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Garaidh

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Garaidh
GenderMale
Origin
Region of originScotland, Ireland

The Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic masculine given name Garaidh (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈkaɾɪ]) is of uncertain derivation but as a name occurs frequently in Middle and Old Irish texts (in its Old Irish form Garaid), for example in the 13th century Acallam na Senórach: Donn mac Aeda, mheic Garaid, meic Morna 'Donn son of Aodh, son of Garaidh, son of Morna'.

Garaidh is commonly rendered in English as Gary.[1] It is also commonly (esp. in Scotland) spelled Garry. However, the name Gary is of Germanic origin (from gar meaning 'spear').[2]

Although visually similar, most occurrences of -gar(r)y in place-names are unrelated to the name. In place-names, -gar(r)y is usually derived from one of the following elements:

  • Old Norse gerði, originally meaning enclosure but later on land around a dwelling, pasture,[3] e.g. Geàrraidh na h-Aibhne Garynahine[4]
  • a hydronymic element (usually a river name) e.g. Gleann Garadh/Gharadh Glen Garry, Inbhir Gharadh/Garraidh Invergarry

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford University Press (1990)
  2. ^ Kate Monk (1995-12-31). "Scotland". Tekeli.li. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  3. ^ Cox, Richard The Gaelic Place-names of Carloway, Isle of Lewis Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies 2002 ISBN 1-85500-192-6
  4. ^ Cox, Richard The Settlement Names of Lewis Clann Tuirc 2022 ISBN 978-0-9562490-3-6