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Erin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeErin (disambiguation).
"Erin's Isle" redirects here. For other uses, seeErin's Isle (disambiguation).

Erin
A topographic map ofIreland,after which Erin is named
Pronunciation/ˈɛrɪn/
GenderMainlyfemale(with somemale)
Origin
Word/nameHiberno-Englishderivative ofIrish“Éirinn”
MeaningIreland(West),green water,
Region of originGaelic&Celtic
Other names
Related names
  • Ehrynn
  • Erinn
  • Eryn
  • Erynn
  • Iorn

Erinis a personal name taken from theHiberno-Englishword forIreland,originating from theIrishword"Éirinn"."Éirinn" is thedative caseof the Irish word for Ireland, "Éire",genitive"Éireann", the dative being used in prepositional phrases such as"go hÉirinn""to Ireland","in Éirinn""in Ireland","ó Éirinn""from Ireland ".

The dative has replaced the nominative in a few regional Irish dialects (particularly Galway-Connemara and Waterford).[1]Poets and nineteenth-centuryIrish nationalistsusedErininEnglishas aromanticname for Ireland.[2]Often, "Erin's Isle" was used. In this context, along withHibernia,Erin is the name given to the femalepersonificationof Ireland, but the name was rarely used as a given name, probably because nosaints,queens, or literary figures were ever called Erin.[3]

According toIrish mythologyandfolklore,the name was originally given to the island by theMilesiansafter the goddessÉriu.

The phraseErin go bragh( "Éire go brách" in standardorthography,dative "in Éirinn go brách" "in Ireland forever" ), a slogan associated with theUnited Irishmen Rebellion of 1798,is often translated as "Ireland forever".[4]The songs 'Let Erin Remember' and 'Érin grá mo chroí' are more examples of the word's usage in Irishromantic nationalism.[5][6]

Usage as a given or family name

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As agiven name,Erin is used for both sexes, although, given its origins, it is principally used as a feminine forename. It first became a popular given name in the United States.[3]Its US popularity for males peaked in 1974 with 321 boys registered with the name.[7]Erinis also a name for Ireland inWelsh,and is one of the 20 most popular girls' names inWales.[8][9]

As afamily name,Erin has been used as one of the many spellings of the name of the Scottish clan "Irwin" —which was involved in the ScottishPlantations of Ireland.[10]However, that name was originally derived from the place of the same name nearDumfries,and means "green water", fromBrittonicir afon.[11][12]

People

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Women

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Men

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Fictional characters

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References

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  1. ^Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Erin
  2. ^Irish Melodies.Collins & Payn. 1828.
  3. ^abOsborn, Susan (1999).What's in a Name?(illustrated ed.). Simon and Schuster. p. 250.ISBN978-0671025557.Retrieved6 August2013.
  4. ^Dolan, Terence Patrick (2020).A Dictionary of Hiberno-English.Gill Books.ISBN9780717190744.
  5. ^Chant, C. (2013).The Handbook of British Regiments (Routledge Revivals).Taylor & Francis.ISBN9781134647316.Retrieved12 April2018.
  6. ^Williams, Sean; Laoire, Lillis Ó (2011).Bright Star of the West: Joe Heaney, Irish Song Man.Oxford University Press. pp. 20–21.ISBN978-0-19-532118-0.
  7. ^"US Popularity for" Erin "by Year".Parents. Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2016.
  8. ^Welsh names for childrenArchived2008-07-31 at theWayback Machine
  9. ^Campbell, Niamh (20 April 2022)."Derry Girls-inspired baby names gain popularity across UK and Ireland".belfasttelegraph.co.uk.Belfast Telegraph.Retrieved23 May2022.
  10. ^"Clan Irwin Association".Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2007.Retrieved22 May2007.
  11. ^Scottish Surname Meanings & HistoryArchived2007-05-27 at theWayback Machine
  12. ^Behind the Name: Search Results
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