Gender Masculine Language(s) Irish | Language(s) Irish Meaning "son of Somhairle" | |
Feminine Nic Shomhairle, Bean Mhic Shomhairle, Mhic Shomhairle | ||
Mac Somhairle is masculine surname in the Irish language. The name translates into English as "son of Somhairle". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The form Nic Shomhairle is borne by unmarried females; the forms Bean Mhic Shomhairle and Mhic Shomhairle are borne by married females. These Irish surnames have various Anglicised forms.
Contents
Etymology
Mac Somhairle translates into English as "son of Somhairle". The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The name Somhairle is a Gaelic derivative of the Old Norse Sumarliðr.
Feminine forms
Mac Somhairle is a masculine surname. The form of Mac Somhairle for unmarried females is Nic Shomhairle; this name translates into English as "daughter of the son of Somhairle. The form of Mac Somhairle for married females is Bean Mhic Shomhairle, or simply Mhic Shomhairle; these two surnames translate to "wife of the son of Somhairle.
Anglicised forms
Mac Somhairle has been Anglicised variously as MacSorely, MacSorley, McSorley, McSoriley and MacSurley.
Families
According to Patrick Woulfe, the Irish surname is borne by a branch of the Clan Donald, who are of Scottish origin.