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Aingléis; Ingléis · Norman 'l'Engleys', i.e. the Englishman

Woulfe (1923) gives English (Irish Aingléis) as a descriptive surname from Norman 'l'Engleys', 'the Englishman', which he says was 'evidently applied by Norman-French settlers to their English comrades'. It is 'common in many parts of Ireland, but especially in Tipperary'. He also prints English as a translation form of the Donegal name Mac an Ghallóglaigh. In 1890 there were 53 English birth entries in Ireland.

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Coat of arms associated with the English surname
Irish formAingléis; Ingléis
MeaningNorman 'l'Engleys', i.e. the Englishman
CountiesTipperary, Antrim, Dublin
Other spellings3
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Origin of the English name

Woulfe: 'a descriptive surname evidently applied by Norman-French settlers to their English comrades'. A second name, Mac an Ghallóglaigh ('son of the gallowglass'), 'formerly a Donegal surname', has English among its translated forms.[1][2]

  1. 1778Rev. William English, Gaelic poet and Augustinian, dies in Cork, 13 January.[6]
  2. 189053 English birth entries in Ireland (Leinster 14, Munster 19, Ulster 17, Connaught 3).[4]

Where in Ireland

Co. TipperaryWoulfe: 'especially in Tipperary where there are still some old and respectable families of the name'; Matheson also lists it first.[1][4]
Co. AntrimMatheson 1890: Tipperary, Antrim and Dublin together contain more than 50 per cent.[4]
Co. DublinSee Antrim.[4]

Notable people named English

Rev. William Englishd. 1778Born at Newcastle, Co. Limerick; Augustinian and Gaelic poet. Webb names 'Cashel of Munster' as perhaps his best-known piece.[6]

Other spellings

Englishe · Ainglishe · Inglis[1]

The English coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the English surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

English surname: questions

What does the surname English mean?

Woulfe gives English (Irish Aingléis) as from Norman 'l'Engleys', 'the Englishman', a descriptive surname applied by Norman-French settlers to their English comrades.[1]

Is English an Irish surname?

Woulfe gives it as a descriptive Norman-period surname, common in many parts of Ireland. He also prints English as a translated form of Mac an Ghallóglaigh, 'son of the gallowglass', formerly a Donegal surname.[1][2]

Where in Ireland is the name English found?

Woulfe says especially Tipperary. Matheson's 1890 report says Tipperary, Antrim and Dublin contain more than 50 per cent of the 53 English birth entries.[1][4]

Is English the same as Inglis?

Woulfe's entry for Ingléis prints Inglis and English and says 'See Aingléis'. Matheson's 1901 list also gives Inglis as a bracketed form under English.[3][5]

Sources

  1. Aingléis — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/a/aingleis.php
  2. Mac an Ghallóglaigh — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-an-ghalloglaigh.php
  3. Ingléis, Inglis — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/i/ingleis-inglis.php
  4. English — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/english.php
  5. English — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/559.php
  6. English, Rev. William — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/RevWilliamEnglish.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).