I understood that "Fitz" means "bastard son of." Has anyone else heard this? --Aileen -----Original Message----- From: Joe & Laura Schmidt <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 8:46 AM Subject: [FIANNA-L] Fw: [SC-Genealogy-L] (3) Re: patronymics >This was from another list I maintain. Thought someone would be interested. >L >----- Original Message ----- >From: Paul McCarty <[email protected]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 6:35 AM >Subject: Re: [SC-Genealogy-L] (3) Re: patronymics > > >> >> >> Some clarification on Gaelic and Irish names. >> >> "Fitz" as used by the Irish means "son of" , the same with the Gaelic word >> "Mac". "Mac is the correct spelling whether in Ireland or Scotland. "O" >is >> an Irish word and means "grandson of" There should not be an apostrophe >> after the "O". The apostrophe was added when the Irish surnames were >> Anglicized by the English. They thought the "O" was an abbreviation for >> something. They also corrupted the spelling of "Mac". >> >> The Irish spelling of my surname is Mac Carthaigh, which the English >spelled >> both McCarthy and McCarty. >> >> Irish surnames are ancient. They were among the first if not the first >> people to adopt surnames. >> >> Paul >> >> >> _______________________________________________________________ >> Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com >> >> >> ==== SC-Genealogy Mailing List ==== >> One of many fine mail lists dealing with South Carolina! >> List Maintainer: [email protected] >> >> >> > > >==== FIANNA Mailing List ==== >Fianna Mailing list maintainer: [email protected] >Home of the Fianna: http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/ > > > > >