Ó Laighin Explained

Ó Laighin, Gaelic-Irish surname, anglicised as Lyons, Lane or Lyne.

Overview

Ó Laighin was the surname of two unrelated families in medieval Ireland.

1 - Ó Laighin of County Kerry, usually anglicised as Lyne.

2 - Ó Laighin of County Galway, their home district been around Kilconnell. Now rendered Lyons or Lane.

Over two hundred households of the latter family were recorded between 1847-64.

Etymology

Laighin is the Irish name for Leinster,^{[1] [2]} the most populated of the four Provinces of Ireland, which is located in the south-east of the island and entirely within the Republic of Ireland. The prefix Ó (common in Irish surnames) creates the meaning "of Leinster" or "descendant of Leinster".^[3]

Laighin may also derive from the Irish word láigen, meaning 'spear' or 'lance',^{[4] [5]} which lent its name to the Laigin (Leinstermen) who inhabited pre-Norman south-east Ireland.^[6]

Notable People

• Pádraig B. Ó Laighin, academic in sociology, poet and advocate for the Irish language.

See also

• Donal Lyons, Mayor of Galway, 2001–2002.
• Mossie Lyons, Kerry footballer.
• Tadhg Lyne, Kerry footballer, c. 1933 – May 31, 2002.
• Hugh Lane, Irish art enthusiast, 1875 - 1915.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Leinster . New English-Irish Dictionary . Foras na Gaeilge . 12 November 2022 . 2013.
2. Web site: Changes in the list of subdivision names and code elements . iso.org . International Organization for Standardization . 12 November 2022 . 20 . English . February 2010 . IE-L Leinster Laighin.
3. Book: Ó Dónaill . Niall . Focloir Gaeilge-Bearla/Irish-English Dictionary . 1977 . Foras na Gaelige . 1857910370.
4. Book: Connolly . Sean J. . Oxford Companion to Irish History . 2007 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-923483-7 . 308 . English.
5. Web site: láigen . eDIL 2019: An Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language . Royal Irish Academy . 12 November 2022 . Dublin . 1913–1976.
6. Book: Ó Cathasaigh . Tomás . Boyd . Matthieu . Coire Sois, The Cauldron of Knowledge: A Companion to Early Irish Saga . University of Notre Dame Press . 422–438 . The Oldest Story of the Laigin: Observations on Orgain Denna Ríg (2002).