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From: "Sean MacLochlainn" <>
Subject: Re: "SURNAMES" - When did this practice start????
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 13:05:49 -0000
References: <20030305190441.09304.00000035@mb-mj.aol.com> <b46cl1$65d$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk> <pC%9a.85792$L47.12980333@read2.cgocable.net> <b4afcq$2sq$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk> <7emaa.86109$L47.13132642@read2.cgocable.net> <b4d00h$9fc$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk> <vOjba.26152$q26.1466117@read1.cgocable.net> <b4l5c3$u71$1@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk> <v9Fba.26833$q26.1527698@read1.cgocable.net>


Alan O'Neill wrote:

> With your logic, if you changed your surname today it would not be a
> real surname unless your children adopted it and kept it alive.
> This line of thought is hogwash.
> Surnames were not invented in Ireland. The fad had begun on the
> mainland with those who had money and the Irish with money who did
> travel to the mainland more than people will admit decided to join
> the flock. Once they took a surname it was a real surname. Their
> offspring kept it alive by continuing to use it. There are enough
> O'Neill's that changed there name, the spelling, or other families
> that adopted the surname O'Neill to back me up on this.

This is all at variance with the experts in the area, not me as you and
others might like to think but pople like Professor O Cuiv who wrote the
article in Celtica. Also, it is surely no coincidence that your own surname
(O Neill) is the modern version of the surname (Ua Niall) you seek to
lionise, in other words your motives are suspect.

You can say whatever you like about me, because anyone who peddles bullshit
like this should expect to be confronted in no uncertain terms. In
conclusion, I would suggest that anyone who wishes to delve further into
this area consults the following:

`Aspects of Irish Personal Names' by Brian O Cuiv, Celtica, volume XVIII

'Ui Chleirigh Thir Chonaill: the O Clery Family of Donegal' by Fergus
Gillespie, Aspects of Irish Genealogy II, edited by MD Evans (Dublin, Irish
Genealogical Congress Committee, 1996).

Sean


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