ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1534 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1534 ************************************ 16 Mar 1999 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You whether is an appropriate name for a period Irishman. Here is what we have found. is a modern English spelling of the Gaelic name . The Gaelic name, pronounced \SHAY-mahs\, was common in Ireland at least from the 14th century onward [1]. We haven't found the specific spelling in period, and we believe it may be a modern creation, perhaps derived from the anglicized . We did find that surname spelled and in English records c.1600, and it is not unreasonable to believe that the given name might have been spelled the same ways in English [2]. is an English surname, imported to Ireland by English settlers. In late-period Anglo-Irish records, the name was often used as an English equivalent of the common Gaelic name , pronounced \AY\ in late-period Irish Gaelic. Similarly, was used as a 16th century English rendering of "son of Aodh", and may sometimes have been used as a translation of , a Gaelic clan name derived from [2, 3, 4, 5]. is pronounced \mahk AY-@\, and is pronounced \oh HAY-@\, where \@\ represents the schwa sound of the in . or would be a fine name for a late-period Irish Gael. In English records or among English speakers, the first of these names could have become . The latter might perhaps have become , but we are less are certain this is correct. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 16 Mar 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990), s.n. Se/amus. [2] Woulfe, Patrick, _Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames_ (Kansas City: Irish Genealogical Foundation). [3] MacLysaght, Edward, _The Surnames of Ireland_ (Dublin: Irish Academic Press Ltd., 1985, ISBN 0-7165-2366-3), s.n. Hughes. [4] O/ Clerigh, Lughaidh, _Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Ui/ Dhomhnaill -- Life of Hugh Roe O'Donnell_ ed. Paul Walsh, Irish Texts Society, vol. 42 (Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1948). [5] Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, 'Names and Naming Practices in the Fitzwilliam Accounts from 16th Century Ireland', Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium, Tir Ysgithr, AS XXXIII (Tucson, 1998), pp. 151-158.