Message: "irish name help!"

irish name help!

by Tom Duffy (guest)

9/20/2006, 1:00 AM

Hello, I am looking for information on the last name Ó Dubhthaigh. any General background, and how to pronounce it would be great.

Thanks for the help.

#Irish

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- Domhnall

9/26/2006, 10:57 PM

According to MacLysaght, 'Duffy/Ó Dubhthaigh' is one of those pan-Ireland surnames found everywhere.

The root appellation 'dubhthach' seems to be just an adjectival form of the word 'black/dubh' (there are a few), possibly cognate with modern Irish 'dubhach' which means it may carry the added definitions 'sombre' and 'melancholy.'

I would pronounce Ó Dubhthaigh [OH DOOV-ee], or maybe [OH DOOV-hee].

- Lora (reniannen17)

9/20/2006, 9:26 AM

Hi, As far as I know it would be pronounced similarly to Duffy as Elena says, though perhaps with the bhth sounding a bit more along the lines of a v sound. I think this page will help you
http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/viewpost.68759.html

- Elena

9/20/2006, 5:09 AM

According to the Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford University Press):

Duffy is the reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Dubhthaigh ‘descendant of Dubhthach’, a byname derived from dubh ‘black’ (see Duff). This name was borne by a 6th-century saint who was archbishop of Armagh.

Also:

Scottish and Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe ‘son of Duibhshíth’, a personal name composed of the elements dubh ‘black’ (see Duff) + síth ‘peace’.

Re: pronunciation, I'm assuming O'Dubhthaigh is very similar to O'Duffy. I'm not positive.

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