Trace it right Mac to where we started...

TG4 series looks at clans & unique system of names

- BY OWEN CONLON

A NEW series of TG4's Sloinne will follow six people across the country uncovering the secrets of their well-known surnames.

Rónán Mac Gearailt, Paddy O'Brien, Yvonne Ní Chatháin, Liam O'Neill, Siobhán de Paor, Pádraig Ó Loingsigh and John Gallagher will all delve into the past to find out how their clans shaped Ireland's past and are continuing to shape its future.

But how did Ireland's unique system of family names - some of the first to emerge in Europe come about?

Well, until about the 10th Century, there were none. Up to that point, the population of the island was so small, it was possible to exist with one moniker alone.

However, as the populace grew, people began taking the titles of illustrious ancestors.

Men lucky enough to have a distinguished dad would take his name with the prefix “Mac” - or son of, while women would precede it with “Nic”, meaning “daughter of”. Hence all the McCarthys, McDonaghs, McGraths and McMahons around the place.

CLERGYMAN

Others with a grandfather or someone further back they preferred to boast about began to use their names preceded by Ó, meaning “from”, as their clan identifier.