Garaidh Explained

Garaidh
Gender:	Male
Region:	Scotland, Ireland

The Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic masculine given name Garaidh (in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /ˈkaɾɪ/) is of uncertain derivation but as a name occurs frequently in Middle and Old Irish texts (in its Old Irish form Garaid), for example in the 13th century Acallam na Senórach: Donn mac Aeda, mheic Garaid, meic Morna 'Donn son of Aodh, son of Garaidh, son of Morna'.

Garaidh is commonly rendered in English as Gary.^[1] It is also commonly (esp. in Scotland) spelled Garry. However, the name Gary is of Germanic origin (from gar meaning 'spear').^[2]

Although visually similar, most occurrences of -gar(r)y in place-names are unrelated to the name. In place-names, -gar(r)y is usually derived from one of the following elements:

• Old Norse gerði, originally meaning enclosure but later on land around a dwelling, pasture,^[3] e.g. Geàrraidh na h-Aibhne Garynahine^[4]
• a hydronymic element (usually a river name) e.g. Gleann Garadh/Gharadh Glen Garry, Inbhir Gharadh/Garraidh Invergarry

References

1. [Patrick Hanks]
2. Web site: Kate Monk . Scotland . Tekeli.li . 1995-12-31 . 2013-10-28.
3. Cox, Richard The Gaelic Place-names of Carloway, Isle of Lewis Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies 2002 ISBN 1-85500-192-6
4. Cox, Richard The Settlement Names of Lewis Clann Tuirc 2022 ISBN 978-0-9562490-3-6