It truly is amazing what a mish-mash the conversion of names from Gaelic to English created. However, in fairness, the Celts themselves bear some responsibility. The Irish, like the Scandinavians, long used a reference to their father’s, or grandfather’s, given name as a surname (signaling the difference with Ó/Ua or Mac/Mc. However, if one member of the family was famous or infamous enough, all, or a substantial portion, of the entire family would jump on his given name which would then carry on indefinitely. That’s one reason that so many Gaelic/Irish surnames can be recognized as given names: e.g. Neill, Brian, Donald, etc. However, just to liven up the process, some families seem never to have firmly settled down and every so many generations would jump on another eponymous given name as a surname — leading historians/genealogists on a merry chase to follow the thread. Jack Fallin Walnut Creek, CA > > > 4. Irish Names - Anglicised. (CARELL) > > 7. Re: Irish Names - Anglicised. (Eilish) > > > > > ***********************************************