Surnames of Ireland [Paperback]

Edward MacLysaght (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0716523663 | ISBN-13: 978-0716523666 | Publication Date: December 1, 1989

Ireland was one of the earliest countries to evolve a system of hereditary surnames. More than 4,000 Gaelic, Norman and Anglo-Irish surnames are listed in this book, giving a wealth of information on the background and location of Irish families. Edward MacLysaght was a leading authority on Irish names and family history. He served as Chief Herald and Genealogical Officer of the Irish Office of Arms. He was also Keeper of Manuscripts of the National Library of Ireland and was Chairman of the Manuscripts Commission. This book, which was first published in 1957 and now is in its sixth edition, is being reprinted for the fourth time and remains the definitive record of Irish surnames, their genealogy and their origins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Irish Academic Press (December 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716523663
• ISBN-13: 978-0716523666
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #895,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Work, January 10, 2000

By 

domhnall (brooklyn, ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surnames of Ireland (Paperback)

I have used this book repeatedly for my personal studies of Irish Gaelic. It is the definitive work on the subject. It goes so far as to indicate modern (often shortened) Gaelic spellings alongside of the originals so that a name's devivation is evidant. So too are inventions (ie. late-Norman) and borrow-names (ie. Nordic or English) indicated. What did not make it here, appears in the suppliment More Irish Names. Definately not for researchers of their family history (try McLoughlin), but rather the study of the nominclature, the Irish language, or entomology.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great starting point for Irish surname research, October 20, 1998

By 

Eddie Geoghegan (Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surnames of Ireland (Paperback)

If you are looking for a detailed family history, this is not the book for you. But it does list thousands of surnames found in Ireland along with three or four lines summarising origin and location. It also includes many rare and exotic sounding names which you will not find in any other book. This book is a starting point only and the serious researcher should also have "Irish Families" and "More Irish Families" by the same author if he is looking for detailed information.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poor Antrim County, February 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Surnames of Ireland (Paperback)

an excellent book in general, but a very short on native Irish Antrim county names; sometimes confusing them with Hebridean Scottish ones. And God help you if you have an obscure Irish name.. it will not be there.