Labels:text | screenshot | font | number OCR: The Clans OF IRELAND InCROpucCion Irish family names are usually either Gaelic, Norman or English in origin. Each is rooted in a different era of Irish history. The Gaelic names (usually Mac ... or O ... ) go back to early Ireland, while Norman names (often Fitz ... or de ... ) stem from the 12th century invaders who became in the words of more than one historian "more Irish than the Irish themselves", adopting the customs and practices of the rulers they displaced. The English followed over the succeeding centuries, usually as soldiers or settlers, and unfortunately took longer to assimilate. All of these strands bring something to the richness of Irish culture. However, most Irish families, many with English-sounding names, are Gaelic in origin. Irish names are surprisingly localised with many families still occupying the part of the country in which they originated, although many more were displaced during Cromwell's campaign in the 17th century. The county maps on this disk link family names to those areas with which they have a long association. next »
