artrice. Beyond the Mounth the Taexali held sway over the wide rich farmlands of Buchan, Strathspey and the Garioch. Fun Fact: Eithne was the mother of Saint Columba, the patron saint of Derry. Fun Fact: The name Grainne is traditionally associated with harvest legends and grain. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celtic_onomastics&oldid=1116112329, This page was last edited on 14 October 2022, at 21:42. Fun Fact: The name Doireann appears several times in Irish legends. Gaelic shared some core similarities with Brythonic, the main difference being in the use of P in Brythonic being replaced with Q in the Irish Gaelic. A similar tradition continues even in English-speaking areas, especially in rural districts. MATHOLWCH: myth name of the King of Ireland. Fun Fact: In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Duncan is the king of Scotland when the story takes place. BOADHAGH: meaning unknown BOWDEN: "blond. Also Boden, Bodyn, Bowdyn, Boyd, and Boyden. Ancient sources tell us that the tribes allegedly valued iron above gold or silver as iron was the metal with which weapons were made. The lingering fallout from probable involvement in the Brigantian debacle of 71 AD probably undermined the confidence of certain tribes to take the field en- mass, probably in the event a wise decision by the tribal elders. While the later Gaelic speaking monks of Iona had no difficulty communicating with the Britons of Strathclyde, Gaelic speaking Saint Columbus, on the other hand, we are told required a translator when visiting the Pictish King Bridei at Urquhart near Inverness around 560 AD. Similarly, in common current conception (if not strictly in geographical or topographical correctness) many think of the lands north of Stirling as the Highlands, with the land south of it as the Lowlands. It's a surname of the Christian inspiration. The foundry at Culduthel near Inverness shows that weapons smithing took place in some volume. Ruthlessly stamped out in conquered areas it has been claimed that ancient Scotland could have become a natural retreat and haven for Druids and by default a centre of Druidic opposition to the Romans though there is little of record to this effect. Of medieval Irish and Scottish origin, Rory is a form of the Gaelic "red-haired king" (and also a character on "Doctor Who.") Scottish baby names for girls. Scottish surnames are surnames currently found in Scotland, or surnames that have a historical connection with the country. As such the bard would recount- or more accurately recall- history and tales of great deeds, all interwoven and embroidered together as one. [9] Many of these surnames were brought to Scotland by Anglo-Normans, whose surnames were derived from either lands in Normandy or in England (for example, Bruce is derived from Brix in Manche, France,[10] Crawford is derived from Crawford, South Lanarkshire, in the south of Scotland, Barton is derived from Dumbarton, or the several villages and towns in England, and Graham is derived from Grantham, in Lincolnshire, England).
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