Did they use different given names (first names) during their lifetime?

It is important to know the various forms a name may have taken and the ways a given name may have been recorded. It may have been recorded in Latin in a church record. A person may have decided to use either the English or Gaelic version of their name at various times of their life. Many Irish used nickname versions of their given name. Then, of course, there is the possibility that a person decided to use a middle name as their given name. If you are not aware of the possible variations, you may miss your ancestor as they were recorded in one source or another.

Because Ireland was the destination for many immigrant groups over the ages, an Irish surname may be of Gaelic, Norman, Palatine, Huguenot, English or Scottish origin.

• Language variations: English, Gaelic, Latin
  • Latin: Gulielmus = William; Jacobus = Jacob or James
  • Gaelic: Diarmaid, Darby or Dermot = Jeremiah or Jerome
• Nicknames: Kate = Catherine, Con = Cornelius, Lackey = Lawrence, Sarah = Cecilia, Bridget = Bedilia, Bedina, Bessy, Bess, Bessie, Biddy, Brenda, Breeda, Briddy, Birde, Brideen, Bridie, Cordelia, Dillei/Killy, Dina and Phidelia.

Male first names used interchangeably

Female first names used interchangeably

Abbreviations applicable to both sexes

See also

• Irish Equivalents for English names
• Spelling changes of surnames

Commonly used naming patterns in families may be a clue

For males

• First born son named after his father's father.
• Second born son named after his mother's father.
• Third born son named after his father.
• Fourth born son named after his father's oldest brother.
• Fifth born son named after his father's 2^nd oldest brother or his mother's oldest brother.

For females

• First born daughter named after her mother's mother.
• Second born daughter named after her father's mother.
• Third born daughter named after her mother.
• Fourth born daughter named after her mother's oldest sister.