ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 857
http://www.s-gabriel.org/857
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* NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports     *
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24 Apr 1998
From: Diana Slivinska 

Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

You asked about the 16th century Irish form of the name "Aodhgan
O'Sionnaigh." You also asked whether the spellings used in the
MacLysaght book are early modern Irish or modern Irish, as those terms
are defined by Dennis King on Focal An Lae.  Here is what we have found.

MacLysaght gives the surname as "Mac Aodhaga/in." "Mac Aodhaga/in" means
"son of Aodhaga/n".  Aodhaga/in is the genitive, or possessive form of
Aodhaga/n." (1)  The standard form for a first name would be
"Aodhaga/n."

"O'Sionnaigh" is a modern spelling of the Gaelic "O/ Sionaigh" or "O/
Sionnaigh." (2)  This name literally means "male descendant of
Sionnach". The change in spelling to "Sionnaigh" is a grammatical
requirement in Gaelic; it makes the name means "Sionnach's".  In your
period, it was used as a family or clan name.

We believe that "Aodhaga/n O/ Sionnaigh" is a good choice for a 16th
century name for someone from Ireland.

Most of the spellings in MacLysaght are both early modern and modern; a
few are definitely modern, since they're the result of 20th century
spelling changes.  In general it seems that surname spellings have until
quite recently been pretty conservative and have tended to retain the
early modern characteristics.  In any event, we are far from certain
that there is a difference in spelling for this particular name.

I hope this letter has been helpful.  Please write us again if any part
of it has been unclear or if you have other questions.

Talan Gwynek, Margaret Makafee, Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael
Caermyrdin, Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Walraven van Nijmege and
Arval d'Espas Nord contributed to this letter.

In service,

Giulietta da Venezia
Academy of S. Gabriel

References:

(1)  MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 6th ed., Irish
Academic Press, 1985.

(2)  Woulfe, Patrick. Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and
Surnames. Irish Genealogical Foundation, Box 7575, Kansas City, MO
64116.