The Book of Irish Names: First, Family and Place Names (Paperback)

~ (Author), Ida Grehan (Author), P. W. Joyce (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This ready-reference tool is a short and inexpensive guide to the history and meaning of first, family, and place names and very similar to Coghlan's Irish First Names (Johnston & Bacon, 1979). It also contains a brief chronology of Irish history, Irish root words, and a pronunciation guide. Similar and more rigorous books, such as Edward MacLysaght's classic The Surnames of Ireland (LJ 8/70) and Irish Families (1951; Irish Academic Pr., 1985. rev. ed.) and other recent titles provide color heraldic illustrations, describe the coats of arms, and include far more names. The lack of descriptions for coats of arms limits this book's usefulness. However, for home and small libraries where an all-in-one synthesis of Irish names will be valuable, this is an affordable beginning reference work.
- Judith P. Reid, Library of Congress
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling Pub Co Inc (November 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080696944X
• ISBN-13: 978-0806969442
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,367,997 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice reference, not complete, but good value for the price, March 25, 2000

By	Laura Haggarty (Northern KY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book contains two main sections. The first gives us a list of first names currently in use in Ireland and their history and meaning. It is moderately thorough, and contains a number of names which are not Celtic in their roots. The second section covers some of the more common family names in use in Ireland, with black and white pictures of the crests. A pronunciation guide would have been helpful, but is lacking. All in all, a nice book to add to one's library of Irish reference books.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Reference Source Only, December 26, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Good source of frequently used first names in both Irish and English and their meanings. Lists of the most prominent Irish family names with crest (no color) and short history. Final section lists some Irish placenames and meaning of words.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars book is lacking in content, October 20, 2002

By	Joseph R. Craig (Clarendon Hills, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This book addresses only a small number of the many irish names. The author in the introduction states that he is only listing 80 out of a possible 3,500 names??? I couldn't find any I was looking for. There must be better books on this subject.

Joseph Craig